A DESIGN CLASSIC (Fender Stratocasters in general)

Member Name: Bruce McSteel

Product:	Fender Stratocasters in general
Date:	01/06/03 (1074 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: looks, sound, playability

Disadvantages: none!

just ask dave gilmour, mark knopfler, billy corgan, stevie ray vaughan, ed o'brien, kurt cobain or jimi hendrix.

this guitar is a design classic.

possibly the most recognisable guitar design ever, the fender stratocaster was designed in the early 1950s and was a hit almost instantly, due to it's versatility and feel.

let's discover why, starting from the top of the guitar.

headstock: in my opinion the nicest headstock ever designed. 6 tuners on one side ensures straight string pull, which reduces friction/string breakages. string trees increase the break angle over the nut ensuring good tension, meaning less slippage.

neck: one of the few major guitars which has a maple fretboard option as standard, the strat has many neck options depending on era. it's curved fretboard makes it incredibly comfortable for rhythm work. there's also a rosewood option, not leaving any players in the dark. the neck is attached with 3 or 4 bolts (depending on era), meaning it can be changed if it gets warped damaged at any time, however the truss rod should mean no warping ever occurs. this is a surprisingly stable way of attaching a neck and holds tuning very well.

pickups: 3 pickups gives fantastic tonal variation. single coil pickups may hum, but they give fantastic clarity and lovely glassy tones. modern fenders have a reverse wound middle pickup, which means the mid positions are hum-cancelling. the sound of the fender stratocaster is a very famous one, and a very lovely one too. modern fenders also come in different pickup configurations, with humbuckers at the bridge for added power.

body: contoured for comfort, the stratocaster bo
dy is the most comfortable i have ever had the pleasure of playing. it just sits right, and is well balanced.
the weight of fender bodies vary a lot, but they are usually made of alder or ash, and provide good tone. as a rule the better wood goes on the bodies wi
th see-through finishes (e.g. sunburst), so for a guitar with good wood go for the sunburst! some bodies are very heavy, some are light, it all depends on the era. i'd recommend trying a number out before you buy one.

bridge: a fantastic idea - the bridge pivots on 6 screws, and counter-tension against the strings is provided by springs in a cavity on the back of the guitar. Depending on how well it is made, this system works a treat and will return perfectly to pitch.

conclusion: the fender stratocaster has a reputation for being a design classic, and it certainly deserves it. it is easy to see why the design of this guitar has remained basically unchanged for 50 years, and i'm sure there is plenty of life left in it yet.

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