Every legend-to-be's dream (Fender Standard Stratocaster MN)

Member Name: wicked_witch

Product:	Fender Standard Stratocaster MN
Date:	24/10/02 (2245 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: easy to wear, great sound (subjectively), Widely available and not overly expensive

Disadvantages: You might encounter minor problems with Squiers or Mexican genuines, weedy sound (subjectively)

The Fender Strat is probably the most famous electric guitar on the market. Countless kids have spent summers in McDonalds or Sainsbury’s in order the have money to buy one of these babies, and even if you’re a layman when it comes to guitars, you’re bound to have heard of the Fender Strat.

Favoured by countless legends and amazing players (Hendrix, Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Cobain among them), the Strat is instantly recognizable with its cool shape, and fairly small size when compared to other leading guitars like the Gibson Les Paul, and is compact and lightweight too. The range of Strat colours is mind boggling, I’ve seen very fetching red and blacks, purples with sparkly scratchplates and green glittery versions, along with the usual black and whites, cream and whites and red and whites.

The Strat you are most likely to find in a small music shop is the Fender Squier Strat, which is a cheaper copied version of the original Strat. You can pick one of these babies up for just under two hundred, and they make ideal choices for beginners, because despite the price, they are pretty well made and easy to play. A genuine Fender will cost at least £500 and a top of the range model will go for maybe a thousand up to fifteen hundred at the very very most, which seems like a bomb, but is nothing compared to a Gibson SG, or, shock horror, a Les Paul (which can easily reach three times the amount of a top class Stratocaster). Obviously customs might be more expensive.

Few modern objects can claim to retain their original design, and the Strat is one of those few. The shape and basic features have changed little since the first Strats went on sale in 1954), Fenders feature whammies plus three single coil pickups and three-or-five-way selector switches. Of course, like all electrics, you can get various types with extras added, hence the wide price variation. So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on the Standard Strat-


The look

Strats are fairly attractive looking guitars, small and functional, and they have a very sharp, neat look to them. They lack the beauty of something like the Les Paul or SG, or even the distinctive look of the Jazzmaster, and the Strat shape has become a standard for loads of different types of guitar, so it isn’t quite so characteristic as it might have been when it came out. I suppose the Strats looks are more functional than sexy, but that can easily by remedied by choosing a jazzy colour, and it is beside the point now isn’t it! In conclusion, the Strat is very good-looking, just not distinctive.

The sound

The sound of the Strat is fairly jagged and biting, excellent for making Hendrix-esque squeals and roaring feedback. The three pickups determine the sharpness of the sound, and the neck pick-up has a rounder, thicker and warmer sound to it. The original three way switch models also had the option of leaving the switch in between two or the three pickups, giving a curious and interesting twanging, out of phase sound and now Strats have five way switches installed as standard. As with all guitars, experienced guitarists often tinker around with their strats and replace the pickups, or even the necks. I know one guy who still claims his is a fender despite the replaced neck, pickups, whammy and bridge! The sharp sound of the Strat does well with extended solos and complicated playing, although its still a perfect guitar if all you can do is bang out power chords (nothing like me of course…ahem). Quite a few people don’t like this spiky tone, but the advantage of a Strat is the five-way switch, so if you don’t like the glassy bite of the higher pickups, the neck offers a more mellow sounding option. Truthfully, the bridge pickup can cause significant ear ringing when playing loud. When compared to humbucker guitars, the Strat can sound a little weedy and whiny (the perfect instrument for a
weedy and whiny band- no names mentioned except Oasis, Starsailor and Elbow J), and even its lightweight feel reduces the sense of power behind it, so once again, as with a Les Paul, or any guitar I guess, the sound is a matter of personal opinion. Also, big amps and good effects units can counter the less powerful sound if you are so inclined, and willing to splash the cash.

The ease of playing

The most immediate thing you notice when you attach a Fender to your neck is the comfort factor. Fenders are lightweight, small guitars, which make playing for long periods a lot easier than doing the same with, for example, a Telecaster. The contoured back allows the guitar to sit on the hips without cracking any ribs, if you don’t follow the current of trend of wearing your guitar at your knees. The characteristic curly headstock minimises friction while playing, and although the action is a bit higher than your average guitar, it’s still fairly easy, and easy to tinker with should you feel inclined to lower it. The switches and whammy bar can be a bit difficult to manipulate while playing when you start off with this guitar, as with any, I guess. Unless you’re left-handed and do a “Jimi” (reverse your guitar and use your thumb to manipulate the controls), you just have to get into the swing of things really. Some players keep hold of the whammy while playing, but this takes a bit of getting used to. The slightly thicker neck can cause problems for more experienced lead players trying to hit more difficult notes, which makes the Strat pretty ideal for beginners.

Advantages-

It’s light and compact, yet pretty durable during heavy metal sessions (although its unlikely metal players would choose one in the first place)

Both Squiers and genuines are fairly well made guitars

They are very easy to play, in guitarist terms, not layman’s of course, you can’t pick up a Strat and s
uddenly turn into Eric Clapton!

The pickups give a broad range of tones if you don’t like your pitch too high

The size make it ideal for single note soloing, although see the disadvantage concerning Mexican models.

As guitar prices go, Strats are pretty damn reasonable!

Disadvantages-

I can’t see many associated with this one, although the following might piss you off a bit-

As I’ve said, some players find the sound pretty weedy, but this is pretty much a matter of opinion.

The tremolo system is well made, but inclined to go out of tune if you like your riffs metally!

The slightly smaller Mexican versions have the upper frets a little close for comfort, and that’s speaking as someone with fairly narrow fingers. If this is the case for you, its worth getting the extra cashola and going for an American model.

All in all, whether a genuine Strat or a copy, this is a good guitar to start out with. If you fancy moving up to something heavier when you get more experience, then its easily done, or you might like to stick to your Strat or buy a higher class version of the same guitar, or upgrade your current one. After all, Jimi can’t have been wrong now can he???

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