Fender Stratocaster: The King of Electric Guitars

!±8± Fender Stratocaster: The King of Electric Guitars

Nothing sounds better on a stage than the steady strum of a Fender Stratocaster, or, Fender "Strat". As a legend and iconic symbol this amazing instrument has been the master of music and rock n' roll for over five decades. The sleek and unique design of Fender Stratocaster guitars allows for maximum mobility and playability. The Strat has been used by music legends such as Steve Howe, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keith Urban, John Mayer, and countless other famous musicians. Fender Stratocasters have a timeless appeal and have continued to be among the pinnacle of musical technology since their creation in 1954.

There are many characteristics that set the Fender Stratocaster apart from other electric guitars. The Fender Strat features a double-cutaway body which allows easy access to all of its twenty-one plus frets. The top cut-away on the Strat is longer than the bottom to allow for better balance while playing. The Strat also comes equipped with three single coil pickups on the body of the guitar. These pickups give the Strat a large range of sound from high and "twangy" to deep and bassy. The three pickups on the Strat are referred to as the neck pick (the closest to the neck, and the pickup with the brighter sound), the middle pickup (pickup in the middle of the body), and the bridge pickup (the pickup in front of the bridge, and the one with the deeper bass tone). Different pickups and combinations of the pickups can be selected by using a switch located at the bottom of the guitar. Also, the volume and tone of the individual pickups can be controlled with three toning knobs located in front of the pickup switch. These mechanisms in collaboration with each other create the Fender Strat's signature sound.

While the Fender Strat has remained virtually unaltered by time a few subtle changes have been made to the guitar throughout the decades. One such change that the Fender Strat met with was the use of variations of wood for the fingerboard. The Fender Strat has a smooth fingerboard that is compromised of one of three special types of wood. Fender Strats originally came with only maple fingerboards, but now they can come with maple, ebony, or rosewood fingerboards. Each of the fingerboard types have very subtle differences in sustain and tonal qualities, but probably the biggest difference is in the feel of the wood. Rosewood fingerboards are generally a bit lighter than ebony and maple fingerboards. Maple fingerboards have a bit of a brighter and cleaner tone to them. It just takes holding and playing one for the musician to figure out what they like best (but because they are all Fenders they can't go wrong).

There have been many copy cats of the Strat, but it's hard to beat a true Fender Strat in terms of design, quality and authenticity. Fender is still a very prestigious and respected name among the musical community. It is rare to see a concert performed without at least one of the instruments being a Fender Strat. The Strat has roots ground deep into rock, blues, jazz, country, and just about any style of music out there (within the last fifty or so years). The Strat has swung through the 60's, grooved through the 70's, rocked in the 80's, jammed in the 90's, and revolutionized the new millennium. As it looks, the Fender Strat will continue to dominate the stage and create classic hits well into the future. The Fender Strat will continue to stand on top as king of the electric guitars.