In its experimental phase, from March to September of 1954, the Stratocaster was hand made and its specifications changed a lot, until they settled with the production model released in October. If you have decided that the iconic Fender Stratocaster is the next guitar on your list, we have a huge range of different Fender Stratocaster Models to suit all budgets. Fender touts “hand rolled” fret edges for a “worn in” feel. The fit and finish here is excellent. Also, note that at present, the models covered in both sections are limited to those made in the U.S. 1954> The slab-like design of the Telecaster was not popular with a lot of guitarists, particularly swing player Bill Carson, as the straight edges of the body dug into the ribs if they played for long periods of time; which many, as working session men, did. The Fender Stratocaster, colloquially known as the Strat, is a model of electric guitar designed from 1952 into 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares.The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has continuously manufactured the Stratocaster from 1954 to the present. I hope it serves you well. Buy Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitars and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ... Model. 1977> Inside a 1954 Fender Stratocaster. Custom. Maple “C” shaped neck, alder body, 25.5 scale length, 21 frets. Also inside a 1958 Fender Jazzmaster. While there have been periods of dramatic change—such as the transition periods between the Leo Fender years and the CBS years or the transition between the CBS years and the current ownership—most models are generally feature-specific and do not change from year to year. There was a very practical reason for this, as the vibrato arm, or tremolo, when used in conjunction with a volume pedal, could be used for Hawaiian-style swells that gave a steel guitar sound to the track. How to Play Guitar Faster: Right Hand Picking Technique Explained, Guitar Technique: Anchoring Your Picking Hand Is Bad and Why You Shouldn’t Do It, 5 Steps to Get Great Tone From Your Low-end Electric Guitar, The Fender Stratocaster: History, Models and Players, The Gibson Les Paul: The Quintessential Rock Guitar, Top 5 Multi-Effects Processors Under $200. 1975> 1961> The guitar comes complete with its’1970s original Fender hard case, which is in very sound unrestored condition (complete with Tiffany Page stickers! The Fender Stratocaster history started in 1954, when Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares designed the double cutaway guitar body that would change the history of music forever. One modification to the Strat’s design during the CBS period was the larger headstock that was introduced to improve tuning stability. If the guitarist could produce these sounds in addition to the usual guitar rhythm and fills, he or she would be paid double for the session. Note: in October 2010, some artist models switched to the new “MX10” numbering scheme. In the past (before 1976) the serial numbers were often randomly assigned. In the 60′s, players like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton dropped the roll, but kept the rock with a Strat in hand. Since its first model year in 1954, the Stratocaster has kept its distinct body shape and notoriety. I know the Deluxe has a D in the serial, not sure on the other models. Guitarists learned early on that the three way selector switch that governed which pick-up was being used could be manipulated to activate two pick-ups at once, giving an “out of phase” sound to the guitar, and lending it even more tonal adaptability. Neck Code identification. 1978> Model Year. Fender literally wrote the book on electric basses, laying the foundation for musical innovation and evolution. At the same time, although the Telecaster had been fitted with a second neck pick-up after the Esquire had first been issued with a single unit at the bridge, there was a feeling that more pick-ups would allow for more tonal variety. While I’m not into the whole “relic” your guitar fad, Fender didn’t take it too far. 1970> Fender has offered some sweet, sweet electric guitar models through its Made In Japan line recently, including its Heritage Series offerings, but this limited-edition Black Paisley Stratocaster is perhaps the most mouth-watering of this year's MIJs. The Fender Company, by now under the control of CBS, starting issuing Strats with five way selector switches in 1977. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top "horn" shape for balance. Third in BillyBadAxe’s Classic Electric Guitars 101 series: The Fender Stratocaster. After working with in-house technician and Hawaiian guitarist, Freddy Travares, Fender came up with the distinctive Strat tremolo arm and bridge device, the design of which remains largely unchanged to this day. Most specifications for a given Fender instrument model change little (if at all) throughout the lifetime of the model. 1959> In the 1950s, players like Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Hank Marvin used it to kickstart the rock ‘n’ roll movement. Full USA Stratocaster chronology from 1954 to today. Its budget subsidiary Squier, meanwhile, has factories in numerous international locations such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia, where it produces affordable versions of the Fender lead line. ), the Fender Stratocaster manual, Korg Guitar tuner/lead, Fender Strap and pick, Capo, string cleaner, V’n R CD, 2015 Valuation Certificate. 2008 Fender American Standard Stratocaster – Image Source Which are the Best Years for a Fender Stratocaster? 1980> Although Fender’s American Professional series was introduced in January 2017, earlier this year the Californian giant decided it was already time for a refresh. See the next year’s 1958 Fender Stratocaster. Definately a MIM '06 though. This fearsome list of players is made all the more remarkable by the fact that when Leo Fender designed the Stratocaster as the follow up to his successful Telecaster, it was primarily with country music in mind! The guitar was soon creating some of the piercing lead lines and chunky rhythms of the new style, as well as the clean picking twang of the country movement. Actual overall sales figures being hard to come by, it’s a difficult job to try and name the best selling guitar of all time. Ubiquitous in the music world, Fender guitars and amplifiers are also icons in popular culture, their shapes and sounds instantly recognizable. Should I Buy a Multi-Effects Pedal or Dedicated Analog Stomp Boxes? It has a nice aged look, but not overdone, ala the SRV clone guitars. 1973> Both this section, Strats by Year, and the section titled Strats by Model, are ongoing projects. Our buying guide breaks it down and will help guide you in the right direction and find the right Stratocaster for you. It’s not the first time Fender has tried to take their most classic instruments upmarket. The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation today operates out of Scottsdale, Arizona, but at the same time, it also manufactures guitars at its factories in Corona, California as well as Ensenada, Mexico. 1963> classic history and MODEL info history, model info and specs for the classic vintage guitar makes. That year, Fender's management transferred to CBS's control. These modifications initially meant contouring the back upper area of the body to fit more comfortably against the guitarist’s ribs as they played, as well as chamfering the upper front left of the body where the right arm held the guitar in place. It arguably succeeded in this aim, but many purists claimed that the new look was clumsy and unnecessary to what was already considered a classic design. Some will point to the Gibson Les Paul, and others to the same company’s S.G., but nobody seems to be able to come up with a definitive figure. According to Bill Carson, he modified his own Telecaster so heavily that Fender decided to keep the Telecaster in production and start up a whole line of guitars based on Carson’s modifications. 2004. Vintage guitar expert George Gruhn shows the guitar in the video below. With a wide selection of different American Fender Stratocaster series available, we thought we’d take a look at the differences between them all, so you know which option is right for you and why they differ in price. These, of course, are just some of the “rock” players. First four digits are paired up, 09 is the model number for the Stratocaster, and 00 is the neck configuration, in his case a fretted Maple neck with a Rosewood fingerboard. 1984>, Copyright 2017 - Powered By WordPress - Design By, Fender American Vintage ’65 Stratocaster, Round-Lam Rosewood – 3-Color Sunburst, Fender American Elite Stratocaster Ebony Fingerboard Electric Guitar Aged Cherry Burst, Fender American Professional Stratocaster – Sienna Sunburst, Fender Deluxe Roadhouse Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Maple Fingerboard, Olympic White, The Fender Stratocaster: The Life & Times of the World’s Greatest Guitar & Its Players, The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat, The Stratocaster Guitar Book: A Complete History of Fender Stratocaster Guitars. 1968> In the 60 years since it was created, the Fender Stratocaster has become a symbol for rockstardom – an axe wielded by musicians from Buddy Holly and Jimi Hendrix to the Arctic Monkeys. Click for an inside tour of a first year model of Fender's premier guitar. 1958> Today, we're exploring Reverb's historical data on vintage Strat sales, and letting the numbers do most of the talking. 1960> Indeed, the Stratocaster was originally known as “Carson’s Guitar.”. 1965>, 1966> As he explains, the guitar was made in April 1954, about a year before Gilmour’s, making it the first known Stratocaster to bear a serial number. Our interactive gear guide, FindYour.Fender.com, matches you with the perfect model by learning about your sound & style. For Fender aficionados, 1964, 1965 and 1966 are considered the "transition era" and 1965 stands as the biggest turning point for Fender and Stratocaster production. New information is constantly coming to light, as are new and better example photos. Since the mid-eighties, numerous variations of Stratocaster have come on the market, these include the “Fat Strat,” a model that includes a humbucker pick-up at the bridge for a heavier and thicker sound than the standard single coil can provide. The single coils are Texas Specials and the humbucker is a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Plus. The CBS buyout of the company in 1965 was controversial as many perceived a decline in standards during its period at the helm. 1956> The guitar was introduced in 1988.Eric Clapton explained how it came about: “Dan Smith…who was head of Fender at the time, asked me if I’d be This was not due to any great changes in design, but rather a lack of interest in the standards of quality that the company had become known for until then under Leo Fender’s stewardship. Spring 1957 Fender Stratocaster guitar specs: ABS plastic knobs and pickup covers replace “bakelite” (Polystyrene). 2019. Overall, there’s no correct choice, however, models do vary throughout the years. Fender Filter applied. Fender Stratocaster Guitar Forum Home Forums > Main Stratocaster Guitar Discussion Forum > Stratocaster Discussion Forum > New Strats at the Fender site - Noventa and 75th Anniversary Models To approximate the correct year of construction for the period before 1976, also look at the date on the heel of … 1962> 1971> Just bought a new Mexican Stratocaster a reissue of the 50's Stratocaster how well are they made?