Should i get a fender stratocaster

This is the purest of love for music that I can imagine. This was an ignorant comment even back in but wow, it has aged badly with the pandemic and everyone grabbing up and learning guitars. Sometimes I pick up one or the other and it moves me and the other one collects dust for a week. The Gibson is certainly an untamed beast. Ok, that sounds fine, I guess. Now I plug the Gibson in, Whoa! I think there are better guitars; if I tried them I would probably be a better player in the long run.

The response is, yea but I love the car, I love the way it looks, I love the way I look in it, and the way I feel. That is pure mystique, maybe more myth than mystique; and yet because of the mythos that surrounds players like Page, Clapton, Hendrix; we buy fenders and gibsons; and spend a players lifetime in frustration trying to get this 70 year old tech to work right, when players like Eddie Van Halen completely ripped his guitar apart to suit his playing and style.

And Eddie was reviled by many classic players in his heyday. Then Slash comes along and swings it back hard the other way, then Kurt Cobain comes along and plays a piece of garbage and reaches millions of people; and punk is back in the ascendancy. I think electric guitar; frankly; is played out. Masters like Mozart; Beethoven, Liszt, and Chopin and more took piano forte and stretched it to the limits of the imagination.

Players are still using piano to write songs; but the instrument itself is played out. There is nowhere left to go except plodding down well trodden paths; and that is enough for most people I guess. I find it sad to be honest. I really really liked this article. I own a Mex Strat.. I also own an Epi LP Standard.. I think I will end more of a Fender guy..

Hi Rob. Thanks for reading and glad your enjoying the Blog. If money was no object? A Gibson Les Paul and Marshall stack! Sounds like an HSS strat could be the way to go for you, even though some people think that is not a proper Strat. Close Menu Guitar. Guitar Gear Reviews. Guitar Reviews. Guitar Amplifier Reviews. Yes, this is a future-forward design, but indelibly still a Stratocaster — a darn good one.

Read the full Fender American Ultra Stratocaster review. The iconic Strat has a tendency to entice and attract the best in musical talent, thanks to its versatility, playability and extensive artist roster. Guitar World. Included in this guide: 1. Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster. Body: Alder. Neck: Maple. Scale: Fingerboard: Indian Laurel or Maple. Pickups: Three Ceramic Single-Coils. Hardware: Chrome, Die-cast tuners, 2-point tremolo.

Reasons to avoid - Aimed at beginners. Fender Player Stratocaster. Fingerboard: Maple. Reasons to avoid - Some might prefer lower-output single-coils. Fender Vintera '50s Stratocaster. A modern recreation faithful to the original vintage design…. Body: Alder or Ash. Pickups: Vintage Style 50s Single-Coil. Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1.

Bridge Pickup. Reasons to avoid - No options for HSS configurations. Fingerboard: Pau Ferro, Maple. Bridge Pickup , 5-way pickup switch. Reasons to avoid - A lot of money for the Player Series. Fender H. R Stratocaster. Pickups: 3x Vintage Noiseless Strat single-coils. Bridge Pickup , 5-way blade switch. The design is simple but very effective. Why does this matter? Because it is tremendously empowering to be able to work on your own guitar, make modifications and repairs and swap out parts where needed.

As the story goes, Eric Clapton built his famous Blackie Strat by tearing apart several guitars and assembling the best parts of each into one. In the early days, Fender used a three-way switch on these guitars. It was only possible to engage one pickup at a time, but players found ways to get the lever stuck in those in-between positions for more versatility. Fender eventually switched to the five-position switch, giving players a greater range of options.

Each position has a unique vibe. He often switched pickups in the middle, sometimes several times in the same passage. The classic Strat design is the alder body, one-piece maple neck, three single-coil pickups, and synchronized tremolo system.

However, there are many stock variations you can look to if you want something a bit off the beaten path. The rosewood fingerboard is one option of course.

There are guitars with a humbucker in the bridge position and two single-coils HSS , those with a pair of humbuckers and a single between them HSH and those with only two humbuckers HH.

You can get a Strat with a Floyd Rose tremolo, or an ash body. Because Strats are so easy to work on you can replace stock parts with custom gear. Swap out the pickups, replace the pickguard or install an entirely different neck if you want. Strapped for cash? Fender's MIM Player Strats are outstanding values for the money, and many veteran guitarists rely on them to get that legendary sound on a budget. You can even grab a great-sounding Squier for a ridiculously low price.

Fender has a Strat for every kind of guitar player, at every budget level. The correct term would be vibrato , an alteration of in pitch.

In any event, the Synchronized Tremolo, as it was named, was a pretty clever thing at the time. It was meant to be used as a gentle effect, but guys like Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen had other ideas. Their abuse of this noble bridge led to more sturdy creations from companies like Floyd Rose and Kahler. Fender themselves evolved the bridge into a 2-point system that operates a bit more reliably. Many players choose to block them up for tuning stability.

But, if you are brave enough to use the tremolo on your Strat, and you can manage to keep your guitar in tune while doing so, you open up some interesting options without having to deal with a locking nut. Hours of playing your Les Paul will likely leave your shoulders a little sore.

By comparison, your Strat will be a delight. For hobby players, it might not matter, but if you spend a lot of time onstage this could be a big thing. Guitarists with back issues, in particular, will likely appreciate a lighter guitar. Does the weight affect the tone?