So much has been written about the legendary Fender Stratocaster that I’m not quite sure where to start. It’s been with us since the spring of 1954, and is as popular today as it has ever been.
But why, and what makes it the best guitar in the world? Well, there are a few reasons, so let’s get straight to it by answering…
What is the Most Versatile Guitar in the World?
Well, that’s easy; without a doubt, it’s the Fender Stratocaster. Regardless of what you personally think about the guitar, no one can argue that it has been used by a greater variety of guitarists across a greater number of musical genres than any other.
So, let’s take a genre-by-genre look at who has used a trusty Fender Strat…
Going back to the beginning of electrified guitar music, the 1950s, you have the dawn of Rock and Roll, where we first see the Strat in common use with Buddy Holly and the Crickets, closely followed by the Surf Music craze, with Dick Dale.
The 60s and 70s brought us Rock, without the Roll, which you would call classic rock these days. And the Stratocaster was everywhere, from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton to Ritchie Blackmore.
But don’t forget about 60s/70s pop music, with everyone from Hank Marvin to George Harrison choosing a Strat for their versatile tonal palette. Moving to the 80s, when Nile Rodgers used his Strat to fuse funk with pop.
Then we have blues, from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Buddy Guy to Rory Gallagher, the Strat ruled the genre…
But that’s not all, players as diverse as Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler, Billy Corgan, Yngwie Malmsteen, David Gilmour, John Frusciante, Ry Cooder, Eric Johnson, The Edge, Dave Murrey, Steve Rothery, Robin Trower, and countless others have all moved us with their phenomenal music created using a Strat.
Then you have Reggae and World Music, where, once again, the Fender Stratocaster rules supreme.
If you want a guitar that can be used to play just about any type of music, there is only one option: the Fender Stratocaster.
But there must be more to why the Strat has become a legend than purely its versatility? Well, there is, it's because it’s…
As comfortable as a feather duvet on a winter's night
The bodies of acoustic guitars are basically big wooden boxes. Yes, the wood has been shaped to fit on your lap, but they still have square edges and are not the most comfortable things to sit or stand with.
When Leo Fender and Les Paul were perfecting their early solid-bodied electric guitar designs, they could make the size of the instrument smaller and therefore more comfortable to play. However, the Telecaster and the Les Paul still had those hard edges; they were basically slabs of wood in the shape of a guitar.
However, when the Strat was released, it was a revelation for guitarists. The whole body was contoured. It fit snugly in place with no hard edges sticking into your flesh. Whether you were playing it sitting down or standing, it was as comfortable as an old shoe.
No other guitar had offered this level of comfort before, and to be 100% honest, no one has ever equaled it since. If you’re looking for a comfortable, form-fitting instrument, the Stratocaster is the guitar for you.
And finally…
THE Dream Guitar!
If you ask a guitarist what their dream guitar is, they will probably say a Fender Strat or a Gibson Les Paul. Yes, there will be other answers; a small percentage will go for the Telecaster, and some will select some Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Ibanez, Paul Reed Smith, etc. But on the whole, the Strat and Les Paul will have the majority of votes.
However, if you asked someone who doesn’t play guitar to name their dream guitar, most would say the Fender Strat - the most famous and idolised guitar in history.
No other guitar has gone down in musical folklore as much as the Fender Strat. From the early days when it was featured on Buddy Holly album covers, making so many guitar legends from that point on want to own one, to the classic scene in Wayne’s World where he worships the guitar - ‘Excalibur’ - in his local music store.
The Fender Stratocaster simply has the ‘It factor’ that no other guitar, even the mighty Les Paul, can match. Its charismatic, captivating quality connects with musicians as well as non-musicians on a deeper level, which is why it became and remains a musical icon across the decades.
Which brings me nicely to…
How do I make my Starocaster even better?
The final factor - well, there are lots more, but I’m afraid I don’t have time to write a whole book on the subject - that makes the Strat so popular is its ability to be modified and customised.
Leo Fender’s clever modular design allows anyone with some basic DIY skills - i.e., you know how to operate a screwdriver - to change or upgrade just about anything on the guitar. Most instruments require a professional luthier to make major changes to a guitar, but the Strat, and to a lesser degree, the Telecaster, allow the owner to do a lot of the work themselves.
For example, if you happen to break the neck on a Strat, you remove four screws (three in the 70s) from the neck plate, and put a new one in place. Whereas if you break the neck on your Les Paul, expect to be without it for a good while and wait for a hefty bill.
The electronics are also ingenious, in that all you have to do is remove all the screws holding the pickguard in place, and then the pickups, switches, pots, etc. can all be removed by unsoldering one wire - the one going to the output jack. Therefore, any component can easily be changed/upgraded, or you can even buy a new fully-loaded pickguard and replace everything in one go.
So, let’s take a look at some popular Stratocaster upgrades and find out how to make your Strat sound and play even better, starting with…
Pickups
Unlike on most guitars, with a Strat, your choice of pickups is not restricted. Most Strats come with three single-coils, but what if you want a slight change of tone or a little more output?
No worries at all, go for the Guyker Alnico Single Coil Guitar Pickup Set with their stunning rainbow finish.
Or, you may want a humbucker in the bridge, again, no problem at all. You can either keep everything as it is and go for a stacked humbucker.
However, if you want far more versatility, change the pickguard for one with an SSH configuration, such as the Guyker PG005 11-hole Modern-style S/S/H Brass Pickguard for Fender Stratocaster or the Guyker PG004 11-hole S/S/H Modern Resin Pickguard for Stratocaster®, and install any humbucker you want.
Or if you want a humbucker in the bridge and the neck positions. Once again, with a Strat, no issues. You can either go for a pair of stacked humbuckers or go for an HSH Strat pickguard and install a pair of high-quality humbuckers such as the Guyker HBA5-BKIV Double-Coil Pickup Set Alnico 5.
Tuning Machines
They might seem insignificant, but if your tuning machines are not working as they should, regardless of how good a guitarist you are, you’ll sound awful. So, if your Strat isn’t staying in tune or going out of tune as soon as you touch the tremolo bar, it’s time for an upgrade.
There are plenty of high-quality, aftermarket locking tuning machines available, but my personal favorites are the Guyker GK-D-05SP Dopamine Color Guitar Locking Tuning Machines. You’re a musician, you more than likely get up on stage and strut your stuff, so why not move away from the standard tuning machine colors of chrome, gold, or black and put a bit of color in your life?
Don’t worry, if purple and blue are a bit too psychedelic for you and your guitar, standard colors are also available, or customize your tuning machines to be exactly the way you want them. Maybe you’d like the body of your tuners to be black with a chrome thumbscrew and button? Just get in touch with Guyker, and your wish will come true.
There are lots of other great Strat upgrades you might also be interested in. If so, check out some great Stratocaster bridges, Stratocaster knobs, or the highly innovative Guyker Height Adjustable Bell Brass Guitar Nut for ST/TL Electric Guitars.
Wrapping it Up!
So, there you have it, the main reasons why so many guitarists think the Fender Stratocaster is the Holy Grail of guitars.
But is it mine? No, I’m afraid it isn’t. I’m a Les Paul man, always have been, always will be. I own three Stratocasters: a 1966 Sunburst, a 1975 in Olympic White, and a very early 1987 Strat Plus with the split roller bridge in the rarest of all colors, Bahama Green.
I love them all dearly, and would never let them go, but if I had to do my last ever gig this evening, I would be playing a Les Paul. However, if I were restricted to only playing one guitar for the rest of my life, I would probably go for a Strat, because they cover far more bases than a Les Paul or any other guitar.
