Fender Stratocaster

The Fender Stratocaster, often called the Strat, is a solid-body electric guitar introduced by Fender in 1954.

The Fender Stratocaster, often called the Strat, is a solid-body electric guitar introduced by Fender in 1954. Designed by Leo Fender and colleagues, it became one of the most influential and widely copied electric guitar models in popular music. In Canada, the Stratocaster is widely used by guitarists and appears in Canadian music scenes across rock, blues, pop, and country, and is commonly sold through Canadian instrument retailers.

History

The Stratocaster was developed in the early 1950s and introduced in 1954 as Fender’s new top-line electric guitar. Fender has continued to manufacture it in many variants since then.

Design

The instrument is a solid-body electric guitar with a double-cutaway body, contoured edges, and an extended upper horn. Many versions use three single-coil pickups and a floating tremolo system.

Musical use

The Stratocaster became widely used in popular music for its versatility and recognizable tone. It is especially associated with blues, rock, rhythm and blues, and related styles.

Legacy

The Stratocaster is regarded as one of the most influential and widely imitated electric guitars ever made. Its shape and feature set have become a template for many later instruments.