During our testing we found they do exactly what we expected, rounding off the harsh top-end that is well known to plague most Strats. A lot of thought has gone into the pickup selection, the hardware, and the playability. "Michael Jackson Was the Most Driven Individual Ive Ever Seen": Erick Walls Reflects on His Five Favorite Sessions, "Its the Basis for Everything I Do Because it Tells the Truth": How Joan Jett Combined Punk Toughness and Ear-Candy Pop Smarts on Bad Reputation, Best Guitar Amps Under $500 in 2022: Earth-Shattering Tones That Wont Break The Bank. H.E.R is best known for her Grammy-winning performances stunning crowds with her smooth, soulful R&B. The post-war boom in music, art and culture brought about the need for engineers like Leo Fender to step up to the mark and move technology forward. You will receive a verification email shortly. For those guitarists who are trying to do things on a budget whether youre just starting out, or a seasoned player looking for a great backup electric guitar the Affinity Strat is one to pay attention to. Please refresh the page and try again. After that, it actually decreases resistance, sending more output to your amp. Unlike the standard Player series - with its fairly generic 9.5" radius - the Player Plus is a guitar designed to make string bending and general playing so much easier. If that is your thing, though, then this is emphatically the Strat for you. The Player Plus Top comes enhanced with a maple veneer top and the choice of a SSS and HSS pickup format. If all you know is that you want a Strat, then you cant really go wrong with that rule. The bones of the guitar are mostly identical to the Player series. It doesnt always have to be one or the other with the Stratocaster you can have the guitar of your dreams if youre willing to search for it. Read the fullFender Ed OBrien EOB Sustainer Stratocaster review. While the price has increased a little in recent years, so has the quality so whats stopping you from buying one? The locking tuners will make all the difference when you take a dive. published 24 February 22, We countdown 11 of the best Strat guitars - from budget to pro - that showcase arguably the most iconic guitar of all time. Wed perhaps argue that wed like more from the Player Series now its that much closer to a grand than before, but all in all weve no real complaints. Models produced in certain years are highly regarded by many players and have since become collectors items. Gregg Rollie on the recording of Santana's Abraxas and the classic instrumental Samba Pa Ti: "We put things on there that nobody would do. There's a great range of finishes available but the best news is the comfortable C shape neck and option of Indian Laurel or maple 9.5" radius fingerboard. Between $500 and $1,500 is the intermediate price tag. However, you dont have to be an investor to get the same sort of look and sound - Fender and Squier produce a bunch of guitars that replicate the specs found on vintage Stratocasters. There are a few factors you should consider when looking to buy one of the best Stratocasters. Yeah, we know. The American Professional II range from Fender came as a bit of a surprise, as the not-too-old Professional series seemed to cover all the ground we couldve asked for. Even if you can't afford a high price tag Fender, the Player's modern sounding pickups won't leave you feeling shortchanged. It has been used by an enormous range of players, covering pretty much every genre imaginable - Buddy Holly, Jim Root, The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hank Marvin, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton - the list really does go on. Finally, there's the double locking Floyd Rose vibrato and HSS pickup spec model. There's also a push/pull function that gives access to a Tele-style neck and bridge pickup combo, or all three pups engaged. The 50s specs finally end when we get to the fingerboard. Contributions from Weve seen various different passive and active sets of pickups and electronics, carved tops, different body and neck materials, different fingerboard radii and neck profiles all of which have helped to keep the Stratocaster relevant for the guitarists of today. The Performer is the most affordable USA built Fender Stratocaster you can buy. Thing is, Fender guitars of the '70s looked really cool. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Granted, it wasnt Fenders first mass-produced solid-body guitar, but it has been their most popular for decades and modern guitarists are still playing the Strat to this day. When playing the Player Plus Strat we found these pickups to be our only real criticism, as they, in their perfection, were just a bit too well perfect. Strats can often sound a little hollow, but the pickups on this guitar do quite the opposite. In the not so distant past, Fender made the Modern Player series a Fender-branded Stratocaster in China, as well as the impressive (and not too expensive) Lite Ash Stratocasters which were made in Korea. Squiers Classic Vibe series is improving hugely every year, with some models now rivaling lower-end Mexican-made Strats in terms of build quality and value for money. Its one of the most expensive mass-produced guitars that Fender makes, and with the price tag comes entry to a seemingly pretty elite club. Heres why you can trust us. If youre on a sub $500 budget, then Squier is the way to go, and if you can spend more, then go for a Fender. Fender has tweaked and tuned this thing to be the best playing Strat since whenever. New York, The neck profile is still the modern 'C', however - so don't worry too much about this guitar feeling alien. The Player Plus series takes that to the next level. Richard Blenkinsop The tremolo, while not the most smooth, does a stellar job considering the cost. Three noiseless single-coil pickups adorn the Player Plus Strat, delivering a thoroughly modern take on the Strat sound. Its not a super thin neck like some other shred-centric guitars, but its comfortable enough for both quick leads and chord work. Hearing Yourself Too Well Is Almost as Bad as Not Hearing Yourself Well Enough: Gretchen Menn Talks Stage Volume. There's a bunch of these Player Strats on offer. While it sits a fair way down the Stratocaster family tree, this thing screams traditional Strat whether its the looks, the chunky headstock or the sound it produces thanks to the three standard Strat single-coil pickups. The Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster HSS gives you all that old school aesthetic loveliness at an impressively low price. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, This is definitely one of the best Strats for players that want to experiment with different sounds, whilst retaining all the guitars functionality. The package is completed by a 'Soul Power' and Morello's signature on the headstock. You neednt be. You'll find a repro set of '65 Gray Bottoms on the Fender American Original 60s Stratocaster, and, during testing, we felt that the wood of this guitar really came through when using these pups. Read the full Fender American Original 60s Stratocaster review. Its important to get the right blend between cheap and playable for a beginner guitarist, as a cheap-but-nasty Stratocaster is enough to put off any budding electric guitarist. There are so many great options out there at the moment, but the Player Strat (opens in new tab) is the way to go if you want amazing bang-for-buck. The CV 50s Strat offers players a glimpse into the Strat of yesteryear, while keeping some of the modern days more useful features, specs and manufacturing practices. In Mexico, Fenders more budget-friendly Stratocasters are created, and while they dont cost quite as much as their US-made counterparts, the quality of each instrument is impressive, and constantly improving. Fender American Performer Stratocaster, 10. However, if youre looking for a more contemporary sound, fear not - there are Strats out there that have you covered too. Modern sounding pickups work in cahoots with custom spec wiring including a treble bleed to prevent muddy tone when you dial back the volume. The upshot of all this lack of output was tone, lots of sweet tone. We felt that, at times, the noiseless pickups sounded a bit too perfect, but its hard to criticize when something is just a bit too good. Its also worth taking into consideration that even though some Fender Stratocasters will be vintage or modern inspired, most of the time, its only inspiration. S-1 switching makes the guitar so versatile, Best Stratocasters: Guitar Players choice, Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck Pickup), Tone 2 (Middle Pickup), 5-way pickup selector switch, Chrome Vintage Style Synchronized Vibrato, Standard Die-Cast Tuners, 2-color Sunburst, Black (With Maple Fingerboard); Brown Sunburst, Black, Competition Orange, Race Red, Slick Silver, Surf Green (With Indian Laurel Fingerboard), Master Volume, Tone 1, Tone 2, 5-way pickup selector, Nickel 6-saddle Vintage-style Tremolo, Vintage style tuners, Fiesta Red, White Blonde, 2-Color Burst, Black, Master volume, tone 1 (neck/middle pickups), tone 2 (bridge pickup), 5-way pickup selector switch, Nickel/Chrome, 2-point Synchronized tremolo w/ bent steel saddles, standard cast/sealed tuners, 3-color sunburst, Black, Tidepool, Buttercream, Polar White, Capri Orange, Silver, 3x Player Plus Noiseless Strat single-coils, Master volume, Tone 1, Tone 2 (with push/pull), 5-way pickup selector, Nickel/Chrome, 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles, Deluxe locking tuners, Opal Spark, Olympic White, Aged Candy Apple Red, Tequila Sunrise, 3-color Sunburst, Nickel/Chrome, Vintage style tuners, 6-saddle vintage-style tremolo, Master Volume, 2x Tone, 5-way pickup selector, Nickel/chrome-plated 2-point Synchronized vibrato w/ bent steel saddles, Fender Standard cast/sealed staggered tuners, 3-colour sunburst, Black, Dark Night, Mercury, Miami Blue, Mystic Surf Green, Olympic White, Roasted Pine, Sienna Sunburst, Master volume, Tone 1, Tone 2, 5-way pickup selector, Nickel/Chrome, Pure Vintage 6-saddle Synchronized tremolo, Pure Vintage tuners, Shell Pink, 3-color Sunburst, Olympic White, 3x specially voiced Eric Johnson single-coils, Master volume, tone 1, tone 2, 5-way pickup selector, Nickel/chrome, 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo, Vintage-style staggered tuners, 3x Ultra noiseless vintage strat single-coil, Master volume (w/ S-1 switch), Tone 1, Tone 2, Nickel/Chrome, 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Tremolo with Pop-In Arm, Deluxe cast/sealed locking tuners, how we test gear and service at Guitar Player. That said, it does come fitted with a two-way switch that enables coil-split for some more traditional Strat tones. During testing, we found that the 9.5" to 14" (241mm to 355.6mm) compound fingerboard radius made for easy chord fretting over the first few frets, and a super low, choke-free action beyond the twelfth fret. The quality of all of these guitars is improving at a rapid pace, and Squier guitars now arent as cheap as you once thought. (Bridge/Middle Pickups), Nickel/Chrome Pure Vintage Synchronized Vibrato, Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe Tuners, Shell Pink, Olympic White, 3-Colour Sunburst, 7. (Bridge Pickup), Five-Way Pickip Selector Switch, Nickel/Chrome 2-Point Deluxe Synchronized Vibrato, Deluxe Locking Tuners, Arctic Pearl, Texas Tea, Ultraburst (With Maple Fingerboard); Cobra Blue, Ultraburst (With Rosewood Fingerboard), Maple With Gloss Nitrocellulose Finish, Bolt-On, 3 x Pure Vintage '65 Gray Bottom Single Coil Strat, Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. Necks tended to be thicker in the 50s, and got thinner in the 60s. Fender doesnt just make its budget Strats in the far east. Thank you for signing up to Musicradar. Taking a classic guitar and giving it a serious makeover is always a dangerous task for manufacturers, but we think that with the Player Plus, Fender has done a great job. By We found playability to be enhanced with a pleasantly plump Modern C neck profile, 9.5" fingerboard radius, and 22 big ass frets. We'd expect to see a nitrocellulose finish at this price but Fender has chosen harder wearing polyurethane and urethane for the body and neck. (Bridge Pickup), Five-Way Pickup Selector Switch, Nickel/Chrome 2-Point Synchronized Vibrato With Vintage Style Stamped Steel Saddles, Vintage Style Locking Tuners, 3x Fender Noiseless single-coil sized humbuckers on SSS models, HSS models have 1x Wide Range humbucker, 5-position blade switch and push/pull knob, Nickel/chrome-plated 2-point vibrato (with steel baseplate and die-cast block) and steel block saddles, F logo rear lock tuners, Opal Spark, 3-Colour Sunburst, Olympic Pearl, Aged Candy Apple Red and Tequila Sunrise, Master Volume, Master TBX Tone, Three-Way Pickup Selector Switch, 2-Way Mini Toggle (Engages Single-Coil Mode), Black 2-Point Synchronized Vibrato With Block Saddles, Gotoh Sealed Tuners, Maple With Satin Urethane Finish, Bolt-On, Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2 With Greasebucket Circuit (Bridge Pickup), Five-Way Pickup Selector Switch, Nickel/Chrome Vintage Style Synchronized Vibrato, Classic Gear Tuners, Arctic White, Honey Burst (With Rosewood Fingerboard); Penny, Satin Lake Placid Blue (With Maple Fingerboard), Seymour Duncan JB Jr (Bridge), Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Middle), Sustainer Driver (Neck), Master Volume, Master Tone, Intensity Control, Active Sustainer On/Off Switch, Fundamental/Harmonic/Blend Switch For Sustainer, Nickel/Chrome 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Trem, Vintage-Style Tuners, Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Strat Humbucker (bridge), Fender Vintage Noiseless Single Coil (Neck/Middle), Master Volume (Neck Pickup), Tone 1 (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. Some options, like the H.E.R signature Strat for instance, have vintage-spec hardware, but are also equipped with modern features like noiseless pickups. 'F@&k you, I won't do what you tell me!' The main upgrade on this model against the previous is the introduction of Fenders V-Mod II pickups. $1,500 and over is pro territory, in our book. The clues in the spec. Youve got it. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). This can all be adjusted with action tweaks and playing style though. Speaking of pickups. You will receive a verification email shortly. The alder body/maple neck combination is one of legend, and with a maple fingerboard involved too? It all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day and how much cash youre willing to part with. These bring that iconic Strat tone with ease, with the bridge pickup kicking out a wonderfully bright tone without the ice-pick harshness. Fenders vintage spec Stratocasters arent usually 100% faithful to the original and we appreciate this. The constant regeneration and refinement to the Stratocaster has meant we now have guitars on the market with all of the best bits, and none of the worst and whos going to complain about that? Probably the biggest question you could ask yourself is whether to go for a Squier or a Fender when buying yourself one of the best Stratocasters. Fender's Player series of Stratocasters has been one of their most successful to date, acting as an affordable, high quality point of entry for those who want 'Fender' on the headstock. Theres also the fingerboard radius to think about; more vintage models are likely to feature a 7.25 radius, and more modern guitars tend to have either 9.5, 12 or a compound 10-14. Ok, you're never going to mistake every Affinity in a lineup for a USA built Fender but these are serious giggable guitars that'll set you on the road to brand loyalty, just as crafty old Fender intended. Concerned about buying a Strat online without playing it first? Wed suggest stretching to the top end of the budget, if you can. The Fender Strat has had nearly 70 years of tweaking and tinkering so there is quite a lot to consider when looking to buy one. For instance, you want a guitar with vintage styling and an era-relevant spec, but dont want to spend more than $700? The 1950s were a hotbed of innovation for the electric guitar. GuitarPlayer is supported by its audience. Fair enough, but you might be missing out on a great guitar. NY 10036. During our testing, we found the two-point trem to be smooth while also prioritizing tuning stability, and while the bent steel saddles are a little crude when compared to the modern accoutrements on the Player Strat, they do their job with little trouble. Luckily for us, the upgrades between the original and mark two ranges were not only noticeable, but feel, sound and look great. For a whiff over a grand you can have the iconic Strat, with all of the modernizing modifications youd want to make. Yields get a tad more warmth from the Indian Laurel timber. Which one's for you? The idea is you get a vintage looking Strat but you can choose original or modern spec. Please refresh the page and try again. A tasteful blend of modern and classic, the Pro II range offers the traditional alder/maple combination, with a roasted pine body available on one iteration. While it all boils down to personal preference, the general consensus is that a smaller radius lends itself better to chord work, and a larger, or wider radius can be more comfortable for lead players. Squier and Fender Stratocasters have many countries of origin, some of which are more highly respected and sought after than others which is mainly down to the quality of instruments produced in each location. We dont think youll regret it at all. It feels utterly effortless to play, and has all of that iconic Strat tone up its sleeve for when its required. You want space-age modernism with a set of face-melting active pickups? The classic/modern features dont end there, especially taking into consideration the 22 narrow tall frets that adorn the maple neck the same maple neck that is coated in Fenders new Super-Natural satin finish to ensure you avoid those sticky-handed gigging moments. Sitting in Squiers second tier of electric guitars above the super-budget Bullet series, the Affinity range offers a level of finish that you wouldnt usually see on a guitar under $250. The guitars fingerboard has a huge impact on how it looks, but it also imparts a little tonal flavour too - maple tends to be a little brighter than rosewood, or pau ferro as is often found at the more budget end of things. If youre in the market for a high-end Strat, but want something you wont be tempted to mod yourself, then this could be the right guitar for you. You get the standard three single coil loaded item as shown in the pretty picture above. The Strats of 1954 sure were fantastic, but primitive pickups, a big chunky neck and easily worn finishes just arent going to cut it for the majority of guitarists these days. Well, here are the. One such innovation which has undoubtedly stood the test of time is the Fender Stratocaster. As such, today, there are lots of different Strats on the market, but which is the best Strat for you? Within this bracket, you can afford anything from a Mexican Player series, all the way through to the USA Performer series which is enough guitars to cover nearly a whole careers worth of progression. The Boxer Strat blends modern playability and sounds, with one of the most classic body shapes of all time. Available is SSS and HSS pickup layouts, the Squier Affinity packs in a lot of Strat goodness for such a low price. Three vintage noiseless single-coils are mounted on this model, and although some noiseless pickups can cause an upset, these offer a thoroughly enjoyable vintage vibe that just sounds much cleaner than usual. The idea behind it was to have the ability to create a sonic palette almost akin to a keyboard or synth, and its used by Ed himself on some of the biggest stages around the world. In the budget guitar sphere, a couple of hundred bucks can really make a difference. Lovely stuff. Its based on a 1964 Strat, as the Fender logo on the headstock suggests, but its been crafted for the modern guitarist.