Serious Strats
Using the Stratocaster as the example, we illustrate Fender’s main ranges – the American Performers sit right in the middle
Player StratocaSter £559
Previously known as the Mexican Standard but refreshed in 2018, this 22-fret alder-bodied Stratocaster features redesigned Player Series Alnico 5 single coils, a two-post vibrato, plus a modern tone setup with neck/middle tone controls and a separate tone for the bridge pickup. There are seven colour options available and a pau ferroonly 241mm (9.5-inch) radius fingerboard with medium jumbo frets.
ClaSSiC SerieS ’60S StratocaSter £729
A great series to experience vintage Fender style with 184mm (7.25-inch) radius pau ferro fingerboard, 21 small frets, an alder body (with three colour options), staggered vintage-style single coils and six-screw vibrato. There’s a nitro lacquer-finished version (£1,009) and a Road Worn option (£1,129), plus maple fingerboard options and upgraded Classic Player versions, of course.
ameriCan ProfeSSional StratocaSter £1,479
Leapfrogging over our American Performer Strat, the American Professional Series is the replacement of the classic American Standard Series. Highlights include V-Mod single coils with different magnet types for treble and bass sides, a Deep C neck profile with 241mm (9.5-inch) radius rosewood or maple fingerboard, two-post vibrato with push-in arm and a choice of eight colours.
ameriCan original ’50S StratocaSter £1,609
As close to vintage as you’ll get outside of the Custom Shop, we have ’50s- or ’60s-spec models. The ’50s model here, for example, comes with nitro-finished alder (Two-Colour Sunburst or Aztec Gold) or ash (White Blonde only) bodies, a maple neck/fingerboard with a 241mm (9.5mm radius) and a soft V neck profile, Pure Vintage ’59 single coils and a vintage-style hard case.
ameriCan elite StratocaSter £1,769
For the player who wants expanded switching options via the S-1 circuit, fourth-generation Noiseless single-coil-sized pickups, two-post vibrato and locking tuners. Other features include a maple or ebony fingerboard, a choice of seven colours and an ABS Elite case with TSA locks. It’s available left-handed (£1,879), plus there’s an HSS version with Shawbucker (£1,699).
artiSt SerieS eric JohnSon Signature thinline £2,019
This range has the largest collection of Strats and starts with the £799 Buddy Guy and Hendrix models and moves up to the Yngwie Malmsteen at £2,219. The Eric Johnson Thinline has a semihollow alder body and top, quarter-sawn ’57 Soft V-shaped maple neck, 305mm (12-inch) radius maple fingerboard, 21 medium-jumbo frets and three Eric Johnson single-coil pickups.