| Feature Article Fender Standard Series Of Guitars
Author: Blair Stephens
The Fender American Standard series of guitars features both Telecaster and Stratocasters, the legends of the Fender name. The most affordable guitars in the Fender line-up, the classic style has some new updates to please musicians everywhere. Refinements include changes to some, but not all models of the guitars allowing musicians to select the guitar that best suits their playing style. The American Series guitars typically have twenty-two frets rather than the previous twenty-one, some feature humbuckers, synchonized tremolo arm, a steel bridge plate for added sustain and the three-sadle bridge has been replaced by a six-sadle bridge. The new six-sadle bridge means that you can adjust the height and length of each string independently. Available in a wide variety of colors and finishes, these guitars live up to the Fender legacy. The Beginning
The first major electric guitar designed and produced by Leo Fender, the Fender Telecaster was introduced in the 1940's. With solid body construction and electronic amplification this was the first guitar to allow musicians to use the instrument with a band or as a solo instrument in a larger forum. Instantly popular with musicians across the genres, the Telecaster was embraced by Blues, Country and later Rock n' Roll musicians. Fender is known for its treble tone and the Telecaster is particularly known for its bright and clear tones. The bridge pickup of the Telecaster is wound more than the pickup for the neck with emphasizes the treble tone and the slanted neck also gives a more treble sound while the lower tones are dampened. A versatile instrument musicians can use the controls for volume and tone to craft their own sound. For more than fifty years the Telecaster has been a favorite of both professional and amateur musicians. The Next Step
The second big innovation from the workshop of Leo Fender was the Stratocaster. Designed in the early 1950's, the Stratocaster was the result of all that had been learned from making the Telecaster combined with feedback from musicians about what worked and what didn't and what they wanted. Overall, the Stratocaster is a more complicated instrument with three single coil pickups which increases the tone and overall sound of the guitar. The addition of the Fender vibrato bridge allowed musicians to bend the strings to achieve a sound similar to the popular pedal-steel instruments. The already wide variety of tones that were created by the Stratocaster were expanded with the creation of the synchronized tremoloarm. A tremolo arm allows a guitar player to quickly vary the tension of the strings which temporarily changes the pitch to create vibrato, portamento and pitch effect expanding the options available for the musician. There were changes made to the overall design of the guitar body as well. Beveled areas for where the strumming arm rests and for the player's chest were added for a fitted feel that is comfortable for long session. Creating the Fender Sound
The electric guitar was brought to life with the invention of the single coil pickup. A single coil pickup is created by wrapping a permanent magnet with fine enameled copper and then mounting the coil on the body of the guitar. When the player then plucks the strings, they vibrate and effect the magnetic flux which changes the voltage that passes through the coild of wire. The signal is modified by these changes in voltage and travels through the wire to the amplifier or recording device. The sound can then be amplified to be heard at any volume, from your garage to a stadium concert. In its traditional form, the Telecaster guitar features just two single coil pickups but the three-way selector switch provides flexibility in choosing which pickup to use and further controls for tone and volume shape the sound. In the Stratocaster there are three standard single coil pickups mounted in series for the bridge middle and neck. With a switch of a lever the player can select which pickup they want to be active. Theey can use two pickups in combination, a single or all three to produce the sound that they want. Further Innovation
First introduced in the 1950's, a humbucker is popular among many musicians for its ability to clarify sound. Electronic guitars rely on single coil magnetic pickups to 'pick up' and convey the alternated voltage created by the vibrating strings to create music. But these magnets can act as antennae and are vulnerable to picking up other signals not intended by the musician. The single coil magnetic pickups are sensitive to electromagnetic interference that can be generated by electrical appliances, computer screens, motors and other signals as well, all of which create a 'hum' or 'buzz' in the sound produced by the guitar. A humbucker uses two additional coils (although there are several versions of the humbucker) to cancel the interference, which literally bucks the hum and leaves only the pure musical sound to be amplified. In the American Series there are several Stratocasters that have humbuckers in their designs. The Little Things
The sound of each guitar is unique and can be personized and shaped by several factors. Where the pickups are positioned, the number of coils wound around each magnet, what type of wire is used, the shape of the guitar, the kind of wood used in the neck and body and the position of the strings all have an impact on the sound. Using the tone controls to determine which pickups are featured gives musicians control over their sound. Pickups in the bridge position bring a bright, harmonic-rich and sharp tone compared to those pickups in the neck position which are louder, more warm and mellow in nature. The name Fender brings a wealth of history and achievement to mind- from Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton to Ritchie Blackmore the artists that have embraced the Fender electric guitars have set the standard for all who play. The latest generation of guitars to be embraced by musicians, the American Standard series features both Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars from legendary Fender. True to their historic past these guitars are beautifully crafted with small updates to their design. The most affordable line of Fender guitars, The American Standard Series brings everything you expect from the Fender name without compromise. Blair Stephens is an experienced writer and proud member of the Music Power team. We offer the best selection of electric and acoustic guitars in all the best brands. Learn more about guitars in our Musician Articles at http://www.musicpower.com/musician-articles.asp
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| Feature Article Fender , Gibson, DC Montana, Musicman - Which Bass is right for you?
Author: Author West
Remember, your honest assessment of your ability and goals should be the deciding factor when choosing an instrument. In other words, what do you want to do? If you are a working musician, a serious hobbyist or on the verge of your first paying gig, an entry level beginners guitar will probably not be appropriate. Now, how much to spend? Your personal financial situation will dictate the amount you spend, however, if the guitar you want costs $500 and you currently have $350... Don't Settle! It's a mistake you will regret for years to come. You should expect to pay between $400-$600 for a good quality "step-up" guitar. One that will offer most of the features you desire and also hold up well under the rigors of everyday practice, rehearsing and gigging. If you are a serious player/gigger then you should look at investing in a professional instrument like a DC Montana or a Musicman. One of these can cost up to $2000 but it will be a worthwhile investment as you`ll have an instrument you can rely on and reliability is very important. Acoustic? Electric? Now that you have assessed your talent and have a ball park figure of what to spend, what's it going to be? An Electric? An Acoustic? Or maybe an Acoustic/Electric! Don't worry, eventually you will end up owning a small arsenal of instruments. But for now, stick with the one that caters to your current musical taste and performance needs and get a few gigs under your belt. This will justify your "need" for another quality instrument, (and probably keep you out of the doghouse too). Which Brand? There are many brands out there. The most common brands are Fender, Gibson and Musicman. If you want a guitar that will perform well but are not too concerned with looking that great then you`ll be very happy with a Fender. Fender produce some nice guitars and you can pick them up at low cost. Musicman and DC Montana make top quality instruments but they do have high price tickets. I always recommend a high end used instrument over a brand new low end. High end guitars are built to last so even if it has a few scratches on it you are still going to get a better sound than buying a shiney new one thats a few leagues below. Look around, there are some bargains out there and dont be afraid to barter on price.
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| Feature Article Fender Electric Guitars - As Played By Stevie Ray Vaughan
Author: Charlie Cory
Stevie Ray Vaughan hailed from Dallas Texas, and his name is synonymous with fender electric guitars. Stevie predominantly played a late fifties or early sixties version of the Strat (opinion is divided on its exact date), but there is no doubting that it was a Fender Stratocaster (Strat) guitar. Stevie seemed to favour this guitar over most others, and the sound is distinctly Fender, and Strat in particular, in quality. The sound produced by Stevie Ray is almost classic Fender. The Strat is very distinctive, and adds a beautiful tone, especially to Stevie Ray's blues playing. There is a lot of recorded music by Stevie Ray, and all of it is great to hear. I certainly recommend that you seek some out and enjoy the Texas blues at its very best. Stevie's background was steeped in the blues, so it is no surprise that his recordings feature many blues cuts. The video of Stevies' performance of Texas Flood is a great example of his feel for the blues. Stevie didn't stop with the blues though, and he used his Fender Guitar to great effect on many of his own compositions, as well as blues classics. He played a kind of shuffle exquisitely, as demonstrated on brilliant tunes such as 'Pride and Joy' and 'Cold Shot'. SRV also covered many rock classics, and could do anything song he turned his attention to justice. I had the great privilege of seeing Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble at the Hammersmith Odeon (it's now called something else I think) in London, in the late 1980's. Apart from the pleasure of seeing SRV play, the event was doubly memorable for me because Eric Clapton came in, accompanied by Ringo Starr and other halves, and sat down in front of me! How cool was that. Stevie wrapped his Fender around all his classic cuts, including some specialty rocks songs that he covered, in honour of his peers. I am thinking here of Jimi Hendrix, for whom SRV covered Little Wing and Voodoo Chile. And Stevie's renditions of these songs were spectacular. However, remembering Eric Clapton, reminded me of another SRV cover, which I recall EC getting very animated about, And that was a version of Stevie Wonder's classic song 'Superstition', played with all the panache you would expect from a super showman like Stevie Ray Vaughan. And if Eric Clapton loved it, who am I to argue? I am very grateful to the likes of Google's You Tube that allows us to see late great artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan plying their trade. Seeing these great performers, many on stage where they were in their element. is a chance to see great workmen use their tools of trade, which in Stevie Ray's case, was a Fender Electric Guitar! Fender electric guitars rock! Stevie Ray Vaughan played them, so could you! Great music, great guitars, great time!
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| Feature Article Fender 65 Mustang
Author: Gareth Owen
Fender is one of the leading musical companies and has a dedicated experience in making musical instruments. Clarence Leonidas Fender founded this organization in 1946. It has gained a worldwide recognition throughout the years in making the musical instruments. One can also say that Fender is the most reputable corporate to create the best guitars in the world. Currently, their headquarters is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, with their manufacturing amenities located throughout the world. Fender has produced a great line of guitars through the times and among them is the '65 Mustang. The Fender '65 Mustang is an electric guitar and was originally introduced in 1964 as a remodel of the Fender's student models, which included Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic. The Fender '65 Mustang was made until 1982 and then was reissued again in the 1990. The offset waist of the Fender '65 Mustang is evocative of the Jazzmaster, but apart from that, it closely follows the style of the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic. When Mustang was released, it got a huge recognition and on the basis of that the two models, Musicmaster and the Duo-Sonic were remodeled and they were named Musicmaster II and Duo-Sonic II. The '65 Mustang, Musicmaster II and Duo-Sonic II had 21 fret 22.5-inch neck or 3/4 scale neck or another adjustment of a 22 fret 24-inch neck, but the most popular one was the 24-inch neck. The 24-inch neck is considered perfect for people who have small hands and it makes it ideal for them to have an excellent control and stability as well as it also augments the capability to use the tremolo arm for upbends. This guitar had been customized for a great legend, Kurt Cobain, who used this short scale with an exclusive and extremely direct tremolo arm to give his best performances ever. This guitar has undergone customizations and upgrades to offer the best results. There was also another brand that was introduced known as the Fender Mustang Bass in 1964. The design of this guitar was made with a similar offset body design to the '65 Mustang guitar and along with it a short 30-inch scale was used. Other guitars that had the look of Mustang Bass body and neck included Fender Musicmaster Bass and Fender Bronco Bass. The Fender '65 Mustang guitar has two-angled single coil pickups and each has a neighboring on-off-on switch along with a master tone and a volume control. Interestingly enough, the '65 Mustang does not have a pickup selector or a circuit selector switch but just has the two pickup switches that allow the pickups to be used individually or in parallel. The phase of the selected pickup is reversed by the second on position, which permits the pickups to be in either in or out phase when used in parallel. This is a new feature introduced than the one created in 1964. This made a remarkable effect in noise reduction as when both the pickups were floating with respect to ground and this made it probable to change the wiring by placing the pickups in series either in or out phase. This switching can be replaced by a conventional pickup change switch that is being provided with the Duo-Sonic, which only requires slight modification in the pickguard and frees the two eight-terminal pickup switches for different uses. Another very interesting feature introduced in the Mustang was the Fender Dynamic Vibrato tailpiece, which along with the floating bridge constitutes the Mustang Trem or Stang Trem. This concept is taken from the tremolo developed for the Jazzmaster, whereas on the Mustang, the saddles consist of only a single string slot, whereas on the other Fender guitars there are multiple slots that allow limited modification of string spacing. Last but not the least, the great musicians who have played on Mustang are Kurt Cobain, Mark Arm, Billy Corgan, Adrian Belew, Graham Coxon and a lot of other names who are the legends and have made a huge contribution in the world of music.
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| Feature Article Fender 65 Mustang
Author: Gareth Owen
Fender is one of the leading musical companies and has a dedicated experience in making musical instruments. Clarence Leonidas Fender founded this organization in 1946. It has gained a worldwide recognition throughout the years in making the musical instruments. One can also say that Fender is the most reputable corporate to create the best guitars in the world. Currently, their headquarters is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, with their manufacturing amenities located throughout the world. Fender has produced a great line of guitars through the times and among them is the '65 Mustang. The Fender '65 Mustang is an electric guitar and was originally introduced in 1964 as a remodel of the Fender's student models, which included Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic. The Fender '65 Mustang was made until 1982 and then was reissued again in the 1990. The offset waist of the Fender '65 Mustang is evocative of the Jazzmaster, but apart from that, it closely follows the style of the Musicmaster and Duo-Sonic. When Mustang was released, it got a huge recognition and on the basis of that the two models, Musicmaster and the Duo-Sonic were remodeled and they were named Musicmaster II and Duo-Sonic II. The '65 Mustang, Musicmaster II and Duo-Sonic II had 21 fret 22.5-inch neck or 3/4 scale neck or another adjustment of a 22 fret 24-inch neck, but the most popular one was the 24-inch neck. The 24-inch neck is considered perfect for people who have small hands and it makes it ideal for them to have an excellent control and stability as well as it also augments the capability to use the tremolo arm for upbends. This guitar had been customized for a great legend, Kurt Cobain, who used this short scale with an exclusive and extremely direct tremolo arm to give his best performances ever. This guitar has undergone customizations and upgrades to offer the best results. There was also another brand that was introduced known as the Fender Mustang Bass in 1964. The design of this guitar was made with a similar offset body design to the '65 Mustang guitar and along with it a short 30-inch scale was used. Other guitars that had the look of Mustang Bass body and neck included Fender Musicmaster Bass and Fender Bronco Bass. The Fender '65 Mustang guitar has two-angled single coil pickups and each has a neighboring on-off-on switch along with a master tone and a volume control. Interestingly enough, the '65 Mustang does not have a pickup selector or a circuit selector switch but just has the two pickup switches that allow the pickups to be used individually or in parallel. The phase of the selected pickup is reversed by the second on position, which permits the pickups to be in either in or out phase when used in parallel. This is a new feature introduced than the one created in 1964. This made a remarkable effect in noise reduction as when both the pickups were floating with respect to ground and this made it probable to change the wiring by placing the pickups in series either in or out phase. This switching can be replaced by a conventional pickup change switch that is being provided with the Duo-Sonic, which only requires slight modification in the pickguard and frees the two eight-terminal pickup switches for different uses. Another very interesting feature introduced in the Mustang was the Fender Dynamic Vibrato tailpiece, which along with the floating bridge constitutes the Mustang Trem or Stang Trem. This concept is taken from the tremolo developed for the Jazzmaster, whereas on the Mustang, the saddles consist of only a single string slot, whereas on the other Fender guitars there are multiple slots that allow limited modification of string spacing. Last but not the least, the great musicians who have played on Mustang are Kurt Cobain, Mark Arm, Billy Corgan, Adrian Belew, Graham Coxon and a lot of other names who are the legends and have made a huge contribution in the world of music.
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| Feature Article Famous Fender Stratocaster History
Author: Steve Morgan
Fender Stratocaster history begins with the man some people call the king of surf music. Dick Dale is the man who some believe invented surf music as early as the 1950's. No, it wasn't the Beach Boys. It was Dick Dale. He had the musical assistance of Leo Fender, inventor of the Fender Stratocaster. Part of early Fender Stratocaster history includes the story of Leo Fender's gift to Dick Dale of a Fender Stratocaster to use in his live performances. He wanted Dick to try the Fender Stratocaster - and the rest is history, as the saying goes. Did he try that guitar! The Fender Stratocaster history at that point was one of taking abuse and living through it, as Dale beat that guitar, hurling loud raucous music into the night, and destroying forty nine different amps until one actually caught on fire. Stratocaster history that night including the entertaining Dick Dale using the right handed guitar for left-handed play, playing upside down and created all new sounds. Leo, Freddy Fender and Dale joined forces to find new, more tolerable speakers and this was the beginning of heavy metal Fender Stratocaster. They approached a company that made speakers and asked that they design a fifteen-inch Fender Stratocaster speaker. This made Fender Stratocaster speaker history. Fender history included the fact that Dick Dale became the first person to take the quiet guitar player image and transform her or him into a loud heavy metal entertainer. Included in this portion of Fender history was Guitar Player Magazine, who as a result now referred to Dick Dale as the father of heavy metal. Stratocaster history, then, is about the transition from quiet soothing singalong surf music to the heavy metal sound of the sixties. Steve Morgan makes it quick and easy to find the best guitars. Read expert information here.
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| Feature Article Famous Fender Stratocaster History
Author: Steve Morgan
Fender Stratocaster history begins with the man some people call the king of surf music. Dick Dale is the man who some believe invented surf music as early as the 1950's. No, it wasn't the Beach Boys. It was Dick Dale. He had the musical assistance of Leo Fender, inventor of the Fender Stratocaster. Part of early Fender Stratocaster history includes the story of Leo Fender's gift to Dick Dale of a Fender Stratocaster to use in his live performances. He wanted Dick to try the Fender Stratocaster - and the rest is history, as the saying goes. Did he try that guitar! The Fender Stratocaster history at that point was one of taking abuse and living through it, as Dale beat that guitar, hurling loud raucous music into the night, and destroying forty nine different amps until one actually caught on fire. Stratocaster history that night including the entertaining Dick Dale using the right handed guitar for left-handed play, playing upside down and created all new sounds. Leo, Freddy Fender and Dale joined forces to find new, more tolerable speakers and this was the beginning of heavy metal Fender Stratocaster. They approached a company that made speakers and asked that they design a fifteen-inch Fender Stratocaster speaker. This made Fender Stratocaster speaker history. Fender history included the fact that Dick Dale became the first person to take the quiet guitar player image and transform her or him into a loud heavy metal entertainer. Included in this portion of Fender history was Guitar Player Magazine, who as a result now referred to Dick Dale as the father of heavy metal. Stratocaster history, then, is about the transition from quiet soothing singalong surf music to the heavy metal sound of the sixties. Steve Morgan makes it quick and easy to find the best guitars. Read expert information here.
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| Feature Article Eric Clapton: Guitar Legend
Author: James Keam
Eric Clapton is an acclaimed musical artist, nicknamed "Slowhand" and known for his superb guitar playing ability. Originally from Ripley, Surrey, England, Clapton was born on March 30, 1945. His musical genres include blues, rock, psychedelic rock, and blues rock. Clapton is regarded by many as on e of the greatest and most influential guitarists. Aside from winning Grammy Awards, Eric Clapton has three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Clapton started off by joining the rock and roll band The Yardbirds in 1963, but left in 1965 as the band had more of a pop orientation than he would have liked, remaining dedicated to the blues. Eric then joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, who would help Clapton establish himself as one of the worlds best blues guitarists. Clapton left however quickly left Bluesbreakers as well, forming the band Cream in 1966. During his time with Cream was when he began to develop as a singer and songwriter along with is already notable guitar skills. Cream would break up two years later however in 1968.
Eric Clapton either played with and/or started a number of other successful groups before taking a career break because of personal issues in the 1970's and has sporadically released solo albums since then. Some of his solo albums include: There's One in Every Crowd, Another Ticket, Reptile, Sessions for Robert J, and Back Home.
Fans can get Eric Clapton Ringtones here. Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com James is a freelance writer covering Eric Clapton and other Entertainters, he also writes for www.ericclaptonringtones.com ...
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| Feature Article Epiphone Musical Instruments
Author: Not Available
Acoustic and electric guitars and basses. ...
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| Feature Article Electric Bass Guitars
Author: Seth Miller
Electric bass guitars produce a very striking sound that gives a punch to any type of music. The sound it produces is lower and deeper than normal guitars. These have a longer neck and are tuned an octave lower in pitch than a normal guitar. Bass guitars are based on the double bass, and the sound it turns out is magical to the ears. It has a similar range as other bass instruments. The bass guitar just like a classic guitar with a bass design. Its body is made of wood, with an option of a fully hollow body, partially hollow body or completely solid body. The electric bass, in contrast to the double bass, is played while held horizontally across the body. Unlike the double bass, it is not played with a bow; instead, it is usually plucked with the fingers, thumbs or plectra. You can play the electric bass guitar sitting or standing. The bass players generally stand while playing, although sitting is also accepted, particularly in the orchestral settings. However, it is a matter of player's preference as to which position gives him the greatest ease of playing. When sitting and playing, the instrument can easily be balanced on the thighs or legs. A bass guitar suits almost all kinds of music, like rock, jazz and pop, but it's very popular in contemporary music. Playing a guitar is fun, but the electric bass guitar definitely add that little sound and vibration to your fingers as you enjoy playing it. Electric Guitars provides detailed information on Electric Guitars, Acoustic Electric Guitars, Cheap Electric Guitars, Electric Bass Guitars and more. Electric Guitars is affiliated with Piano Lessons.
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| Feature Article Dylan's Guitars
Author: Not Available
The next regular guitar was an old Gibson , according to John Hammond Jr a J50 model ("... beat up but real neat ... it was a great guitar ," interview in The ... ...
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| Feature Article Discount Gibson guitars for sale J-250 J-50 SJ200 J45 Hummingbird
Author: Not Available
Discount Gibson guitars electric and acoustic for sale J-150 J-50 SJ200 J-185EC Cutaway Workhorse Cherry Sunburst Hummingbird acoustic bass acoustic guitar ... ...
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| Feature Article daily picks
Author: Not Available
... ca - ibanez guitars will be showcased and demonstrated at west la music's universal city location on november 15 at 7pm during a special in-store clinic ... ...
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| Feature Article Create Digital Music » Gibson to Launch Self-Tuning "Robot" Guitar
Author: Not Available
Gibson Guitar is not, in fact, introducing a fully robotic guitar . Or a creepy robot doll that plays a guitar . Nor are they shipping you a handsome ... ...
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| Feature Article Create Digital Music » Gibson to Launch Self-Tuning "Robot" Guitar
Author: Not Available
Gibson Guitar is not, in fact, introducing a fully robotic guitar . Or a creepy robot doll that plays a guitar . Nor are they shipping you a handsome ... ...
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| Feature Article A Brief History of Fender Guitars
Author: Michael Casamento
Perhaps no other guitar maker has touched the hearts of so many players and collectors as Fender. By producing excellent guitars at reasonable prices, Fender has been the instrument of choice for many guitarists throughout the world. Both the famous and not so famous have relied on Fender guitars to define their signature sounds. The Fender company was founded by Leo Fender, and produced its first solid body electric guitar in 1951. This guitar was called the Telecaster, and was soon followed by the Precision Bass, and the legendary Stratocaster in 1954. Over the years many changes would take place at Fender which had a great impact on the types and quality of instruments they produced. The first "mile-stone" year for Fender came in 1965. During this year, Fender was bought by corporate giant CBS. Quality began to decline during CBS's reign, and although Fender still remained popular among players, CBS lacked the commitment and understanding necessary to satisfy the needs of serious musicians. As a result, the guitars produced during the "Pre-CBS" era would become prized collectors items demanding large sums of money in the vintage guitar market. In 1985 Fender enjoyed another "mile-stone" year as a group of employees purchased the company back from CBS. For the first time in 20 years Fender was in the hands of musicians and artisans committed to producing world class guitars. A new manufacturing facility was built in Corona California to handle the production of USA made guitars. In 1987 the Fender Custom Shop was established, reaffirming the company's dedication to producing top quality guitars, and catering to the needs of top musicians. From 1985 to the present day, Fender has been steadily expanding its operations within the United States and abroad. The company now produces a vast array of musical products from strings to mixing boards. In spight of such massive growth, Fender's commitment to the production of quality guitars remains very high. Fender remains one of the few companies that can successfully provide quality products to both the "budget conscious" and "price no object" musicians. © Written By: Michael Casamento Michael Casamento is the founder of Guitar Pages Online - a comprehensive resource for guitars and guitar related merchandise on the Internet. For more information visit:http://www.guitarpagesonline.com " http://www.guitarpagesonline.com This article may be freely reproduced so long as the above resource box is included in its entirety. ...
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| Feature Article American Fender Stratocaster - A Guide to the Fender by Stratocaster
Author: Mark Byrne
History It is said the Leo Fender couldn't play the guitar … and he was tone deaf. Regardless of whether the above statements are true or not, the company he created managed to produce one of the true icons of popular music – the American Fender Stratocaster. It's been widely reported that these classics were close to being dumped as, apparently, Fender had planned to stop production of the Stratocaster before Jimi Hendrix popularized the guitar in the late 60s. Made In The USA The American Series Stratocasters are, as the name suggests actually made in America whereas the Standard strats are made in Mexico. American Series versions are considered to be overwhelmingly better than the Standard versions and their price reflects that gap too. These days, list prices for American Fender Stratocasters are around $1,400 but there are some distributors out there, if you know where to look, who will cut you a great deal with free shipping, lowest price guarantees etc. Technical Stuff Introduced in 2000, the guitar body is fashioned from Alder, the neck is made in the Modern "C" shape from Maple. You have a choice of seven colours from 3-colour Sunburst to Charcoal Frost Metallic. As standard, it comes with 3 American Strat Single-Coil Pickups but, of course, you could customise these to your own taste. The maple neck is 25.5 inches in length with a 9.5 radius and the fingerboard (made from either rosewood or maple) has 22 medium jumbo frets. There's a 5-setting pickup selector switch which allows you to select any of the following combo's: - Setting 1: bridge
- Setting 2: bridge & middle
- Setting 3: middle
- Setting 4: middle & neck
- Setting 5: neck
Expensive Strats The most expensive strat ever sold went for US $2.6 million to a sheihk at an auction in Qatar. It had been signed by Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Brian May, Liam and Noel Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Ray Davies, David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, Mark Knopfler, Angus and Malcolm Young, Paul McCartney, Sting, and Bryan Adams. The proceeds went to helping the victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami. The previous record was held by Eric Clapton's "Blackie" which fetched US$959,500 at a charity auction in 2004.
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