Fender Stratocaster

The Stratocaster is an electric solid-body guitar introduced in the mid-1950s by Fender. A followup to the Telecaster, the Stratocaster, or "Strat" was designed to be a deluxe model for electric guitar players. The new design featured 3 pickups (instead of 2 on the Telecaster), a vibrato unit on the bridge, ergonomic contours on the body and an extended upper horn for better balance when playing standing up. Like its older sister the Telecaster, it is also very easy to manufacture, repair and customize.

The design was a hit, and the Stratocaster was and is to this day the most ubiquitous electric guitar ever. It is suitable for any style of music but most especially blues and rock. The most collectible Strats are the ones made before 1965 when Fender was bought by CBS. No guitar collection is complete without a Strat.