Talk:Fender Stratocaster

The Stratocaster's shape, called the "Comfort Contour Body" by Fender,^[1] ) differed from the Telecaster's slab-like design. The Stratocaster's double cutaways gave players easier access to higher positions on the neck,^[2] and the body's recessed "beer gut" concave curve on the upper back, and a gradual chamfer arm rest on the front, gave player's right arm rest, gave players a more comfortable guitar to play. The "dogleg" style headstock of the Startocasdters contrasted with the narrow headstock shape of the Telecaster.

The strings were anchored and the back side of the body through the pivot bridge, which had springs in a 'claw' attached to screws in the in the tremolo cavity of the guitar's underside. Early Stratocasters had floating five springs mounted under the bridge to anchor the bridge flat against the body when not in use. Players who removed two of the five bridge springs and adjust the claw screws found they could affect a 'floating bridge' which allowed the strings to be pulled by a tremolo arm ("whammy bar") in one direction for a higher pitch, or the other direction to lower pitch. Jeff Beck and Ike Turner are two notable players who have extensively used in their playing the Strat's floating tremolo. But other players, such as Eric Clapton, unhappy with the floating bridge's propensity to detune guitars, prohibited the bridge's movement with wood wedged between the bridge block and the inside cutout of the tremolo cavity to lock the bridge in a fixed position. (Luthier Gelazzo Fradua says that floating bridges can stay in tune through tuning techniques specific to a floating bridge.^[3]) Stratocasters called "hard-tails" forgo a floating bridge and tremelo bar, having instead a fixed bridge that cannot effect pitch change.

In its original form the Stratocaster featured three single coil pickups which could be separately activated with 3-way switch near the bridge. But guitarists discovered that different tonal qualities could be induced by leaving the selector switch between the bridge and middle pickup, or the neck and middle pickup, thereby activating two pickups at once.^[4] The popularity of this trick led to Fender producing a 5-way pickup selector (a standard feature since 1977) which had added fixed 2 and 4 positions for easier and more reliable in-between pickup selection.

Players known for often using the 2 and four pickup potions include David Gilmour, Rory Gallagher, Mark Knopfler, Scott Thurston, Eric Clapton and Robert Cray. The neck and middle pickups are typically wired to separate tone controls that have a shared tone capacitor which allows players to roll off the higher frequencies. To maintain its inherent brightness, the bridge pickup has no tone control slanted closer towards the bridge on the high strings for a more trebly sound. Another technique to diminish higher frequencies on all pickups is to lower the Strat's volume control below its peak.

Fender placed the volume and tone control knobs on the Stratocaster to enable ready access of players' picking hand. In certain recent editions of Stratocasters, an additional tone control is dedicated to the neck pickup, and another tone control is for both the middle and bridge pickups. On Fender's Eric Clapton Stratocaster, for instance, and other select guitars from their Artist Series models - such as the Buddy Guy signature model, one knob is for a presence circuit which cuts or boosts treble and bass frequencies on all pickups, while a second control knob can actively boost the midrange frequencies up to 25dB (12dB on certain models) for a fatter humbucker-like sound. On these models, as well as on the majority of Stratocasters, a single volume knob controls the level on all three pickups.

The three pickups were originally identical in construction, including output specifications. But the popularity of combining pickups in parallel combinations preceded Fender's introduction a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle pickup having a magnetic polarity contrary to the neck and bridge pickups. The middle pickup has a wire wound in the reverse direction around the bobbin compared to the other neck and bridge pickups. This caused a hum-canceling effect with this configuration (removing hum induced by poorly shielded, medium to high output AC devices) in positions 2 and 4 on the selector switch. A similar method of using two pickups to cancel hum had long been used by Fender, notably to their Precision Bass. Currently, Fenders with more than one single-coil pickup (most notably the Stratocaster, Telecaster and Jazz Bass) use hum-canceling pickup configurations.

As a courtesy, I'm going to wait one more day, at least, before moving the new text in. Please comment.The Artist AKA Mr Anonymous (talk) 18:54, 6 March 2012 (UTC)

The DuPont paint for 5% more is repeated twice in the article - therefore it's redundant. ICE77 (talk) 06:50, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

Noticed it's mentioned in the lead section, which seems misplaced. If I have some time over the weekend I might have a go at rewriting the lead section to more properly summarise the content. Should be more important to have it mention why the guitar is important, some of its influence in music and instrument manufacturing, etc... Feel free to beat me to the editing though, and thanks for the good work you've done so far! Cheers, Nettrom (talk) 14:40, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

There are a bunch of links that link to a Fender Stratocaster#Signature models but there is no section on the page. I propose we bring it back. 106.68.213.89 (talk) 06:18, 18 March 2017 (UTC)

As of 2023 (that's what it says it's up to date until), the Stratocaster Database lists over 70 artists that had signature Stratocaster models dedicated to them. Fender has been adding more in 2024 and will probably do so in 2025. Right now, the article lists 25 of these artists. There is no discernible criterion for inclusion right now, although it seems to mostly follow the Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists. I would personally prefer if the guitars were the criterion, like having unusual electronics or some other novel or rare feature (Yngwie with the fretboard scalloping comes to mind), but I suspect we'll end up reducing that section to a link to the signature guitar list to avoid the realm of subjective opinion, or having it become too large. 2A02:8071:184:4E80:0:0:0:EAC0 (talk) 03:16, 28 December 2024 (UTC)

For the moment, I've blanked the section that runs on at length about Squier Stratocasters, rather than (read the headline) Fender Stratocasters. Discussion ought to be properly put under Squier.

Most of the article reads as a mix of OR and fanboy POV. Even at that, there are gross oversights scattered about, for instance that the primary Design developments section gives no information about the development of the design. If I were to mark up all the claims and "real facts" that are pasted in without substantiation, the tags would double the article's bytes. Overall, it's a very poor piece.
Weeb Dingle (talk) 00:14, 1 March 2018 (UTC)

A previous post above (unsigned/undated, roughly 2011-2013) says it quite well, and bears repeating:

Why is there nothing about the history of how the guitar was designed? There's no mention of the feedback Fender got from Bill Carson, who the guitar was designed for. It does mention it at the article Bill Carson (musician) however. Who designed the shape? (Freddie Tavares). Very little facts here except for models and sales, etc.

Weeb Dingle (talk) 07:12, 1 March 2018 (UTC)

Does Rex Gallion deserve any credit for the body shape?
Weeb Dingle (talk) 17:40, 11 May 2019 (UTC)

And yet another fanboyism: the lede claims the Strat "was invented in 1954" which seems unlikely as that's the year it was commercially released. How about someone clarify the date of the initial design, and maybe as well the beginning of production?
Weeb Dingle (talk) 17:00, 1 June 2019 (UTC)

(Mostly a note to myself, but anyone can have at it.) The Design developments section needs overhaul. First, it sails off in a few clear directions that can readily be broken up, then better addressed on merits. For starters, there's a bunch about the Fender floating tremolo (esp. springs).
Weeb Dingle (talk) 19:18, 28 November 2019 (UTC)

I've had a brief look - to me, it felt that while there was lots of detail, we were missing an overview describing what a Stratocaster actually is. I've had a first attempt, but I'm sure it can be enhanced. The Parson's Cat (talk) 08:29, 12 April 2020 (UTC)

@Meclazine: Thanks for your recent edits to

Removed reference to Floyd Rose as a bridge type. Stratocasters never came stock with these, and 0.001% of custom orders would have them.

I wonder if this is correct, please? Fender currently sells some production models like this - there's a current Player Stratocaster HSS Floyd Rose at and I recall many similar models over the years. Wheeler (2000) does make references to models with Floyd Roses in the American Special line c.2000 in The Stratocaster Chronicles, p.246.

Would you be happy for the Floyd Rose to be reinstated? Alternatively, given that both the Player and American Professional lines use two-pivot systems now, please we could just leave the reference to the original six-screw tremolo, remove the hardtail, and simply say 'and others'. What do you think, please. The Parson's Cat (talk) 15:02, 9 August 2020 (UTC)

@Parsonscat: Thanks for that. The number of Fender Stratocasters with Kahler modified tremolo systems would need to be mentioned. If you want to talk about Floyd Rose Tremolo systems, you would be better off paying attention to the guitars that are better known for having them: Kramer, Ibanez, Charvel, ESP, Jackson and Floyd Rose guitars. Gibson Les Paul's had them installed in the late 1970's and early 1980's, but predominantly as an after-market alteration. Both the Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster do have a special edition with the Floyd Rose installed, but the numbers in relation to total production are negligible, certainly not enough to mention this as a normal setup on the main Fender Stratocaster page. Hardtail, 2 and 6 screw tremolo bridge attachments occupy 99.99% of the Fender Stratocasters produced. Meclazine (talk) 21:24, 9 August 2020 (UTC) Meclazine (talk)

Thanks for that. I am a bit wary of unsourced statistics - that's why I picked up in this from the edit history. My suggestion - currently in the infobox - is the 'six screw bridge' + others. Hope that works for everyone. It seems compact and avoids WP:UNDUE.

Incidentally, I would be interested in verifiable data on Fender's production levels over the years. I imagine that they are making more guitars now than ever, so an apparent 'fringe' model introduced in the 1990s could by now be quite significant compared to the now-rare hardtails - but I don't have hard facts to test that hypothesis. The Parson's Cat (talk) 08:48, 10 August 2020 (UTC)

@Parsonscat: I read that Fender had never published any production statistics. If that is so, I wonder where Meclazine's assertion about 99.99% and 99.999% (as a subtraction exercise from the edit summary) come from. 2A02:8071:184:4E80:0:0:0:EAC0 (talk) 03:53, 26 December 2024 (UTC)

I dont mind, but I have never seen them apart from being an after market feature. They would have a higher sale volume from the Custom Shop in 2025. But in 1954-1995, the original models had none. Hance the 99.99%. Meclazine (talk) 12:11, 24 March 2025 (UTC)

Basic information to add to this article: where the name comes from. Is it related to the word "stratosphere"? 173.88.246.138 (talk) 04:27, 2 August 2021 (UTC)

Leo Fender named it after Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which too made its debut in 1954. 130.233.201.38 (talk) 12:57, 2 July 2024 (UTC)

What the dubious source actually said was that the word "stratospheric" was in common use at the time. No direct link was made between the Fortress and the guitar. 2A02:8071:184:4E80:0:0:0:AEA8 (talk) 02:58, 3 July 2024 (UTC)

Why is there a redirect from there to here, but then there's no "Marquise" mentioned in the article at all? --BjKa (talk) 12:18, 11 July 2024 (UTC)

The link target has since been corrected to another article that also does not mention the guitar. 2A02:8071:184:4E80:0:0:0:AEA8 (talk) 03:03, 16 July 2024 (UTC)

We currently have this passage in the article:

Leo Fender insisted it leave the factory floating (raised up in the back) while designer Freddie Tavares preferred it tightened flush for full bridge plate/body contact resonance.

So who prevailed? I have read of Strats in recent years leaving the factory decked, but what about the 1950s/60s and onwards? 2A02:8071:184:4E80:0:0:0:EAC0 (talk) 07:39, 26 December 2024 (UTC)

The Clapton signature Stratocaster has 80 Db boost ( 73 Db boost without mid boodt) and can cause serious hearing problems. At 80 Db boost its 256 times louder than a normal Stratocaster. At 73 Db boost its 175 times louder than a normal Stratocaster. Its able to have these extreme boost levels which is 1 500 volt output, because it uses transistor voltage boost that easily takes it up to 1 600 volt for safety. 3 cascading 2N6429 TO-92 transistors along with resistors and collectors after each one makes for perfect Transistor voltage boost. Along with that the discrete op amp topoly and The 2N5087 transistor contuninues the voltage boost with help of perfectly placed resistors and collectors. You could transistor voltage much more than that if you want and only through the 3 cascaded transistors. You can effect take 1 volt and make it to a million volts given you have the right HFE. So a battery just starts what becomes 1 500 volt output. The only thing thats passive on The Clapton Signature Stratocaster is its stacked Humbuckers ( Vintage Noiceless). 2A00:801:751:1FFD:851E:F744:EAEB:EAD5 (talk) 11:37, 17 July 2025 (UTC)