Buying a Stratocaster: What Kind Should You Choose?

buying a stratocaster

Buying a Stratocaster? Well, we have good news and bad news.

The Good News:

There are so many models to choose from.

The Bad News:

There are so many models to choose from! 🙂

Seriously, if you’re thinking of buying a Stratocaster, you really do have a ton of models to choose from. You may or may not have enough to spend on a brand new Fender Strat (depending on prices in your local store) so, with the many choices, what is the right one for you? Well, only you can answer that question, because the guitar you choose really depends on the style of music you play, and your spending budget.

Since I don’t know what kind of music you like, I have to assume that you’ve asked about a Strat because you’re into music that isn’t too aggressive (e.g., Heavy Metal) but, instead, prefer styles such as:

  • Rock and Roll
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • R&B / Soul
  • Punk
  • Pop

If you’re into any of those styles (or anything similar), then a Strat would be a fine choice for you. If you are into Heavy Metal or harder styles, you might want to consider a totally different guitar, and check in with me about that so that my answer can be focused on your particular taste.

Pickups

The main difference between the many Fender Strats offered today is the pickups. Sure, there are other differences, but this is the main thing that will really change how the guitar sounds. The more “Vintage” Strats out there have three single-coil pickups, which are pretty low output and not good for extremely aggressive music. They’re better for Rock and Roll, Blues, Funk, Pop, and maybe Punk.

If you’re into a playing style that’s a little more aggressive, consider the models that have a humbucker in the bridge position. A humbucker will give you a much hotter sound when you play lead, but because there are two single-coil pickups in the middle and bridge positions, you have the option of nice, clean sounds as well.

Some of the models have the new S-1™ switching system. This gives you even more tonal variations than the standard five-way switch. Cool Stuff.

Details for the S-1™ switching system: https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/how-the-s-1-switch-gives-you-more-tonal-options

The Bridge

The bridge mostly comes into play if you use the whammy bar a lot. In general, if you do not have a locking tremolo such as that found in a Floyd Rose or a Khaler, your guitar will definitely go out of tune when you use the whammy bar more than a little. If you are really into serious whammy bar / dive bombs, then again, you’re barking up the wrong tree with a Fender Strat and should consider a more modern / high-performance guitar such as an Ibanez JEM, or the like.

Models

Below are some links to the various models that Fender currently offers, and an eBay search link. But, as mentioned earlier, it all starts with asking yourself what kind of music you want to play. Once you’ve made up your mind about that, take a good look at the details in the pages listed below and be sure to think about what tonal options this model has to offer. It’s the main thing that will determine how useful and enjoyable the guitar is for you over the course of time. Playability is, of course, a factor, but that comes into play more when you actually hold the guitar in your hands and try it out.

So, if you factor in all of the above, when you’re considering buying a Stratocaster, you should be able to come up with one that’s just right for you!

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Our resident electronics wizard came by his skills honestly — first as an apprentice in his father’s repair shop, later as a working musician and (most recently) as a sound designer for film. His passion for guitar led him to Humbucker Soup, where he continues to decode the wonders of wiring and the vicissitudes of voltage. Ed has never taken his guitar to a shop — he already knows how to fix it.