A recent Squier Stratocaster.

The Stratocaster is a model of electric guitar produced by the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company from the early 1950s until the present, and used by many leading guitarists and on many historic recordings.

The Stratocaster has been widely copied, such that "Stratocaster" or "Strat" can also denote a type of guitar, by various manufacturers, showing the same general features as the original. But properly, and to all legal intent, a Stratocaster is always a Fender; and the guitar's popularity shows no sign of abating.

The Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company (now known as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation), led by the late Leo Fender, developed the first commercial solid-body 'Spanish' (as opposed to 'Hawaiian,' or lap-steel) electric guitar in the Telecaster, a simple design whose earliest model was offered in 1950. Though the Telecaster and its variants were successful, many guitar players of the day insisted on using a Bigsby unit, a fairly primitive spring-loaded device with which players could bend notes up and down with their pick hand. Instead of adding a Bigsby, Fender decided to produce a new, more expensively-made line of guitar with his own design of vibrato unit. His decision was also influenced by guitarists Bill Carson and Rex Galleon, who requested a contoured body to temper the harsh edges of the slab-built Telecaster.

The name Stratocaster was intended to evoke images of newly emergent jet-aircraft technology (such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress), and reinforced Fender's modernistic design philosophy. In designing the Stratocaster's body, a significant area of the back of the guitar, and the area where the strumming arm rests, were beveled to accommodate the player's chest and arm. The upper bouts featured two cutaways, for easier access to the higher frets. The new “Custom Contour Body”, along with the “Synchronized Tremolo” bridge made the Stratocaster a revolutionary design. The guitar also featured more complex electronics than the Telecaster: a then unheard-of three single coil pickups, each with staggered magnetic poles; a three-way selector switch; one volume knob, and two tone controls. Patents were applied for, for all these new designs, and production line Stratocasters reached the market in early 1954 for $249.50. The basic production model had a nitrocellulose 2-tone “sunburst” finish, chrome hardware, and Bakelite plastic parts. Other manufacturers began ripping off the innovations immediately.

The bone-simple Telecaster also remained in production, and both the Stratocaster and the Telecaster continue to enjoy their own followings among guitarists.

Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock with his '69 Strat (strung upside-down for left-handed play)... making one of the most famous performances in rock music history

In 1959-1965, the Stratocaster was refitted with a thick rosewood fretboard, as well as color choices other than sunburst. After 1965, one could be purchased with either a maple or a rosewood fretboard. Other, often subtle changes were made to the guitars, as though in the spirit of tinkering for which Leo Fender was famous.

The Stratocaster fell out of fashion in the mid-sixties, to the point where the Fender company (Leo Fender had sold it to CBS for 13 million in January 1965) reduced its price and considered removing it from their production line. However, soon after, Jimi Hendrix, started playing Stratocasters. Stratocaster sales soared and the Stratocaster has remained a mainstay guitar ever since.

Although Fender, the company, still manufactures some high-quality models in the United States, they now have extensive manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, and Mexico, such that a new guitar with the name, "Fender Stratocaster," can be purchased for roughly the same dollar amount today as in 1954. The older and American-built Strats are most favoured, but models made in Japan are now highly regarded as well, after initial concerns as to their quality and authenticity. Models made in Ensenada Mexico, 100 miles south of the main American plant in southern California, took over as the less expensive counterparts to American models, while more recent Japanese Fenders are now mainly for the Japanese market, with a small number marked for export. The brandname, 'Squier', (previously a string manufacturer bought up by Fender) has been used since the early 80's for downmarket Fender instruments. The name adorns many inexpensive, good value guitars which use the Fender designs with cheaper components. These inexpensive models are manufactured in China and Indonesia, but were originally made in Japan and Korea. Early Squier Stratocasters manfactured in Japan and under the denomination JV (for Japanese Vintage), are quite well-regarded. Although not as valuable as comparable American models, prices for Japanese Vintage Strats are steadily rising.

Players first perceived a loss of the initial high quality of Fender guitars after the CBS takeover in the early 1960s. So-called "pre-CBS" Stratocasters are, accordingly, extremely sought-after and expensive. All original 1954 to 1958 Stratocasters can bring as much as $20,000 now! Many now reside in Japan, cached away as collectible pieces of Americana.

Additionaly, Fender produce an artist series range with models based on those played by famous guitarist such as Eric Clapton, Yngwie J. Malmsteen (notably the first two artist models, appearing in 1988, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Eric Johnson, Dick Dale and others. Other notable Strat players include, David Gilmour, John Mayer, Robin Trower, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mark Knopfler, Jeff Beck and of course Jimi Hendrix. Some of whom also have a signature model.

The "Fat" Strat

A recent Stratocaster offering, known as the Fat Strat, replaces the bridge single-coil pickup with a humbucker. There is also a Double Fat Strat which replaces two single-coil pickups with humbuckers.