Electric Guitar
- Vintera series
- Body: Alder
- Bolt-on neck: Maple
- Fretboard: Maple
- Black dot fretboard inlays
- Neck profile: Soft V
- Scale: 648 mm (25.51")
- Fretboard radius: 184 mm (7.25")
- Nut width: 42 mm (1.65")
- Synthetic bone nut
- 21 Vintage frets
- Pickups: 3 Vintage Style 50s Strat Single Coils
- Master Volume and 2 tone controls
- 5-Way switch
- Synchronised vintage style tremolo with 6 saddles
- 1-Ply white pickguard
- Vintage style machine heads
- Nickel / chrome hardware finish
- Strings: Fender USA 250L NPS .009 - .042 (Art.133191)
- Colour: Sea Foam Green
- Includes Deluxe gig bag
The be-all and end-all of electric guitar
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The Stratocaster may "only" be the second model to have come from Fender, but it has nevertheless gone on to become quite simply the most successful electric guitar in the world and remains in production to this day in both traditional and more updated versions. The Vintera '50s Strat is among the less modified of the current models and, although it features pickups and machine heads that have been conservatively modernised in order to keep in step with the times, it corresponds to the original 1950s design in all other respects. And because the Vintera series is made in Mexico, players can get their hands on one of these instruments - which of course boast Fender's customary high quality - at an affordable price that represents a fraction of what a model from Fender's Custom Shop would cost.
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Big shoes to fill
Despite occasional claims to the contrary, the Stratocaster's finish (shown here in Sea Foam Green) conceals a body made from solid wood, and always has done. This version features an alder body and a one-piece maple neck with a historically accurate soft V profile, and the fingerboard has a 7.25" radius and narrow, medium-tall frets. The six-in-line headstock boasts a set of Kluson-style machine heads with an updated design, and the three single coil pickups deliver the bright, open-sounding tones with which the Stratocaster has long been synonymous. Unlike the original, however, this Strat is equipped with a five-way selector switch that allows the "intermdiate" positions to be used, i.e. the bridge and middle pickup and the middle and neck pickup can be combined (these combinations are also humbucking). The six-point "Synchronized Tremolo" (which despite the name is actually a vibrato unit) is a little complicated to set up, but once that is done it wil return to pitch with remarkable accuracy after use.
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One for all
Ever since its original incarnation, the Fender Stratocaster has been known for its unparalleled flexibility and has become the instrument of choice for players who have to cover all the bases with a single guitar. In contrast to today's more sophisticated models, the Vintera 50s Strat has a very direct and straightforward sound, and thanks to its traditional single coil pickups, this guitar is primarily geared towards clean and slightly overdriven sounds. And the legendary tones that can additionally be achieved by combining the bridge/middle and middle/neck pickups in the intermediate switch positions are an expansion to the sonic palette that only a Stratocaster can provide. And players who like the feel of the soft V neck profile will take to this 50s version right away.
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About Fender
Fender is without doubt one of the most legendary guitar and amplifier manufacturers of all time. The company was founded in 1946 by its namesake Leo Fender († 1991), whose innovative ideas brought a breath of fresh air into the musical world. His Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass are not only classics – they also continue to shape the styles of musicians in countless genres to this day. Timeless Fender amplifier models such as the Bassman, Twin, Deluxe, and Princeton also enjoy a stellar reputation. Besides maintaining its classic product portfolio, however, the company is also constantly developing new products that make Fender a driving force in today’s music industry.
Take a clean amp and add a little reverb...
The Fender Stratocaster has probably been used in every style of "guitar-based" music - and probably in quite a few styles in which guitars are not naturally at home. The 50s version, however, has a more vintage tonal character that can be either smooth or cutting depending on the position of the pickup switch and delivers plenty of "twang" - the sound associated with artists like Hank Marvin, Buddy Holly, and Eric Clapton. And just like its ancestors in the 1950s, this guitar is best combined with a moderately powerful tube combo amplifier. Simply add a little reverb, and voilà: You get the sounds of "Peggy Sue", "Apache" and countless other classics at your fingertips.
