Fender Stratocaster

The Fender Stratocaster or the Strat is one of the most copied and used electric guitar models of all time. It's rival for this distinction is the Gibson Les Paul and possibly the Fender Telecaster. Even larger well known companies like Ibanez and Peavey have made lower cost versions of the Strat. The much copied Strat can range from very cheaply made, to boutique quality with upgraded tuners, pickups and hardware.

The Stratocaster is a three pickup guitar with a double cut away design. It has twenty one frets on a one piece neck. The Stratocasters design was more aerodynamic than its predecessor Telecaster which had a flat block-like look. If the Strat's "comfort contour" and recessed jack plate were not enough Fender created a whole new set of possibilities with a floating bridge.

Fender Stratocaster

Fender anchored five springs to the bridge keeping it flat against the body. Guitarists could remove two of these springs, and tighten the remaining three allowing the bridge to float. By pushing or pulling a tremolo or whammy bar players could quickly increase or decrease the pitch of the notes without crossing there fingers over a fret strip. The effect of which gave the change between notes a fluid gradual shift rather than an abrupt change from higher to lower or lower to higher.

Eddie Van Halen is considered a pioneer with using the floating bridge functionality to its fullest. The final seconds of the track "Eruption" as it leads into "You Really Got Me", although not played on a Strat, is a prime example of what a whammy bar can do, and just one of the reasons the Fender Stratocaster has its place amongst the greatest most enduring guitars of all time.

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