Happy 60th birthday to the Strat!

      The Fender Stratocaster is turning 60! It's been of the most popular guitars since Leo Fender introduced it in 1954 and has consistently remained a favorite of the biggest acts in the world. Jimi Hendrix's main guitar was a Strat. Strats were one of Kurt Cobain's go-to's. Producer Nile Rodgers used the same Strat to record Sister Sledge's “We Are Family”, Madonna's “Like a Virgin” and Daft Punk's “Get Lucky”. Kirk Hammett uses his vintage sea-foam Strat for Metallica's “I Disappear”. The solo that closes out Pearl Jam's “Alive”, the guitar on Bon Jovi's “You Give Love a Bad Name”, and the twang on Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About” are all Strats.

From Guitar World.

     So what makes it so beloved? From a physical perspective, it introduced several new features for guitars. The body was contoured to account for the player's comfort. The output jack's position was moved and placed at an angle, so that players wouldn't accidentally step on their cords and yank them out during performances. It also had a double cutaway body to allow easier access to the high frets. When played clean it produces a beautiful bell-like, chiming sound. With some distortion, it cuts through the mix with treble and clarity. It is the favorite of some of the most famous guitar virtuosos in the world.

      Eric Clapton: “It's like going home.”
      Keith Richards: "Even if it wasn't a guitar, if it was a door stop or something, it would still be a great piece of design."

      Robin Trower: “For me, the Stratocaster has more of a vocal-like quality when playing single notes than any other guitar. It’s got an actual voice.”

      Yngwie Malmsteen: “Obviously, I wanted a Strat, and when I first started playing one I realized it was the perfect instrument—the Stradivarius of electric guitars.”

Ritzy from Joy Formidable.

      Famous Stratocasters have sold for obscene amounts of money. Stevie Ray Vaughn's “Lenny”, which his wife Lenora bought for him, fetched $623,500 at a charity auction. Eric Clapton's famous “Blackie” also sold at auction for $955,500. The white one Hendrix played at Woodstock was purchased by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $1.3 million.

The man.

      There you have it. Heard in everything from the greatest guitarist who ever lived, to the opening notes of Pulp Fiction, and throughout every major genre of music, the Fender Stratocaster is one of the greatest musical instruments ever created.

Bibliography

1. Chris Gill, “You Sixty Thing”, Guitar World, October 2014, 72-80
2. “Dear Guitar Hero”, 8/30/13, http://www.guitarworld.com/dear-guitar-hero-yngwie-malmsteen-answers-readers-questions-sweep-picking-amps-dimebag-darrell-and-arrogance