--- title: Top 10 Guitars | Fender Stratocaster description: "Flame Tree Music: Next to make our list of the top 10 guitars is the iconic and hugely popular Fender Stratocaster." image: https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hubfs/Fender%20Stratocaster%20horizontal.jpg --- - [Home](https://info.flametreepublishing.com/blog) | - [ Contact & About Us](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/contact-us) T H E   F L A M E   T R E E   B L O G ![Hubspot Guitar.jpg](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hubspot%20Guitar.jpg?width=980&name=Hubspot%20Guitar.jpg "Hubspot Guitar.jpg") # Music & Entertainment Blog # Top 10 Guitars | Fender Stratocaster Posted by [Laura Bulbeck](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/author/laura-bulbeck) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Next to make our list of the top 10 guitars is the iconic and hugely popular **Fender Stratocaster**, played by the likes of **Jimi Hendrix** and **Jeff Beck**. ### Back to the Drawing Board While [Fender’s Telecaster](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/top-10-guitars-fender-telecaster) was an **extremely popular** model, some criticized the instrument for its ‘**Plain Jane**’ appearance and for its **sharp edges**, which could be uncomfortable to hold. Heeding these complaints, Leo Fender and colleague Freddie Tavares went back to the drawing board, introducing the Stratocaster in 1954. ### ![Fender Stratocaster.jpeg](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fender%20Stratocaster.jpeg?width=157&name=Fender%20Stratocaster.jpeg) ### The Construction The Stratocaster was designed with a **sleek body**, smoothly contoured for the player’s comfort. Its double-cutaway style afforded players access to **high notes** while adding visual appeal. The Stratocaster had **advanced electronics**; it was the first solid-body to incorporate **three pickups**. The pickups possessed staggered polepieces, providing for even volume levels across all six strings. Furthermore, players discovered that the instrument’s three-way switch could be set in between positions, which created a unique ‘**out-of-phase**’ sound, exploited to excellent effect by **Jeff Beck** and **Jimi Hendrix**, among others. Five-way switches were
later introduced to make this sound easily accessible. Another Fender first was represented by the Stratocaster’s **all-in-one bridge, tailpiece and tremolo bar**. With its six individual saddles – one for each string – moveable in both height and length directions, the new bridge portion was fully adjustable. By releasing tension on the strings, the tremolo bar allowed a player to **bend notes** with the pick hand, resulting in a **shimmering sound effect**. Inside the body, the strings were accessible under a plastic cover at the back of the guitar. ### Cars and Guitars Stratocasters are
 among the **most 
coveted** guitars on
 the vintage market. 
Most desirable are 
the **late-1950s Custom
 Color** models. Inspired by 
the paint jobs on automobiles, these finishes
 – including Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue, Foam Green and Shoreline Gold – are rare; a Custom Color Stratocaster can now command **over 20 per cent more** than its sunburst- or blonde-coloured counterpoint in identical condition.   ### Guitar Spec **Pickups:** Three
 **Controls:** Three-way (later five-way) switch, volume, two tone **Characteristics:** Wide tonal range, versatile, vibrato arm **Played by:** Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Mark Knopfler, Stevie Ray Vaughan   Image of Daphne Blue Stratocaster courtesy Fender.com *If you’re a guitar player yourself, why not pick up a copy of our fantastic easy-to-use *Guitar Chords* book – [available here](http://flametreepublishing.com/Guitar-Chords-Pick-Up-and-Play.html). If you love all things guitar, we also have some great foiled journals with guitar designs on the cover, such as a [white Gretch](http://flametreepublishing.com/Gretsch-White-Guitar-Foiled-Journal.html), or [Gibson Les Paul](http://flametreepublishing.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Guitar-Foiled-Journal.html).* ###  Links - Visit the official Fender shop [here.](http://shop.fender.com/en-GB/start) - Trace the Stratocaster from its creation in the 1950s through its various incarnations up to the 1980s, in this article on its history [here](https://reverb.com/uk/news/a-brief-history-of-the-stratocaster). - Read about why legendary musician Jeff Beck prefers the Stratocaster above all other guitars, [here](http://www.guitarworld.com/artist-news/jeff-beck-why-my-strat-always-beats-les-paul/30008). Topics: [Flame Tree Music](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-music), [Classic Guitars](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/classic-guitars), [Flame Tree Pro](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-pro) ### Subscribe for email updates ### FREE Download [![FREE Digital Rock eBook](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/84fddcda-9601-4729-a225-103dee1b81c6.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/84fddcda-9601-4729-a225-103dee1b81c6) Download a digital book, this special edition on **The Origins of Rock: The Fifties.** **![Origins of Rock, Classic Rock Bands](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/file-274821688-jpg/images/origins_of_rock_fifties_cover_final-resized-171.jpg) ** ### About Us We have some amazing books on classic rock bands, including the **brand new **books on** David Bowie, Pink Floyd **and [Rock, A Life Story](http://www.flametreepublishing.com/Rock-A-Life-Story.html): ![FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hub/293166/file-398222920.gif?width=251&height=354&name=file-398222920.gif "FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif") ### Follow us: [![flame tree music, chord finder, guitar scales, piano chords](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/5d8b636d-f159-46fe-879a-01da634bf5ef.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/5d8b636d-f159-46fe-879a-01da634bf5ef) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Tag - [Flame Tree Music (24)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-music) - [Pop Music (24)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/pop-music) - [Rock Icons (22)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rock-icons) - [Flame Tree Pro (18)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-pro) - [60s music (15)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/60s-music) - [Classic Guitars (14)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/classic-guitars) - [70s music (11)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/70s-music) - [Blues Guitar (10)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/blues-guitar) - [Jazz (10)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/jazz) - [Top 10 Jazz Albums (10)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/top-10-jazz-albums) - [Rock and Roll History (7)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rock-and-roll-history) - [David Bowie (6)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/david-bowie) - [How to Play Guitar (5)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/how-to-play-guitar) - [50s music (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/50s-music) - [Flame Tree Pop (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-pop) - [Jimi Hendrix (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/jimi-hendrix) - [Rock Guitar (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rock-guitar) - [The Who (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/the-who) - [Biography (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/biography) - [Country Music (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/country-music) - [Glastonbury (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/glastonbury) - [Pink Floyd (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/pink-floyd) - [Classical Music (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/classical-music) - [Elvis Presley (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/elvis-presley) - [Foo Fighters (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/foo-fighters) - [Great Guitarists (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/great-guitarists) - [How to Play Piano (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/how-to-play-piano) - [Johnny Cash (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/johnny-cash) - [Kurt Cobain (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/kurt-cobain) - [Led Zeppelin (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/led-zeppelin) - [Metallica (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/metallica) - [Nirvana (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/nirvana) - [Queen (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/queen) - [The Beatles (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/the-beatles) - [Alanis Morresette (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/alanis-morresette) - [Chuck Berry (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/chuck-berry) - [Dolly Parton (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/dolly-parton) - [Elton John (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/elton-john) - [Flamenco (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flamenco) - [Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/goodbye-yellow-brick-road) - [Green Day (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/green-day) - [Guns N' Roses (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/guns-n-roses) - [Indie Music (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/indie-music) - [Jagged Little Pill (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/jagged-little-pill) - [Lauryn Hill (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/lauryn-hill) - [Paco de Lucia (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/paco-de-lucia) - [Radiohead (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/radiohead) - [Rocketman (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rocketman) - [Scotty Moore (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/scotty-moore) - [hiphop (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/hiphop) - [miseducation (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/miseducation) - [rap music (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rap-music) [See all](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/top-10-guitars-fender-stratocaster#) - [Home](http://classic-migration-sandbox-293166.hs-sites.com/) | [Flame Tree Fiction](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic) | [Gift](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts) | [Podcast](https://lnk.bio/flametreepodcast) |  - [Music](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands) | -  [Lifestyle](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/simple-recipes) | -  [Links](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/links/) © 2025 FLAME TREE PUBLISHING LTD. [flametreepublishing.com](https://flametreepublishing.com)