Would you purchase a Stratocaster from Sound House?

As many of my readers already know, I am only interested in Stratocasters.

I certainly like to hear the sound of other electric guitars live or on Sound Sources. However, I can't imagine myself playing on a Telecaster. I also owned two Japanese Les Paul models, but I couldn't get used to the angle of the fingerboard to my body when I played them, so I gave them up after a year or so. However, I still regret giving up a Greco-type Les Paul with lacquered tiger wood.

I also had a Fender USA LEAD1 equipped with a Kehler tremolo unit that I used as my main guitar in high school, but I sold it to raise funds to buy a handmade wah pedal. The electrical system was designed to produce three different sounds despite the one humbucker, and I would use it again if I had the chance. The very heavy ash body was perfect for heavy music.

I also owned an Aria Pro explorer type for about 6 months, but the mahogany body did not suit me.

This is the only guitar I have ever played other than a Stratocaster (hereafter referred to as “Strat”).

Someone in the American music industry commented about the beauty of the Strat and said, “It has a beautiful shape, it's comfortable to play, and has incredible tone. It’s perfect!” I'm going to use that catchphrase when I write an article about it.

A Fender USA pamphlet from Japan in 1981. Stratocaster introduction page. The first “real” photo I ever saw. By the way, on the left of the film is a live shot of Rainbow. Blackmore was the first artist to be featured in the Japanese Fender USA brochure as a single photo. (Until then, the 70's catalogs had featured female models.)

I'm getting ahead of myself, but let's get to the point. If I were to “buy a Strat at a Sound House”, what model would I really want to buy without it being about flattery? I would like to list some of them.

No.1 FENDER / Made in Japan Traditional 60s Stratocaster, Black

This is the most “rocking” model among the standard Stratocasters. The slab fretboard that’s glued flat to the maple neck produces a thick, sticky sound, and the neck is a thin U-shape, which is great for Japanese players. The vintage-style fingerboard is suitable for chord work and cutting.

Unlike the original, the body is made of basswood instead of alder, but this material is not to be underestimated. If the sound from your guitar is not suitable for you, you may be able to modify the parts to get your desired sound. If you change the pickups or vibration system parts, it is easy to reproduce the desired sound. It is a flat material in a good sense.

It is said that Rory Gallagher, who used a different color from this model as his main guitar (his Strat has a peeling sunburst paint), had a Strat made of basswood. He also modified it in some parts. As long as you don't insist on alder wood, this strat has a lot of potential.

No.2 FENDER / Player Stratocaster Maple BLK

This model has been updated for the modern age and it maintains the appearance of the original design as much as possible and maintains a price low. The flat 22 frets on the fingerboard are a must for today's playing style. The neck warp can be adjusted without removing the neck joint. The frets are slightly thicker and they will be easy to chalk. The most different looks and specifications from the vintage model is the 2-point tremolo unit. The simpler design of the tremolo unit allows for more accurate tuning, and the arming nuances can be colored more easily.

The alder body is deeply contoured to reduce the pain on the belly. The pickups are single coils with relatively high power.

This Strat has a technical and vintage feel.

The black color, which is universally popular along with white and sunburst, is also a high point for me personally.

No.3 FENDER / Player Stratocaster FR HSS MN

This is a series that I want to get very badly. If you play intense technical music, this spec Stratocaster is probably the first model in the Sound House lineup. First of all, it has a humbucker in the rear. It is not a single size humbucker, but a normal size pickup. And, it’s equipped with a Floyd Rose. It can be used for bold arming and looks more mechanical than the original Fender. The flat fretboard should be easy for chalking and fast playing. The C-shaped neck is suitable for technical fingering.

The price is not so high that it will make you jump out of your skin, but it is worth it even if you can't afford to buy a more expensive effect pedal. If you are not satisfied with the specifications, you can change the parts gradually and it will be a long-loved partner.

No.4 FENDER / Made in Japan Heritage 70s Stratocaster in Natural

At first glance, this is a normal Stratocaster with no particular standout features. However, unlike other Stratocasters, this Stratocaster has a clear grain. The selling point of this guitar is that the body is made from ash wood. According to a person familiar with the musical instrument industry, ash wood has been drastically reduced in logging in the U.S. mainland in recent years.

As evidence of this, Fender's lineup is mainly made of alder, basswood, or newer woods, regardless of the country of production, and ash strats are rarely available except for special orders from Custom Shop.

There seems to be a difference in sound between alder and ash. The former has a relatively dry sound in the mid-range, while the latter has a more contoured sound with a punchy low frequency range and a sparkling high frequency range.

The price is high for a Japanese-made instrument, but the pickups are of a high grade.

The mellow rose fretboard and powerful ash wood interact to create a unique 70s sound. This is a rare spec Strat in the Sound House Strat lineup.

If you want to play rock from the golden era of the 1970s, this is the Strat for you!

No.5 FENDER / Eric Johnson Stratocaster Sunburst

Eric Johnson is no ordinary man in terms of his attention to equipment. Of course, the man who plays great music has an ear for even the batteries in effects pedals, and he had no small influence on the later improvement of the sound quality of electric guitars.

There was no reason for him to release a model bearing his name, and it was a high-grade Strat that was well worth the price.

The body is made of alder. Alder is the most popular wood among all the standard USA-made guitars. The tremolo spring cover has been removed, so there are no screw holes. The sound is more open and airy. The body will also sound at its maximum ability because of the nitrocellulose lacquer coating, which takes a lot of time and effort.

The neck is a flat maple neck. It’s perfect for Eric's technical fingerings and the radius required for a modern guitar. With the Vintage 21-fret spec, but with medium jumbo frets from the start, the price is reasonable. The frets have a higher crown height than vintage type Fenders, so I think they will last a long time.

The pickups are designed for Eric, so you will be satisfied without having to upgrade them.

The price is high, but that’s not surprising considering the attention to detail that went into this guitar.
There are also several models with different specifications, so be sure to check them out.
This is an authentic signature Strat with a lot of attention to detail in its standard looks.

The above is a list of the Strat models that I would like to have in my collection, with a focus on the Strats that we carry at Sound House. I have introduced models ranging from student-affordable strats to high-end models for professional players, but I hope you will consider the looks, playability, and sound you want and purchase accordingly, regardless of price.

Strats tend to have more variations than other models. Because of this, it is difficult to find one that suits you, but the thrill you feel when you find the right one is immeasurable. Although it is a popular guitar that’s familiar to everyone, it has a deep history and many variations. Each one produces a completely different sound. My main guitars have changed a lot. The journey from the first one to the ultimate one has been a fun one.

The “sound & person” column is made possible by your contributions.
For more information about submissions, click here.