Fender Stratocaster

Fender has dug deep into its storied history to recreate 12 of its most famous guitars and basses of the 50s, 60s and 70s with a new American Vintage II production lineup. We've spent the last month getting to know a Buddy Holly-era '57 Stratocaster.

Following in the creative footsteps of the Old Growth Strat, the Front Row Legend Esquire and the 80 Proof Blues Jr, Fender has now used wood reclaimed from a famed Toronto nightclub for a pair of limited edition guitars by Master Builder Ron Thorn.

Pearl Jam's Mike McCready is perhaps most associated with a Fender Stratocaster, and his vintage '59 model is his most prized. So it was this instrument that was chosen for a very limited Custom Shop replica run. But not all was as it seemed.

Fender is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and is marking the occasion with special editions of its most popular models – the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass.

Eric Clapton often auctions off his music gear to help fund the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, and it's from the first in mid-1999 that Lot 103 was sold. Dubbed Slowhand, it's now available again, with bidding kicking off at a million bucks.

When people start learning to play guitar, a full-size electric can seem pretty daunting. For those looking for something just a little bit smaller, Fender has responded with a couple of electrics and a bass that can also serve as travel companions.

Last year, Fender broke into new territory with the launch of the American Acoustasonic Telecaster, which came with the tagline – "acoustic, electric and everything inbetween." The iconic brand has now added a Stratocaster to the lineup.

Fender Custom Shop's Yuriy Shishkov has impressed us before with his stunning one-off creations, including the Master Repeater Tele and the Studioliner. His latest offering for NAMM 2020 is a bejeweled Stratocaster inspired by a Fabergé egg.

Fender has officially announced the American Ultra Series electric guitars and basses. With the release, the iconic brand is aiming to set "a new industry standard for precision, performance and feel."

​HBO's adaptation on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire has entered its final season, and to bid the epic fantasy TV series a fond farewell, Fender's Custom Shop has created three special guitars dubbed the Game of Thrones Sigil Collection.​

​​If you want a guitar that's dripping with history then you can either hit the auctions or grab yourself an instrument made using wood from old buildings. Fender has chosen the latter for a limited edition Telecaster from Yuriy Shishkov​ that makes use of bench boards from the Hollywood Bowl.​

Fender Custom Shop is celebrating its 30th birthday this year and Master Builder Paul Waller has partnered with a famous tequila house to build a gorgeous Stratocaster from agave that "brings to life the connection between Jose Cuervo and rock & roll."​