Fender 0373152503 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Fender Stratocaster is one of the most iconic electric guitars ever made. Fender has been manufacturing high-quality guitars, basses, and amplifiers since 1946 when the company was founded by Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender. Based in Fullerton, California, Fender has helped shape the sound of modern music with its innovative guitar models like the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and many others.

The Stratocaster was introduced in 1954 as Fender's second solid-body electric guitar model. Its sleek double-cutaway body shape and versatile triple single-coil pickup configuration made it an instant hit among musicians. Over the decades, notable Strat players have included guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Mayer. More than any other guitar, the Stratocaster defined the sound of rock and roll.

Today, Fender offers a wide range of Stratocaster models across its Player, Professional, American Professional, American Original, and Custom Shop series. From affordable versions designed for students and beginners to painstakingly crafted vintage reissue models, Fender's diverse Strat lineup has an option for every playing style and budget.

This review will focus on the Fender Player Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar in 3-Color Sunburst with a maple fingerboard. We'll examine its construction and hardware, pickup configuration, sound and playability, pros and cons, and how it compares to similar models. Read on to learn if this iconic guitar lives up to its legendary name.

Body & Construction

The Fender Standard Stratocaster features a solid alder body paired with a maple neck and fretboard made of rosewood. Alder is known for its balanced and articulate tone, allowing the inherent brightness of the maple neck and crispness of the rosewood fretboard to shine through.

The contoured body shape is one of Fender's most iconic electric guitar designs. The double cutaway allows easy access to the higher frets, making this a very playable guitar. It has a 25.5” scale length, which is the traditional Fender scale that provides great note definition. The modern "C"-shaped neck profile gives you just enough thickness for comfortable chording and soloing. This medium profile hits the sweet spot between the slim profiles of some modern models and vintage "soft V" shapes.

Overall, the Stratocaster's classic body materials and comfortable contoured shape make this a perfect choice for players looking for versatile tone and smooth playability. The alder body produces a balanced, well-rounded tone that can be shaped with your choice of pickups and customized with various hardware options. When paired with a maple neck and rosewood fretboard, the Strat offers the quintessential Fender tone - articulate and bright with clear note separation. The contoured body rests comfortably against your ribcage for extended playing. The smooth neck provides just enough thickness for chording while still being fast and comfortable for lead playing. With its 25.5" scale length, iconic shape and versatile configuration options, the Fender Stratocaster is one of the most popular and recognizable electric guitar models ever produced.

Another popular electric guitar model is the Ortega Guitars R133-7. This guitar features a basswood body paired with a maple neck and rosewood fretboard. Basswood is a common choice for more affordable guitars, providing a balanced tone with smooth mids and tight low end. The bolt-on maple neck offers brightness and snap, while the rosewood fingerboard adds some midrange sweetness. Some key specs on the R133-7 include a 25.5" scale length, 22 frets, and a slim "C" neck profile. Ortega equips this guitar with dual humbucker pickups for versatility - the neck pickup provides rich, warm tones while the bridge pickup can deliver everything from glassy cleans to biting crunch. The fixed bridge and sealed die-cast tuning machines offer stable tuning and intonation. Available in attractive translucent finishes, the Ortega R133-7 offers beginners an affordable option with quality components and reliable performance. While not as iconic as the Strat, the R133-7 exemplifies Ortega's mission to provide quality, accessible instruments to developing players. With its comfortable neck, flexible electronics and lightweight basswood body, the R133-7 is a great choice for new guitarists looking for their first serious electric.

Pickups & Electronics

The Fender Stratocaster is equipped with 3 single coil pickups - a bridge pickup, middle pickup, and neck pickup. This versatile pickup configuration allows for a wide range of tones.

The guitar has a 5-way pickup switch which enables you to select the bridge pickup alone, the bridge and middle pickups together, the middle pickup alone, the middle and neck pickups together, or the neck pickup alone. This gives you a great deal of tonal flexibility.

It also features individual master volume and tone controls for each pickup. This allows you to blend the volume and tone of each pickup to craft your ideal sound. The tone controls let you dial in a bright, crisp single coil tone or roll them off for a darker, smoother sound.

Overall, the pickup configuration offers exceptional tonal versatility for everything from sparkling cleans to biting lead tones. The 5-way switching provides instant access to a variety of classic Strat sounds.

The Fender Stratocaster has been used by countless legendary guitarists over the decades. From blues icons like Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan to rock gods like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and David Gilmour, the Strat has been the tool of choice for countless guitar heroes. Its distinctive sound can be heard on countless classic recordings spanning all genres of popular music.

While the Stratocaster is known for its single coil pickups, some players prefer the thicker, warmer sound of humbucking pickups. The Taylor 412ce-R V-Class is an excellent choice for those seeking the playability of a Stratocaster with the tone of humbuckers. It swaps out the single coils for a pair of custom V-Class humbuckers designed by Taylor Guitars.

These innovative pickups utilize unique magnet structures and uneven windings to produce a more articulate, organic humbucker tone. The neck pickup delivers a smooth, rounded tone perfect for jazz and blues. The bridge pickup has an edgier bite for harder rock while retaining excellent note definition.

The 412ce-R V-Class combines the comfortable contoured body shape of the Stratocaster with Taylor's signature neck design. The slim, fast neck profile and low action facilitate intricate chording, blistering leads, and anything in between. An ebony fingerboard adds crisp note attack and sustain.

Other premium features include a solid Sitka spruce top for excellent resonance and Taylor's next-gen V-Class bracing. This improves intonation across the neck and enhances the guitar's dynamic range. It's an exceptionally responsive and resonant instrument.

For players seeking an upgraded, professional-grade guitar with an alternative to traditional Strat single coil tone, the Taylor 412ce-R V-Class is worth serious consideration. Its custom humbuckers provide thicker, richer tone while retaining excellent clarity and definition. Paired with Taylor's high standard of craftsmanship, it's a compelling hybrid of two iconic guitar designs.

Hardware

The Fender Stratocaster features high-quality hardware designed for great functionality, durability, and tuning stability.

Synchronized Tremolo Bridge

The Stratocaster is equipped with Fender's classic synchronized tremolo bridge, allowing guitarists to add vibrato effects and subtle pitch variations. The bridge includes six solid steel saddles to provide excellent sustain and intonation. The tremolo arm gives you up to two semitones of up or down pitch modulation.

Die-Cast Tuning Machines

This Strat features die-cast tuning machines with contemporary high-mass lacquered buttons. The machines provide precise and accurate tuning, with a smooth feel when turning the tuner knobs. The die-cast design prevents rusting and allows the tuners to perform consistently even with heavy use.

Synthetic Bone Nut

At the headstock, a synthetic bone nut transfers string vibrations to the neck with enhanced clarity and articulation. The engineered bone delivers crisp, bell-like tones and improves tuning stability. Its smooth polished surface also helps reduce string friction at the nut.

Sound & Playability

The Fender Stratocaster is known for its versatile, bright, and crisp tone that cuts through a mix well. The alnico single-coil pickups provide clear treble and tight bass, allowing the Strat to work across many musical genres from country to rock to blues.

The guitar's signature tone comes in large part from its thinner "C"-shaped neck. This allows for comfortable and fast lead playing up and down the fretboard. The contoured body design also provides an ergonomic feel whether standing with a strap or sitting down. These elements combine to make the Stratocaster a pleasure to play for long periods without hand fatigue.

The five-way pickup selector switch provides a wide tonal palette. Players can go from glassy single coil tones in positions one through four, to the fatter humbucker-like tone of positions two and four combined. This versatility is one reason the Strat remains a top choice for guitarists in every style of music.

Pros

Fender's Stratocaster electric guitar has many excellent features that make it a top choice for players across genres:

• Iconic and recognizable design: The Stratocaster's contoured double cutaway bodyshape is one of the most iconic guitar designs in history. Its sleek lines and curves are instantly recognizable. The Strat is a true classic.

• Wide selection of tones: With a 5-way pickup selector switch, master volume and two tone controls, the Stratocaster provides exceptional tonal flexibility. From glassy cleans to snarling distortion, the Strat can produce everything from vintage '50s tones to modern high-gain sounds.

• Comfortable neck profile: The Stratocaster neck has a modern "C" profile that feels smooth and invites fast lead playing. For many guitarists, the Strat neck offers an ideal thickness and contour. It promotes fluid playability across the fretboard.

• Reliable tuning stability: Equipped with Fender's 6-point synchronized tremolo bridge, the Strat offers excellent tuning stability even during dramatic whammy bar dives and upbends. The strings return to pitch reliably.

Cons

The Fender Stratocaster has a few drawbacks to consider:

• Single coil hum - The Strat uses single coil pickups which are susceptible to hum and noise from electromagnetic interference. This can be annoying in certain situations, like recording in a home studio. Hum-cancelling pickups like humbuckers don't have this problem.

• Floating tremolo can go out of tune - The vintage-style floating tremolo bridge allows for cool effects like dive bombs and warbles. But it also makes tuning stability a challenge, especially with heavy use of the tremolo arm. Locking tuners can help alleviate this issue.

• Bright tone not suited for high gain genres - With its snappy treble and glassy midrange, the Stratocaster's tone excels at cleaner genres like pop, blues, funk, and country. But the bright single coil sound lacks the thick mids that aggressive metal and hard rock playing demands. Consider a guitar with humbuckers if you need a tone for high gain playing.

Alternatives

The Fender Stratocaster is one of the most iconic electric guitars, but there are other great options worth considering:

Gibson Les Paul

Gibson's Les Paul model offers a thicker, warmer tone thanks to its mahogany body and humbucking pickups. The neck is chunkier than a Strat, which some players prefer. Les Pauls are known for their sustain and are popular amongst rock and blues players.

PRS Custom 24

For players wanting versatility, the PRS Custom 24 provides a nice middle ground. Its tone falls between a Strat and Les Paul, capable of clean articulate tones as well as thick overdrive. The playability is very comfortable with PRS's trademark bird inlays on the fretboard.

Ibanez RG

Shredders who want fast playability gravitate towards Ibanez's RG model. Its thin, flat Wizard neck allows for quick riffs and solos. The RG uses humbuckers for a hot output and is a go-to choice for metal players.

Schecter E-1

As a more affordable alternative, Schecter's E-1 offers fantastic quality for the price. It has a set of Schecter Diamond Plus pickups that provide everything from glassy cleans to high gain distortion. The thin U-shaped neck is also great for speed.

Verdict

The Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar delivers that archetypal sound you instantly associate with Strat guitars. Thanks to its classic features like the contoured body, bolt-on maple neck and three single coil pickups, this guitar model produces those bright, crisp clean tones that have defined pop, rock and blues for over 60 years.

While keeping the Strat's iconic design and tone, Fender has added some modern appointments like the tapered heel and rear-routed electronics. This allows excellent upper fret access while retaining the Strat's legendary playability and comfort.

With its excellent components, legendary design and versatile sound, the Standard Stratocaster is still an excellent choice today for a wide range of musical genres. It's hard to go wrong with this iconic model, recommended for blues, rock, pop, indie, folk, country and more. After over half a century, the archetypal Strat twang remains as appealing as ever.

References

This review draws on expert analysis of the Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar from the following sources, all accessed January 2023:

• Fender's official website detailing the specifications and features of the Stratocaster model

• First-hand reviews from professional musicians and guitar gear critics at publications like Guitar Player, Guitar World, Premier Guitar, and Music Radar

• Video demonstrations, tutorials, and reviews from leading guitar channels on YouTube, such as Phil McKnight, ASFandy, and Paulo Music Man

• Discussion forums threads on Stratocaster models at TheGearPage.net and other guitar enthusiast communities

• Retailer websites like Sweetwater, Guitar Center, and Chicago Music Exchange for product images, pricing, and additional details

• Interviews and profiles with famous Stratocaster players like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and John Mayer in guitar magazines

The analysis on playability, sound quality, hardware, and overall pros/cons synthesizes insights from these expert sources to provide an authoritative perspective without duplicating existing reviews.