Fender 0998003706 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Fender Stratocaster is one of the most iconic and influential electric guitars ever made. First introduced in 1954, the Stratocaster design revolutionized the guitar world and became the instrument of choice for legendary musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and many more.

Known for its signature contoured double-cutaway body shape, the Strat delivers the sparkling clean tones that Fender is famous for. With its bolt-on maple neck and comfortable "C"-shaped profile, the Stratocaster provides smooth playability and great ergonomics.

Over the decades, Fender has produced many variations of the Stratocaster while retaining the familiar styling. From the '50s maple fingerboard models to modern iterations with different pickup configurations, the Strat continues to be a versatile guitar that can handle any musical genre.

More than just a standard electric guitar, the Fender Stratocaster is an icon of rock n' roll. Its storied history and continued popularity make it one of the most recognizable and coveted electric guitars today.

Body Style and Design

The Fender Electric Guitar features the iconic double cutaway body shape that Fender is known for. The body is made from alder wood, which helps produce a balanced and well-rounded tone. Alder is a lightweight yet dense wood that provides great resonance and sustain. The double cutaway design allows easy access to upper frets while also enhancing the guitar's ergonomics for playing comfort. Overall, the contoured body hugs the player nicely and feels natural to hold. Despite being a budget model, this Fender guitar retains the classic contours and lines of more expensive Fender Strats. The vintage-style body not only looks great, but also contributes to the versatile tone and playing feel that has made the Stratocaster such an enduring and legendary electric guitar model.

When comparing the Fender Electric Guitar to other models, it's worth looking at the Yamaha APX600FM AM. This acoustic-electric guitar from Yamaha also features a cutaway double-cut body shape. However, the Yamaha uses a combination of spruce and nato woods rather than alder. The spruce top contributes to the guitar's bright, balanced tone and good projection. Nato has a tighter grain pattern than alder, producing a slightly more focused low end. The Yamaha APX600FM has a slightly smaller body size than the full-size Fender Stratocaster, making it a bit more comfortable for smaller players. It also comes equipped with a System66 pickup and preamp system, giving it very natural amplified tones well suited to live performance. While the Yamaha costs a bit more than the budget-friendly Fender, it provides great quality and versatility for a mid-range acoustic-electric guitar. Both guitars have classic double cutaway designs that look fantastic and feel comfortable during extended playing sessions. The choice comes down to factors like body materials, electronics, sizing, and pricing based on your needs as a player.

When playing guitar, the instrument's body style and design greatly impact the overall playing experience. Iconic body shapes like the Fender Stratocaster have endured over decades because they simply feel "right" in the player's hands. The double cutaway design is known for providing comfort and easy upper fret access. While subtle differences in body size, wood materials, and electronics affect the tone and playability, a contoured double-cut guitar like the Fender will always feel natural to hold. The smooth body contours conform nicely to the player's own body, facilitating long and comfortable practice or performance sessions. Whether you prefer the affordable alder wood of the Fender or the spruce/nato combination of the Yamaha, it's hard to go wrong with a double cutaway electric or acoustic-electric guitar. The instantly recognizable silhouette not only looks stylish, but also contributes greatly to playing feel. When you pick up a double-cut guitar like the Fender or Yamaha, you can feel the history in your hands. Yet these classic designs remain fresh and relevant for today's players seeking comfort, quality, and great tone.

Neck and Fretboard

The Fender Stratocaster features a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard containing 22 frets. This classic Fender neck design provides a comfortable, fast-playing feel that Strat players have cherished for decades.

The maple neck contributes to the Strat's distinctive, bright tone and sustain. Its smooth, satin-finish back feels great against the palm. The rosewood fingerboard looks gorgeous and enhances the guitar's articulate tone and ringing notes.

The 22 medium jumbo frets provide a very playable neck that makes it easy to bend strings and perform vibrato effects. The fretwork from the factory is excellent, with smoothly finished fret ends. Overall the neck and fretboard combo offers an exceptionally comfortable and responsive playing experience ideal for various musical genres.

The neck is crafted from solid maple, which gives it stability and a crisp, bright tone. The rosewood fingerboard adds warmth and definition to each note. The modern 9.5" radius and narrow-tall frets make fast lead playing very easy. The neck joint allows excellent access to the highest register frets.

This classic Strat neck design has been used by countless guitar legends over the decades, from Buddy Holly to Eric Clapton to Yngwie Malmsteen. It's a versatile neck that handles clean tones and high-gain distortion equally well. The smooth satin finish allows effortless gliding up and down the neck.

Many players love the feel of the Stratocaster neck. Its slim profile fits most hands very comfortably. The back of the neck has a smooth, sanded feel that promotes fast playing. Some guitarists do prefer the meatier neck profiles of Gibson-style guitars, but many find the Strat neck to be perfect.

The fretwork from the factory is excellent - the fret ends are smoothly finished for a "played in" feel. This attention to detail is one reason why Fender guitars have a reputation for being easy-playing right out of the box. The medium jumbo fretwire provides a very playable neck that makes string bending a breeze.

The maple neck and rosewood fingerboard combo has been a Fender tradition since the 1950s. This pairing enhances sustain and articulation. The 22 medium jumbo frets are perfectly dressed and polished. Overall the neck and fretboard provide exceptional playability for various techniques and musical styles.

Many players love the satiny feel of the back of the Fender Stratocaster neck. It allows smooth, fast lead playing. The modern 9.5" fingerboard radius and narrow-tall frets also facilitate quick soloing. This is a neck designed for performance. It's no wonder so many legendary guitarists have favored the Stratocaster neck profile and feel over the decades.

If you're looking for a supremely comfortable and playable neck for lead playing, the Fender Stratocaster fits the bill perfectly. The slim profile maple neck with satin finish glides and bends with ease. Paired with the smooth rosewood fretboard and perfectly dressed medium jumbo frets, this is a neck that makes playing fast and fluid. No wonder the Strat neck has been the choice of so many great guitarists over the years. Check out the Caballero 500453 for a similar feel and quality.

Pickups and Electronics

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

The guitar has a 5-way pickup selector switch that enables you to choose between the bridge pickup, middle pickup, neck pickup, the bridge and middle pickups together, or the neck and middle pickups together. Having access to multiple pickup combinations gives you tonal flexibility.

It also has master volume and tone controls. The volume knob controls the overall output level of the guitar. The tone knob allows you to dial in the amount of treble cut for the pickups, going from a bright, crisp sound when wide open, to a darker, smoother tone when rolled back. This further expands the tonal possibilities of the Strat.

The simple control layout paired with the classic single coil pickups makes it easy to coax a myriad of styles out of the Stratocaster, from sparkling clean tones to growling overdrive.

Hardware

The Fender Stratocaster features high-quality hardware that enhances its sound, tuning stability, and playing experience.

Synchronized Tremolo Bridge

The guitar comes equipped with Fender's classic synchronized tremolo bridge. This allows guitarists to add vibrato effects and subtle pitch fluctuations by rocking the tremolo arm. The bridge is "synchronized" meaning that moving the arm up or down changes the tension and pitch of all strings together, keeping them in tune relative to each other. This creates a very smooth and even tremolo sound. The bridge also features six vintage-style saddles to provide excellent string intonation.

Vintage-Style Tuning Machines

Keeping the guitar in tune is aided by the vintage-style Fender tuning machines. These are a throwback to early Fender models, with each string fed through the back of a die-cast tuning machine with pearl buttons. The tuning machines hold well and allow for smooth and accurate tuning adjustments. Their vintage look also adds to the classic Stratocaster aesthetic.

Sound and Playability

The Fender Standard Stratocaster lives up to its reputation for great sound and easy playability. The alder body and maple neck deliver the classic bright, crisp tone that Stratocasters are known for. There's lots of bite and chime to the sound across the pickup selections. The bridge pickup brings out the sparkle and bite for lead playing. The neck pickup warms up the tone nicely for rhythm playing. And combining the neck and middle pickups produces a very usable quack and snap for funky rhythms.

Overall, the guitar feels comfortable to play thanks to the slim, modern C-shaped neck profile. The 9.5" radius and medium jumbo frets make for smooth, fast lead playing. The contoured body shape fits nicely against your body. At around 7.5 lbs, it's a nice lightweight guitar that won't weigh you down during long playing sessions. The Stratocaster remains one of the most comfortable and playable electric guitar designs.

Pros

Fender's Stratocaster electric guitar has many positives that have made it an iconic instrument for over 60 years.

• Iconic and Versatile Design: The Stratocaster's contoured double cutaway body and sleek lines are instantly recognizable. The comfortable body shape allows easy access to the higher frets, making the Strat extremely versatile for various music genres from rock to blues to country.

• Quality Components: Fender uses quality hardware on the Stratocaster like the synchronized tremolo bridge, vintage-style tuning machines, and custom single-coil pickups. These components withstand the test of time and keep the Strat sounding and playing great.

• Great Playability: With its 25.5" scale fast-action neck, narrow tall frets, and smooth tremolo system, the Stratocaster excels in comfortable and fast playability. The thin neck and deep belly cut contour also add to the Strat's amazing playability.

Cons

The Fender Stratocaster does have some disadvantages worth considering before purchasing.

• The single coil pickups can sometimes hum or buzz due to electromagnetic interference, especially when using high gain. While vintage sounding, single coils are not as noiseless as humbuckers.

• The floating tremolo bridge and vintage-style tremolo block require more setup and maintenance compared to fixed bridges. The bridge needs to be balanced and tuned properly to allow the tremolo arm to function, which can be difficult for beginners.

• Some players find the thinner neck profile uncomfortable or more hand and wrist fatigue during long practice sessions compared to thicker neck shapes.

• The gloss finish on the maple neck can feel sticky, compared to satin or unfinished necks. This may slow down quick position shifts up and down the fretboard.

• While iconic, some players may prefer an original or modern Stratocaster design versus a reissue of a '50s or '60s model. The vintage specs cater more towards classic rock and blues.

Overall the negatives are minor and preference based. The Stratocaster's iconic design and versatility make it one of the most popular electric guitars even with these small drawbacks.

Alternatives

The Fender Stratocaster has some strong competitors in the electric guitar market worth considering.

Gibson Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul is known for its thick, rich tone thanks to its mahogany body and neck. It has a shorter 24.75" scale length compared to the Strat's 25.5", giving it a slightly looser feel. The Les Paul generally has higher output humbucker pickups compared to the Strat's single coils, making it better suited for hard rock and metal. The Les Paul's controls are more simple, lacking the Strat's 5-way pickup selector switch. Overall, the Les Paul offers a more traditional look and sound.

PRS SE Custom

PRS Guitars are known for their high quality craftsmanship and the PRS SE Custom aims to offer that at an affordable price. It has a similar 25" scale to the Strat with a mahogany body and maple top for balanced tone. The SE Custom has PRS's trademark bird inlays on the rosewood fretboard. It uses PRS designed humbucker and single coil pickups for versatility. The hardware, electronics, and attention to detail are superb for the price. The SE Custom is an excellent alternative with PRS style and playability.

Ibanez RG

Ibanez RG guitars like the RG370 are known for fast, thin necks ideal for shredding. The RG typically has a basswood body with a thin, contoured design for comfort. It has a 25.5" scale similar to the Strat. The RG uses humbuckers and is geared towards metal and hard rock with its aggressive looks and electronics. The Ibanez RG offers an alternative option for players looking for speed and performance.

Conclusion

The Fender Stratocaster is a classic electric guitar known for its bright, cutting tone. First introduced in 1954, the Stratocaster design pioneered innovations like the tremolo system and contoured body that have become standard in many electric guitars today.

With its distinctive double-cutaway body shape, the Stratocaster delivers that instantly recognizable bell-like tone you hear in countless hit records. The three single-coil pickups provide a wide tonal palette, from sparkling treble to thick mids when the pickup selector is in positions 2 or 4. Players can dial in everything from vintage '50s twang to the searing lead tones of Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan.

An excellent choice for a wide variety of musical genres, the Stratocaster's versatile sound has made it a staple instrument for rock, blues, country, funk, and even jazz musicians over the decades. Its comfortable contoured body shape and fast, easy-playing bolt-on maple neck have also made the Strat a perennial favorite among guitarists.

More than 60 years after its introduction, the Fender Stratocaster remains an iconic electric guitar. This American-made model delivers the classic Strat tone and feel that players have come to know and love. For any guitarist looking for a versatile, high-performance instrument with historic roots, the Stratocaster is still a top choice.