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Buy Stratocaster and ST guitars at session
If you want to buy an electric guitar, you'll inevitably come across the term ST guitar at some point. This refers to probably the most iconic shape of the electric guitar. It is based on the Stratocaster from Fender and was made famous by players such as Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan or Yngwie Malmsteen.
It first appeared in 1954, initially in the classic three-tone sunburst, as the successor to the Fender Telecaster. The body of the solidbody guitar is either made of ash, but more commonly alder. The neck of a typical 1950s Strat is made of maple, while a 1960s model features a glued-on rosewood fretboard. A Fender Stratocaster is still characterised by a bolt-on neck, a tremolo system and three pickups with a 5-way switch. In the classic variant these are three single-coil pickups, but there are also HSS configurations with a bridge humbucker. Other common variants are HSH or HH with two humbuckers and, in the first case, a single-coil in the middle position.
In construction and equipment you can also see the main differences to guitars from Gibson, such as the Gibson Les Paul, which are mainly made of mahogany and are characterised by a set neck, two humbuckers and a fixed bridge.
Due to their modular construction, ST guitars make an excellent base for modifications and, thanks to the large range of spare parts, are very easy to adapt to the taste and needs of the player.
Today many manufacturers like ESP, Jackson, Ibanez or Charvel offer "pre-modified" models geared towards heavier music, for example in slightly altered shapes or with a Floyd Rose system and one or two humbuckers.
But companies like Suhr, Rock n Roll Relics or Haar also offer interpretations of this guitar shape.
If you want to stay as close to the original as possible when buying, you have several options. Through Fender's subsidiary Squier by Fender, Fender offers affordable Stratocaster models. If you want to see the Fender logo on the headstock, you can choose between the more affordable models from Mexico or the guitars made in the USA. For all fans of high-quality vintage guitars, instruments from the Fender Custom Shop are available to you.
From affordable beginner models to high-end custom variants, you'll find this classic of music history for every budget and every area of application with us.