The Strat (guitar)

The STRAT (rendered in all caps) was a version of the Stratocaster electric guitar which was manufactured and marketed by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation from 1980 until 1983.[1]

This article is about the guitar. For the hotel and casino, see The Strat (Las Vegas).
Fender The STRAT
ManufacturerFender
Period1980–1983
Construction
Body typeSolid, double cut
Neck jointBolt-on
Scale25.5"
Woods
BodyAlder, Ash. Walnut
NeckMaple
FretboardRosewood, Maple
Hardware
Bridgeunique brass synchronized tremolo
Pickup(s)3 single coil pickups, Fender X-1 in Bridge position
Colors available
Stratoburst, Blue Stratoburst, Placid Blue, Walnut, Aztec Gold, Candy Apple Green, Black, Natural, Arctic White, Candy Apple Red, Sapphire Blue, Ruby Red, Sienna, Olympic White Sunburst

History

Fender produced its first limited run Strat model in 1979 with the 25th Anniversary Stratocaster. This limited run model was sold concurrently with the normal Stratocaster. The next year, the product line was expanded, having previously offered only one model since the guitar's inception (with possible exception of the Walnut Strats produced in the 1970s).

This new model, simply named The STRAT, was an upgrade to the normal trim, as indicated by its $250 list premium (equivalent to $888 in 2022).[2]

Features

Some construction features returned to pre-CBS specs, including the four bolt neck joint, smaller headstock, and removal of the bullet-style truss rod adjustment.[2][3]

Many new features also debuted with this model. An added two-way rotary selector replaced the lower tone control (mid pickup) and was wired for more pickup switching combinations, nine in total. The four additional tones were:[4]

  1. neck and middle pickups in series
  2. middle and bridge pickups in series
  3. neck and bridge pickups in parallel
  4. neck and bridge pickups in parallel with middle pickup in series

The STRAT featured a hotter bridge pickup, marketed by Fender as the X-1. The controls and hardware were gold plated and included a uniquely massive synchronized tremolo.

There was no standard neck for The STRAT, but three shapes were available: C, D, and U. Some colors featured matched headstock painting.

The high production costs of "The STRAT" led to it being discontinued in the course of 1983.

References
  1. "1980 Fender Stratocaster (Strat)". Strat Collector. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  2. Bacon, Tony (2000). 50 years of Fender (1st British ed.). London, England: Balafon. pp. 22–23, 76–77. ISBN 0879306211.
  3. Fender STRAT Manual (1980) Page 5
  4. Fender STRAT Manual (1980) Page 2
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