Fender Stratocaster

The contoured double-cutaway that rewrote the rules for solid-body electrics.

Introduced in 1954 by Leo Fender, the Stratocaster married a sleek comfort-contoured body with a vibrato bridge and three single-coil pickups, creating a versatile platform that defined the sound of rock, surf, funk, and pop. Its modular bolt-on construction made upkeep simple for working musicians while innovators from Buddy Holly and Jimi Hendrix to Nile Rodgers pushed its chime and quack into every decade of modern guitar music.

Introduced: 1954 (Fullerton, California, USA)
Signature traits: Offset double cutaway, synchronized vibrato, triple single-coils
Notable players: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Mayer