Fender Celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Stratocaster, the Most Popular Electric Guitar of All Time

According to company officials, other video series are to follow, including Strat Sessions, highlighting the unique combination of musicians and the ageless Stratocaster, and Icons of the Strat, paying tribute to legendary players. The California-based brand also invites musicians to share their stories between April 22 and June 22 with a chance to win exclusive 70th Anniversary Edition Stratocaster guitars. As part of the anniversary, Fender is launching limited edition Stratocasters, including luxury models from the Custom Shop.

Fender 70th Anniversary Stratocaster series

Fender 70th Anniversary Player Stratocaster – a model with Nebula Noir finish received a modern maple neck with a "C" profile, rosewood fingerboard with a 9.5" radius and rounded edges. The Pure Vintage '59 Single-Coil Strat pickups offer a rich, articulate tone ideal for almost any genre.

Fender 70th Anniversary American Professional II Stratocaster – a variant with a chic design provided by a flame maple top in a transparent Comet Burst finish features a neck with a fuller C-profile, a contoured joint for convenient access to the upper registers, locking tuners, and 70th Anniversary V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat pickups offering a distinctive, dynamic expression.

Fender 70th Anniversary Vintera II Antigua Stratocaster - an instrument with an unconventional Antigua lacquer and hand-painted pickguard features a U-shaped maple neck based on the classic 70s profile, a 7.25" rosewood fingerboard and taller vintage frets. A trio of 70th Anniversary Vintage-Style '70s Single-Coil Strat pickups provide the perfect combination of warmth, attack and tone stability.

Fender 70th Anniversary American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster – Classic 2-Color Sunburst version features a 7.25" radius fingerboard and 70th Anniversary 1954 Single-Coil Strat pickups, delivering a sparkling and punchy sound. There's also a single-ply pickguard with period-matching pickup covers and other features.

Fender American Ultra Stratocaster HSS 70th Anniversary – a modern Strat with a pearly iridescent Amethyst finish, a roasted maple neck with a Modern-D profile, a rounded-edge fingerboard with a variable radius of 10" – 14" and 22 medium-jumbo frets. It is fitted with a 70th Anniversary Ultra Noiseless Strat single-coil pickup and a 70th Anniversary Ultra Quadra Tap bridge humbucker.

Fender 70th Anniversary Stratocaster Custom Shop Series

Fender Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Stratocaster NOS CS – a model inspired by the golden era of the Stratocaster with improved features. The body, made of two pieces of select alder, provides a lively resonance and balanced tone and the neck is made from AAAA-quality flame maple. It is fitted with gold hardware and Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '50s single coils, the fingerboard carries 21 Gold Medium Vintage frets and the surface is covered with NOS lacquer in a Bright Sapphire Metallic finish.

Fender Limited Edition 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster CS – a model in a transparent Wide Fade Two-Color Sunburst finish received a range of Custom Shop treatments and is available in varying degrees of wear – Time Capsule, NOS, Deluxe Closet Classic, Relic, Journeyman Relic, Heavy Relic and Super Heavy Relic. Thanks to a two-piece body made from select ash and hand-wound CS H-W '54 pickups, the instrument produces a balanced sound with bell-like highs, warm mids and thick bass.

Fender Limited Edition Fat 1954 Stratocaster Relic with Closet Classic Hardware CS – a two-piece body is made of select ash, this time with the Relic finish in Wide Fade Two-Color Sunburst, Aged White Blonde, Aged Black and Super-Faded Aged Surf Green. The authentically worn look is complemented by slightly oxidised hardware (Closet Classic), and the signal is carried by three Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '50s SC single-coil pickups.

Fender Limited Edition 1954 Roasted Stratocaster Journeyman Relic CS – instrument with patinated finish in Wide Fade Chocolate Two-Color Sunburst, Natural Blonde, '55 Desert Tan, Aged Black, Cimarron Red and Aged Desert Sand. The body was glued from two solid ash blocks, the maple neck was given a heat treatment, and the pickguard was made from gold anodised aluminium plate.

Fender Limited Edition 1954 Hardtail Stratocaster DLX Closet Classic CS – this version features a Soft-V profile neck made from a single piece of radial-cut maple and a similarly designed fingerboard with a variable radius of 7.25" – 9.5" and 21 Jescar Medium Vintage frets. The ash body comes in the exclusive Deluxe Closet Classic lacquer in Two-Color Sunburst, Dirty White Blonde, Super Faded Aged Shell Pink, India Ivory and Faded Aged Canary Yellow. A trio of Custom Shop Hand-Wound '54 Strat single coils produces a clean, ringing tone. The hardware, consisting of stylish vintage tuners and a solid bridge with steel bridge saddles, has a golden chrome finish.