A guitar invented in 1954 by engineer Leo Fender that combined dual-cutaways, inovative body countours, a revolutionary vibrato system (erroneously known as a "tremolo", though it has nothing to do with volume), and a pivotal output jack that minimalized the posibility of guitar damage due to visibility to the player.
Originaly came with a maple neck, though in 1959 it was stock with rosewood. Fender was sold to CBS in 1965, and begining in 1966 the Stratocaster was given the "fat" headstock, a choice of a maple or rosewood neckboard, and a remarkeable loss in sound quality arose. Sale to Fender employees around the mid eighties saw most Stratocasters produced in Japan, though from late '86 to about '89 the American Stratocasters were considered as high a quality instrument as the originals.
Stratocasters now come in all shapes and sized, good and bad. From the introduction of the "Fat Strat" humbucker (which would probably have Leo doing 50 RPM's in his coffin), to the new hideous "Bick Block" Strat geared towards metal heads.
The tone of the three-single coil solid-body guitar is bright and sharp in the bridge pickups while fat, warm and rounded in the middle and neck. The tone and overall design of the guitar is attempted to be copied by almost all major guitar companies, included Leo Fender's second company formed in the eighties, G&L guitars. G&L has the only right to do so becuase they were also produced by Leo Fender, who died in 1991.
The single-coil pups in the Strat also caused a great deal of discharged feedback, though "phased-out" positions could be reached and are now stock in the five-way switch, allowing a reverse-coiled pup in the middle to cancel out some of the feedback discharge, leading to a "quiet" guitar, though the Stratocaster is by all rights a "noisy" guitar. This feedback was used to the advantage of the playing styles of guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, who would jump on and pound the Stratocaster to create loud and animalic howls and screams.
Today, the vintage Stratocaster market is strong, with the 50's one-peice maple "V Neck" Stratocasters selling in the $35,000 - 50,000 range while the early sixties peices go within $20,000. Japan has a large amount of American pre-CBS guitars, happily enough these traditionalist Japanese musicians like to actually play their guitars, giving these Americana relics a very nice home, unlike some American collectors who stock them on shelves inside their houses and never even learn how to play the guitar.
Contrary to some belief, the highest quality Stratocasters are still made here in the United States. The best are made under either the "American Vintage" series or the Custom Shop "Time Machine" series, which both excitingly recreate vintage Stratocaster designs to the original specs, including the now-expensively outdated Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish. More wealthy artists also have the Fender Custom Shop produce one-of-a-kind guitars specifically to their own wishes and designs. These "dream" guitars are even ordered by players Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton.
If you buy a vintage, early post-CBS, or modern "American Vintage" or Custom Shop "Time Machine" guitars, you are getting the best of the best.
Originaly came with a maple neck, though in 1959 it was stock with rosewood. Fender was sold to CBS in 1965, and begining in 1966 the Stratocaster was given the "fat" headstock, a choice of a maple or rosewood neckboard, and a remarkeable loss in sound quality arose. Sale to Fender employees around the mid eighties saw most Stratocasters produced in Japan, though from late '86 to about '89 the American Stratocasters were considered as high a quality instrument as the originals.
Stratocasters now come in all shapes and sized, good and bad. From the introduction of the "Fat Strat" humbucker (which would probably have Leo doing 50 RPM's in his coffin), to the new hideous "Bick Block" Strat geared towards metal heads.
The tone of the three-single coil solid-body guitar is bright and sharp in the bridge pickups while fat, warm and rounded in the middle and neck. The tone and overall design of the guitar is attempted to be copied by almost all major guitar companies, included Leo Fender's second company formed in the eighties, G&L guitars. G&L has the only right to do so becuase they were also produced by Leo Fender, who died in 1991.
The single-coil pups in the Strat also caused a great deal of discharged feedback, though "phased-out" positions could be reached and are now stock in the five-way switch, allowing a reverse-coiled pup in the middle to cancel out some of the feedback discharge, leading to a "quiet" guitar, though the Stratocaster is by all rights a "noisy" guitar. This feedback was used to the advantage of the playing styles of guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, who would jump on and pound the Stratocaster to create loud and animalic howls and screams.
Today, the vintage Stratocaster market is strong, with the 50's one-peice maple "V Neck" Stratocasters selling in the $35,000 - 50,000 range while the early sixties peices go within $20,000. Japan has a large amount of American pre-CBS guitars, happily enough these traditionalist Japanese musicians like to actually play their guitars, giving these Americana relics a very nice home, unlike some American collectors who stock them on shelves inside their houses and never even learn how to play the guitar.
Contrary to some belief, the highest quality Stratocasters are still made here in the United States. The best are made under either the "American Vintage" series or the Custom Shop "Time Machine" series, which both excitingly recreate vintage Stratocaster designs to the original specs, including the now-expensively outdated Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish. More wealthy artists also have the Fender Custom Shop produce one-of-a-kind guitars specifically to their own wishes and designs. These "dream" guitars are even ordered by players Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton.
If you buy a vintage, early post-CBS, or modern "American Vintage" or Custom Shop "Time Machine" guitars, you are getting the best of the best.
Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Buddy Holly, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Vaughan, Robert Cray, Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler, Yngwee Malmstreem, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd don't just play "guitar", they play "Stratocaster".
by Stratoholic September 19, 2005
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Power metal, no way in hell this is a pure heavy.
Power metal, no way in hell this is a pure heavy.
Europe guy: Hey, have you heard about Stratovarius?
US guy: Strato what?!
Europe guy: I don't know you.
US guy: Strato what?!
Europe guy: I don't know you.
by me_idiot September 4, 2005
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Stratford school academy not only is a shitty school in terms of teaching but also is filled with snakes hoes and boys who think they’re prestige. No one likes anyone but they all act like they’re in la la land. Everyone including me thinks they’re the fucking shit. If you’re white, gay, bi etc don’t even fucking bother considering coming here because you will NOT be tolerated. We love black. Even to the point to where your shoes coat blazer and even hair accessories have to be black. Or expect Mr Seager or Mr Pratt to track you down and fuck you up. The teachers are clapped. The students are of another species. 100% would recommend
by hoehoehoes December 25, 2018
Get the Stratford School Academy mug.Stratosphere is a nickname for nitrous oxide (laughing gas, NOS) that gets you high for about a minute or a few minutes. Nitrous oxide is mostly called Stratosphere both because it's mostly found in the Stratosphere and because it gets you higher than the troposphere like it's a Stratospheric high for a short time. You get a nitrous oxide cracker and nitrous oxide canisters and fill the balloons, then breathe in Stratosphere from the balloons and enjoy.
by HawaiianPunch1 January 18, 2022
Get the Stratosphere mug.One of the best modern power metal bands in existance today, comprising of Timo Tolkki on guitar, Jari Kainulainen on bass guitar, Timo Kotipelto on vocals, Jörg Michael on drums, and Jens Johansson on keyboards.
Despite the many difficulties they've experienced since 2003 and early 2004, there is still a glimmer of hope for all the true fans of Stratovarius that a new album will be released in 2005 or so.
Some of their previous work includes:
Fright Night (1989)
Twilight Time (1992)
Dreamspace (1994)
Fourth Dimension (1995)
Episode (1996)
Visions (1997)
Destiny (1998)
Infinite (2000)
Elements - Part One (2003)
Elements - Part Two (2003)
Despite the many difficulties they've experienced since 2003 and early 2004, there is still a glimmer of hope for all the true fans of Stratovarius that a new album will be released in 2005 or so.
Some of their previous work includes:
Fright Night (1989)
Twilight Time (1992)
Dreamspace (1994)
Fourth Dimension (1995)
Episode (1996)
Visions (1997)
Destiny (1998)
Infinite (2000)
Elements - Part One (2003)
Elements - Part Two (2003)
# "Let's press more money... Don't worry about the inflation... We've got to have more weapons to carry on..." #
-Fourth Reich (from Dreamspace)
-Fourth Reich (from Dreamspace)
by Mika August 3, 2004
Get the stratovarius mug.The world's biggest aeroplane by wingspan. The founder was Paul Allen and was built by Scaled Composites.
by QF99 April 25, 2020
Get the stratolaunch mug.Someone that constantly states the obvious things that everyone knows already and the person reassures them of the obvious.
by Fuzzy Faded December 12, 2020
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