"
Strat copy" is a
colloquialismA colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or paralinguistics. Colloquialisms are also sometimes referred to collectively as "colloquial language". Colloquialisms or colloquial language is considered to be characteristic of or only appropriate for casual, ordinary,...
that is used to label
electric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current, which is made louder with an instrument amplifier and a speaker. The signal that comes from the guitar is sometimes electronically altered with guitar effects such as...
s that closely emulate the design and sound quality of the Stratocaster but are not manufactured by Fender or
SquierSquier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm, but it lay dormant for many years...
. Stratocasters are popular and hence enjoy a large following, thus fueling a drive for cheaper editions of Stratocasters that a large number of guitarists can afford. They are made by a multitude of manufacturers under many different brand names.
"
Strat copy" is a
colloquialismA colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or paralinguistics. Colloquialisms are also sometimes referred to collectively as "colloquial language". Colloquialisms or colloquial language is considered to be characteristic of or only appropriate for casual, ordinary,...
that is used to label
electric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current, which is made louder with an instrument amplifier and a speaker. The signal that comes from the guitar is sometimes electronically altered with guitar effects such as...
s that closely emulate the design and sound quality of the Stratocaster but are not manufactured by Fender or
SquierSquier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm, but it lay dormant for many years...
. Stratocasters are popular and hence enjoy a large following, thus fueling a drive for cheaper editions of Stratocasters that a large number of guitarists can afford. They are made by a multitude of manufacturers under many different brand names. The variation of Strat copies are far more wide-ranging than those of the original Stratocasters. They are often found marketed as "budget-priced" guitars aimed at beginner guitar players manufactured by a wide variety of manufacturers. They can also be found as high-end boutique models with hardware and components different from that of the original Stratocasters. These are usually regarded as custom-made instruments however, as the term "strat copy" carries a populist, mass market connotation.
Budget copies
The most commonly encountered Strat copies are budget copies. These usually differ from the genuine Fender Stratocaster in their use of cheaper materials and components, although this may not always be the case. Many have bodies made of basswood,
poplarPopulus is a genus of 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar, aspen, and cottonwood....
or
plywoodPlywoodis a type of engineered wood made from thin sheets of wood, called plies or wood veneers. The layers are glued together so that adjacent plies have their grain at right angles to each other for greater strength. There are usually an odd number of plies, as the symmetry makes the board less...
, while hardware and electronic components are made with more cost-efficient materials and techniques. These are often sold by non-music establishments such as department stores and mail order catalogs.
Budget Strat copies make ideal, inexpensive platforms for customization. Guitarists who like do-it-yourself designs often replace the stock electronics and hardware on a Strat copy with their own choice of aftermarket parts to improve the guitar's tone and stability. In addition, the cheap bodies invite DIY-ers to customize the appearance of their Strat copies with painting, applying stickers, cutting and reshaping pickguards.
Some professional guitarists, however, like to use budget strat copies because they often have their own unique tone, and because they can be abused and replaced with less cost than an expensive professional-quality guitar. In the
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
audio commentary of the
mockumentaryMockumentary or mock documentary is a genre of film and television, or a single work of the genre. Although a mockumentary may be one of the comedy genres, serious mockumentaries also exist. The mockumentary is presented as a documentary recording real life, but is actually fictional. It is a...
This Is Spinal TapThis Is Tap is a 1984 mock musical documentary directed by Rob Reiner and starring members of the fictional heavy-metal/hard rock band Spinal Tap...
,
Nigel TufnelNigel Tufnel is the fictional lead guitarist of the rock band Spinal Tap featured in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. He is played by actor Christopher Guest....
(
Christopher GuestChristopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest , better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several "mockumentary" films that feature a...
in character) comments that the
fake Strat he used and damaged during the performance of "Sex Farm" is made by a company called Fake Strat (though the company, like Guest's character, is apparently fictional). Also
Billie Joe ArmstrongBillie Joe Armstrong is the lead vocalist, chief songwriter and guitarist for the rock band Green Day. He is also a guitarist and vocalist for the rock band Pinhead Gunpowder and sings for garage rock band Foxboro Hot Tubs...
of
Green DayGreen Day is an American rock trio formed in 1987. The band has consisted of Billie Joe Armstrong , Mike Dirnt , and Tré Cool for the majority of its existence....
used a Fernandes Strat Copy whilst recording and performing Green Day's early albums. He has many copies of this guitar made which includes a real Stratocaster with the Fender logo sanded off the headstock. These guitars are nicknamed "Blue".
Budget Strat copies are usually manufactured by low-profile companies, but they may also be manufactured by larger, more reputable companies, but with minor differences to differentiate them from Fender's Stratocasters and avoid a lawsuit. Such examples are
IbanezIbanez is a guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki and based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in the United States and Europe.-History:...
's GRX40 and
PeaveyPeavey may refer to:*Peavey , a logging tool used to move timber*Peavey Electronics, an American audio equipment manufacturer**Hartley Peavey, the founder of Peavey Electronics**List of Peavey guitars, guitars made by Peavey Electronics...
's Raptor, which place their input jack elsewhere on the body.
In response to the rise of these budget Strat copies, Fender marketed its own line of inexpensive instruments under the
SquierSquier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm, but it lay dormant for many years...
brand, the Stratocaster-related models among them being the
Squier StratocasterThe Squier Stratocaster is an electric guitar manufactured and sold by Squier, a marque of Fender. While it is essentially a rebranded Fender Stratocaster, it does not qualify as a Strat copy, as the Stratocasters are still considered to be of original make since Squier is owned by Fender, whereas...
and
Squier BulletThe Squier Bullet is an electric guitar that emulates the look of the Fender Stratocaster, but with modifications to reduce cost. Like the Squier Stratocaster, it is not considered a strat copy as it is manufactured by Squier, a subsidiary of Fender and therefore carries the Fender brand...
. Fender has also marketed Stratocaster guitars under the
Starcaster by FenderThe Starcaster by Fender is a range of instruments and accessories aimed at beginners, from the prominent guitar company Fender.-Electric Guitars:...
name. At the same time, Fender retains its position as a more premium guitar manufacturer. These Stratocasters and the like are not considered Strat copies because they are manufactured under the Fender name, to which the Stratocaster trademark is attached to. Rather, they are considered inexpensive variants of the original design.
Boutique copies
Another class of Stratocaster-inspired guitars, often closely matching the shape and cosmetic details of vintage Strats, is made by boutique
luthierA luthier is someone who makes or repairs stringed instruments. The word luthier comes from the French word luth which means "lute".The craft of lutherie is commonly divided into two main categories: stringed instruments that are plucked or strummed, and those that are bowed. Diverse places and...
s such as Patrice Vigier, John Suhr, Rich Hoeg, Don Grosh, Gerard Melancon, Ed Roman, Tom Anderson, Roger Giffin and James Tyler. These guitars are often considerably of higher quality (and pricing) than even Fender's models and may be built with more high-end exclusive materials than is practical on a mass produced solid-body electric. These are very often unique, being made to order to the exacting specifications of the individual guitarist.
G&LG&L is a guitar design and production company founded by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Dale Hyatt in the late 1970s. Fender sold his company named Fender in 1965. He designed and produced instruments for Music Man in the 1970s through his company CLF Research. When relations with Music Man...
, which was co-founded by
Leo FenderClarence Leonidas Fender , also known as Leo Fender, was a Greek-American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, now known as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and later founded MusicMan and G&L Musical Products...
after he sold away Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, manufactures guitars that closely echo the style of the original designs. Even though Leo created the Stratocaster for Fender in the 50s, G&L obtained a license for using the design, which is trademarked by the Fender company. G&L has also added their own innovations in pickup and bridge design, among other areas.
Superstrats
While superstrats by non-Fender companies share some characteristics with original Stratocasters, they are not considered Strat copies because they have several modifications that can clearly differentiate them from the original Stratocasters and cater to a different style of playing.