Modern music – and guitarists everywhere – not to mention our publication, owes a lot to the legendary Stratocaster. While it wasn’t the first solid-body guitar ever made, it’s arguably the most influential and recognizable. Since its debut in 1954, the Strat has inspired countless variations, making the search for the best Stratocaster a daunting task. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry – we’re here to help you find the perfect Strat for your needs.
No matter what your budget is, there’s a Strat within reach of any guitarist, whether you’re playing your first chords or looking for a professional-level instrument. Part of the appeal of the Stratocaster is its versatility and different configuration options, which means there’s an option to suit any style whether you play rock, blues, funk, or jazz.
We have included both Squier and Fender Stratocasters in our guide to truly provide the widest array of options possible. If you’re new to the world of the Strat, make sure to have a look at our buying advice section for more information. If you just want to see the very best Stratocaster guitars available today in price order, then keep scrolling.
Best Stratocasters: Our top picks
The Squier Affinity series really does offer a great value – you get a decent-sounding and reliable instrument that can still legally call itself a Strat and will almost definitely perform better than most clones out there at this rock-bottom price range.
Replacing the Mexican Standard series in 2018, and newly updated in 2024, the Player range has been widely praised for bringing everything you’d want out of a Strat to a more affordable price point.
Fender’s American Professional series was hailed as one of the best they’d ever made, so to see it tweaked and relaunched as the Pro II series took us a little by surprise. We’re pleased to say though, that they’ve nailed it. Again.
Best for beginners
Costing roughly a third of the hugely popular, Mexican-made Player II Stratocasters - which themselves cost roughly a third of their American-made equivalents - you can see just how far down the family tree we’re going here.
But the Squier Affinity series really does offer a great value – you get a decent-sounding and reliable instrument that can still legally call itself a Strat and will almost definitely perform better than most clones out there at this incredibly affordable price range.
If you’re looking for a beginner electric guitar or perhaps buying one for someone you know, the Affinity series - which also has HSS models for those wanting more power - will be hard to beat.
"Guitar shopping on a budget has never looked this good and the Affinity Stratocaster FMT HSS has plenty of tones to match its sizzling aesthetic thanks to the HSS configuration. If you’re a beginner player looking for something comfortable and sleek that will help you progress to the intermediate level, this Stratocaster will get you there in style." Read our full Squier Affinity Stratocaster review
Best overall
Replacing the Mexican Standard series in 2018, and newly updated in 2024, the Player range has been widely praised for bringing everything you’d want out of a Strat to a more affordable price point. The Alnico V pickups are voiced similar to the SRV-inspired Texas Hot single-coils, perfect for a slightly thicker Strat snarl that loses none of its bite when pushed.
Best of all, there are a plethora of finish options available from the remarkably vintage Hialeah Yellow and Coral Red to the more modern Birch Green and Polar White. There are also HSS configurations to compliment a Modern C-shaped neck profile with a 9.5"-radius fingerboard and a two-point tremolo bridge with bent-steel saddles.
Ultimately, you’re getting a Strat that can do it all and look the part without breaking the bank.
"Delivering all the classic sounds the Strat and Tele are renowned for, the Player II Series is the perfect way to get those golden-age guitar tones for less. With some deft modern touches, Player II nicely straddles the line between classic design and forward-thinking playability." Read the full Fender Player II Stratocaster review
Best for shred
With its sleek modern looks and lightning-fast playability, the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster eschews anything classic about a Strat, making it a properly modern playing machine.
The sound of this guitar is still pure Strat thanks to the Aerodyne Special Single-Coils, although with added capability for high gain. Whether it’s pristine cleans or searing leads, this stunning guitar can handle it all. The Babicz tremolo is rock solid and works great in tandem with the locking tuners to provide excellent stability even when you abuse it.
The thing that stood out most to us about the Aerodyne was the playability. The neck is one of the slickest we’ve ever played, straddling the line between fast playability and chunky stability perfectly. Playing on this guitar is like a speed boost for your licks, and we couldn’t help ourselves from playing it extensively.
"Sleek and elegant with the perfect marriage of modern playability and timeless Strat tones and feel, this might be the best Aerodyne yet. Perhaps even more impressively, no other Fender we can think of behaves quite like it. Translation: pick it up and you’ll struggle to put it down." Read the full Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster review
Best signature model
The H.E.R. Strat, much like the artist who inspired it, is bold, unique, and has a statement to make. The Grammy-winner H.E.R is well-known for her smooth, emotional R&B tracks where solos take the forefront - so the Strat seems like the obvious choice.
Not only does the H.E.R. Strat look great, but it sounds and feels great too. Many thanks to the combination of the mid-’60s “C” neck profile and Vintage Noiseless pickups, this is a guitar that seriously kicks. The neck is super slim down at the first fret assisting with the bigger stretches and fattens up around the 12th fret to give you something to grab onto for those lead lines.
The Chrome Glow finish, although a little unorthodox, looks spectacular - perfect if you want to turn heads. For some of you, the finish might not be your thing - but the tone is undeniably fantastic.
Best American model
Fender’s American Professional series was hailed as one of the best they’d ever made, so to see it tweaked and relaunched as the Pro II series took us a little by surprise. We’re pleased to say though, that they’ve nailed it. Again.
The Pro II, like many other Strats, is a marriage of Alder and Maple. With standard options such as whether you’d like a Maple or Rosewood ‘board, as well as the option of a Roasted Pine body on one model, the American Pro II blends tradition and modernity well.
The maple neck sports a “Deep C” profile finished with Fender’s own ‘Super-Natural’ satin, and together they combine to provide slick, easy, and comfortable playability. Along with smooth rolled fingerboard edges and a newly sculpted neck heel, this Pro II Stratocaster pretty much has it all. Narrow Tall frets give a little suggestion of a classic touch, but all in all the Pro II is all about making playing a joy.
Fender’s V-Mod II pickups make an appearance here, as well as a mighty impact. With a slightly more rounded top-end, there are still bags of strat-like ‘breath’ to the tone. They sound crisp and present, without that harsh brightness that we’d rather avoid. All in all, a great option for anyone who’s looking for a tweaked, neatened-up version of the classic we all know and love.
"A modest refresh for the Am Pro line, but nonetheless well judged, and these remain high-performance options that are priced fairly for your average jobbing guitarist. The Tele remains a great workhorse while the Strat is very difficult to put down." Read the full Fender American Professional II Stratocaster review
Best vintage Strat
Let’s face it a real vintage Strat is out of the price range of us mere mortals, but if you want an instrument that evokes the golden age of the big ‘F’, then the Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster will do just the trick.
It’s got three Pure Vintage ‘61 single coils, voiced after an actual 60s Strat pickup. This means bright and clear tones in the bridge position, with a warm yet articulate neck pickup. The original Strat only had a three-way switch, but those in-between positions are accessible here with a tone knob for the bridge pickup that wasn’t there on the original either.
It’s got vintage-size frets, which makes it amazing for bending giving you plenty to force the string against. A ‘C’ profile fits just right with the rest of the guitar. Despite its vintage 7.25” radius, it never feels uncomfortable during long playing sessions.
"The guitar is built to supreme levels of craftsmanship; it plays beautifully and sounds amazing, just what a great Strat should be. What’s more, the single-coil clarity will transcend to blues and rock guitar bliss through a decent pedalboard into a cleanish amp." Read the full Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster review
Best modern Strat
As of late ’24, Fender’s cutting-edge Ultra series has entered its second iteration, and the Stratocaster wears the updated American Ultra’s contemporary stylings beautifully. This is Fender’s modernism at its finest, with the iconic body shape remaining largely unchanged, apart from carefully refined body contours and a newly tapered heel for improved upper fret access.
Fender’s modernism is, of course, rooted with one foot in its storied history; the three Ultra II Noiseless single-coils offer hum-free performance, and yet they are voiced to recall a bygone era. What’s different now is that, with the S-1 switch adding the neck pickup to any position on the switch, the tone menu just got a whole lot longer.
Top to bottom, the American Ultra Stratocaster represents the acme of Fender’s production line guitar building. There are locking tuners, the Fender logo in gold foil, the Modern D profile neck is comfort objectified in quartersawn maple, while the compound 10”-14” radius feels thoroughly modern. Yes, this is a future-forward design, but it is indelibly still a Stratocaster – a darn good one.
The Classic Vibe series has been a cornerstone of Squier’s lineup for nearly 20 years – and its longevity is no accident. Offering vintage-inspired charm at roughly a third of the price of the Vintera II series, the '60s Classic Vibe Stratocaster embodies everything we love about this celebrated range.
One standout feature is the stunning neck. The tinted gloss urethane finish gives it a genuine retro aesthetic, especially when paired with the Laurel fingerboard. Vintage-style tuning machines complete the headstock’s cohesive look, perfectly complementing the overall vibe. While there are only three finishes available—3-Color Sunburst, Candy Apple Red, and Lake Placid Blue—each one feels like a perfect fit for this guitar’s vintage-inspired appeal.
To our ears, the Fender-designed Alnico single-coil pickups deliver a slightly mellower tone than those in the Player series while still retaining plenty of that signature Strat chime. The neck pickup is warm and round, making it perfect for blues soloing. Paired with the comfortable C-shaped neck and narrow-tall frets, this guitar feels instantly familiar in your hands.
"The Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat looks, sounds and feels like a much more expensive instrument and, at under $400, it represents tremendous value. Small details like the neck finish and the vintage hardware add up to create a guitar which is full of character and personality." Read the full Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster review
FAQs
What makes a Stratocaster special?
If you ask a non-guitar player to draw a guitar, chances are they’ll come up with the iconic Stratocaster shape. As the best-selling instrument of all time amongst Fender's guitar range, the Strat has become interwoven into the fabric of music culture, becoming an icon in it’s own right.
Countless guitarists have used the Strat as their primary weapon, including Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, and David Gilmour, right through to more modern players like John Frusciante, John Mayer, Cory Wong, and loads more. These players all have very different sounds, yet they can warp the Strat to their own particular taste and style.
While the Strat isn’t as subjectively versatile as a Telecaster, the three pickup configuration allows for many different tones in a single guitar, which is why it’s become such a mainstay of the music world. Read more in our Stratocaster vs Telecaster comparison piece.
What is the most versatile pickup configuration for a Strat?
Yes, you can always swap your pickups out down the line, but it’s always more cost-effective to invest in a Fender Strat that's already voiced to your needs.
Those in search of cleaner tones may prefer to stick with Fender’s typically noiseless and lower-output traditional single coils, while someone looking to dial into more high gain and heavy metal tones might need more bark from their guitar’s electronics, and perhaps be more suited to one or even two humbuckers or hot rail-style pickups.
Fundamentally though, it’s worth asking yourself what has typically been used by the artists you’re most inspired by, as there are always exceptions to such rules – some of the most legendary rock and metal tones ever recorded have shined through thanks to their single-coil grit.
Are Mexican Strats as good as American?
As fulfilling as it can be to see the words ‘Fender Corona, CA’ gracing the headstock of your newest guitar, it's worth taking a look at the company’s more affordable options made in the Ensenada factory and also the under-budget brand Squier, whose lines recreate the full-fat American-made models, often incredibly well.
This ultimately means you could get the guitar you’ve always wanted for a lot less – depending on what you're looking for in terms of color scheme, parts and build. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality instrument that will retain its value, however, then an American-made Strat will probably best fit the bill.
Are Strats noisy when amplified?
There is one thing people sometimes accuse the Strat of being when amplified–noisy. There is some truth to this, particularly in high-gain situations. However, it’s important to understand why this happens – and let us tell you, it’s not unique to the Strat.
Traditionally, a Strat comes equipped with three single-coil pickups. While single-coils excel at delivering clarity, articulation, and dynamics, they can fall victim to something known as 60-cycle hum. This occurs when electromagnetic interference – often from fluorescent lights, electronics, or even nearby power lines – gets picked up, creating a noticeable hum or buzz.
Thankfully, modern Stratocasters are available in a variety of pickup configurations, including humbuckers or noiseless single coils, which effectively tackle this issue. So, if you’re drawn to the Strat’s unmistakable charm but find the hum a deal-breaker, there’s a model out there to suit your needs.
How we choose the best Stratocasters
At Guitar World, we have a deep appreciation for the iconic Stratocaster and its timeless appeal. Our team of experienced musicians all own at least one Stratocaster, which is how we’re able to provide you with practical and trustworthy recommendations.
Our handpicked selection of the best Stratocasters showcases exceptional craftsmanship, versatile tones, and outstanding playability. We meticulously evaluate factors such as build quality, tonal versatility, hardware, and overall performance, ensuring that these guitars represent the pinnacle of Stratocaster excellence.
With Guitar World as your trusted source, explore our recommended Stratocasters that have been thoroughly vetted by fellow musicians. Discover the options that will inspire your playing and bring out your unique musical voice. Whether you're a seasoned pro or an aspiring player, let Guitar World guide you in finding the perfect Stratocaster that complements your style, tone, and artistic expression.
Read more about how we test products and services and how we make our recommendations.
Why trust us?
☑️ A global audience of 3.8 million guitarists monthly
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☑️ 30+ years of product testing at Guitar World
Guitar World boasts over 44 years of expertise and stands as the ultimate authority on all things related to guitars. The magazine and website feature expertly written gear round-ups and top-quality, authoritative reviews penned by a team of highly experienced industry professionals.
Guitar World's inaugural print issue hit the shelves in July 1980, and ever since, it has been captivating players and enthusiasts with engaging lessons, insightful interviews with the biggest guitar heroes, and priceless buying advice for newbie players.
Furthermore, GuitarWorld.com continues this legacy online and serves as the hub of the world's foremost authorities on guitar playing. The site not only hosts content from Guitar World but also showcases articles from respected publications such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar Techniques, and Bass Player. With a reach extending to 3.8 million players each month, GuitarWorld.com is a go-to destination for guitar fanatics globally.
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You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
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