Stratocaster History
In the early 1950s, Leo Fender, the founder of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, set out to design a guitar that would be more versatile and better suited to the demands of modern music than the popular guitars of the day. His goal was to create an instrument that would be both comfortable to play and capable of producing a wide range of tones. The Fender Stratocaster has been played by some of the greatest musicians of all time, and its sound has become an integral part of the music industry. Guitar players like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jeff Beck are just a few examples of the many legendary musicians who have made significant contributions to music history with their use of the Stratocaster.
The Strat
Jimi Hendrix's favorite guitar was a Fender Stratocaster that he played throughout his career. The guitar, known as the "Black Strat," was originally a 1964 model that Hendrix modified extensively, including adding a custom pickguard and replacing the pickups. Hendrix played the Black Strat on some of his most famous recordings, including "Purple Haze" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." The guitar was also a staple of his live performances, and it has become an iconic symbol of Hendrix's musical legacy. The Black Strat is now on display at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington.
Strat Icons
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton's "Blackie" was a hybrid guitar made up of parts from three different vintage Fender Stratocasters. Clapton put the guitar together in the early 1970s, and it quickly became his favorite instrument. He played Blackie on many of his most famous recordings, including "Layla" and "Cocaine." The guitar's unique sound and Clapton's virtuosic playing helped to cement his status as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. After years of heavy use, Clapton retired Blackie in the late 1980s and auctioned it off for charity. The guitar sold for a record-breaking $959,500, making it the most expensive guitar ever sold at the time.
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Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck's history with the Fender Stratocaster is a long and storied one. Beck first started playing the Stratocaster in the 1960s, when he was a member of the Yardbirds. He quickly developed a reputation as one of the most innovative and technically proficient guitarists of his generation, and the Stratocaster played a crucial role in his sound. Beck's use of the guitar helped to push the boundaries of rock music, and he experimented with a wide range of techniques, including feedback, distortion, and use of the tremolo arm.
Over the years, Beck has used a number of different Stratocasters, each of which has its own unique character and sound. Some of his most famous guitars include a 1954 Stratocaster that he used on his first solo album, "Truth," and a 1959 Stratocaster that he played on the classic Jeff Beck Group albums "Beck-Ola" and "Rough and Ready."
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Jeff Beck
About Rusty Fenders
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