A Stratocaster IS the most versatile guitar...

TeleMaster

Only with some higher output pickups that allow it to be used for anything except super clean stuff and blues from 50 years ago. 

Strangefan

I assume you mean a super strat? 

ICBM

Fretwired said:

The beauty of a Strat is the design - ergonomically it's perfect, it looks good and is easy to play. It's also easy and cheap to make your own via upgrades to the bridge, pickups and switching options. They are also as tough as old boots and virtually impossible to break (unless you're Pete Townsend).

It really is a work of genius. It's not only all that, the vibrato is mechanically reliable while being effective, and simple and cheap to manufacture - in fact the whole thing is ideal for mass production.

I do much prefer a single tone control and the volume control further away from the strings, but given the modular nature of it, that's extremely easy to achieve if you want just by replacing the pickguard.

I wouldn't say it's perfect or that other guitar designs aren't worthwhile, but of all of the classics the Strat is the closest to 'the one to rule them all'.

Whitecat

If I had to have only one guitar, my heart says Strat... but my head says Tele with Bigsby...

TeleMaster

Strangefan said:

I assume you mean a super strat? 

Nah. I don't like super strats, they're too pointy in general for me. I like the colours and styling of traditional Strats, but for my general playing and live band stuff I always swap the pickups out for single coil humbuckers or high output single coils to retain the look.

I have got a 64 Strat but if I were playing a gig I wouldn't really use it anymore because the pickups go to mush at anything that isn't low gain. I have an Elite Strat from 2014 or something and a Custom Shop 59 Reissue, which both now have higher output pickups. The CS Strat came with Josephine pickups too, but as I said, they go mushy.

My main is a Musicman Albert Lee, so I guess that's essentially a Strat, and I also have a Musicman JP6 that is basically a Super Strat, but it's not pointy

YellowLedBetterMan

I was thinking super strat actually. HSH with coil splits on both neck and middle and some sort of blend knob and you have just about any sound you'd ever need.

That's why I want a super strat anyway.

TTBZ

If I ever have a strat with singlecoils (not very likely tbh) I would replace the switch with a 3 way so there's absolutely no risk of getting positions 2&4. Can't stand that sound, it's nails on a chalkboard and totally useless for me. 

skullfunkerry

soma1975 said:

skullfunkerry said:

I'd take a superstrat over an actual Strat any day of the week...

*pulls on flame-proof suit*

A Superstrat is still  a Strat. 

I'm pretty sure Fender would disagree with that if I started making superstrats and putting "Strat" on the headstock.

I do see your point though

slacker

If I wanted one guitar I'd buy a PRS Custom or two. But I dont. I have a Strat when I want to sound like I'm playing a Strat. I've also got a Les Paul, Rickenbacker, Gretsch and an ES125. They all do what they do and I mix and match. I might get a Telecaster at some point but I might not. 

I can play any of my guitars and make them work for any song but I like having the right guitar for the right sound. 

TeleMaster

skullfunkerry said:

soma1975 said:

skullfunkerry said:

I'd take a superstrat over an actual Strat any day of the week...

*pulls on flame-proof suit*

A Superstrat is still  a Strat. 

I'm pretty sure Fender would disagree with that if I started making superstrats and putting "Strat" on the headstock.

I do see your point though

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-limited-edition-hm-strat-rosewood-fingerboard-ice-blue/933566?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInaut4Pe96wIVnIBQBh2wmADwEAQYASABEgICAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

They're doing it, why not us???!!!

ICBM

TeleMaster said:

They're doing it, why not us???!!!

Beat me to it

TeleMaster

ICBM said:

TeleMaster said:

They're doing it, why not us???!!!

Beat me to it

I think that looks awesome too! 

fields5069

ICBM said:

Ask a non-musician to draw an electric guitar, and they'll produce something that looks at least vaguely like a Strat, therefore it's the only electric guitar anyone needs.

Unless they draw a Flying V...

Well I have a flying V with 3 P90s, which suggests I have the actual perfect guitar.

soma1975

skullfunkerry said:

soma1975 said:

skullfunkerry said:

I'd take a superstrat over an actual Strat any day of the week...

*pulls on flame-proof suit*

A Superstrat is still  a Strat. 

I'm pretty sure Fender would disagree with that if I started making superstrats and putting "Strat" on the headstock.

I do see your point though

The Fender HM Strat was my first ever Fender and my first guitar with a (schaller) Floyd Rose. 

skullfunkerry

TeleMaster said:

skullfunkerry said:

soma1975 said:

skullfunkerry said:

I'd take a superstrat over an actual Strat any day of the week...

*pulls on flame-proof suit*

A Superstrat is still  a Strat. 

I'm pretty sure Fender would disagree with that if I started making superstrats and putting "Strat" on the headstock.

I do see your point though

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-limited-edition-hm-strat-rosewood-fingerboard-ice-blue/933566?gclid=EAIaIQobChMInaut4Pe96wIVnIBQBh2wmADwEAQYASABEgICAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

They're doing it, why not us???!!!

Didn't someone get sued by Fender for putting "for that original Stratocaster sound" on their headstocks?

ZenOvertone

Definitely the most versatile guitar, I used HSS Strats and Deluxe Strats for a long time until acquiring a pair of Suhr Classic S guitars that takes it to another level. 

My personal Strat preferences are (post Deluxe Strat and Suhr)
HSS pickup setup 
Sculpted neck heel
Locking machine heads
Cold rolled steel trem block
No roller nut, standard bone or tusq
Tone control on bridge pickup only, neck & middle wide open (or via no load pot)
 

axisus

HSS strat. Most versatile.

Fretwired

The Fender Strat range allows you can go from country twang with single coils, blues, and rock with an HSS configuration to metal mayhem with some EMG pickups.

merciful-evans

Most guitars can be used for any sort of music.

I used a Fender Strat exclusively for 25 years. Mine played like a pig. Only kept it for its sound. These days I have a non Fender 'Strat' (uk build) and non Fender 'Tele' (Japan build) because I find them easier to use.

I only ever bring a single guitar to a gig. Its usually used for Soul, Ska and Rock. Sometimes its used for Blues, Latin, Jazz, Country and occasionaly a tad Metal also. One guitar can do all of these. It doesnt much matter which one I bring out of 8 'workers'.

dindude

If I could have one guitar it would easily be a Strat. Who cares about versatility,