What is a superstrat? (NGD)

Yorkie

And do I have one now? 

Backstory: I got myself a lovely MiM Fender Stratocaster a couple of weeks ago. It has essentially obsoleted my Squier, so I didn’t hesitate when a mate offered to trade the Squier for his Ibanez AZES40, which he defined as a superstrat. Here it is: 

So in essence it’s a HSS guitar with the socket on the side (love it), a very fast neck, and a cool switching system that does roughly what I got the Squier to do before trading it. It puts some pickups in series, does weird combinations, etc. 

It doesn’t particularly sound stratty. It sounds bold and hot, and plays great, so it is believably super at least. 

But is it a superstrat? What the heck is a superstrat? 

Discuss. 

BigPaulie

To my mind a Superstrat is any guitar based on the classic Fender Stratocaster design with modifications intended to be "improvements" over the vintage spec.

That could be a more modern bridge, HSS or other pickup config, pointy horns/headstock, flatter radius, bigger frets, different control layout, active electrics, locking tuners/nut/bridge etc etc etc...

Philly_Q

Yeah, I think it's a superstrat.  Edward Van Halen was using a Strat with a humbucker and a traditional trem before he got a Floyd Rose.  Jake E. Lee was using an HSS Strat with a hardtail bridge.  They were definitely superstrats.

stufisher

Thought this might help ...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstrat

maltingsaudio

IMHO a Superstrat has to be Strat shaped with a floyd and at least one humbucker, no Floyd no then not a Superstrat..

GoldenEraGuitars

To me, a “Superstrat” needs a bridge humbucker and Floyd/schaller.

elstoof

Two cutaways with an extra deep one on the treble side, humbucker bridge and high output pickups is the minimum 

Dave_Mc

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorites_paradox

I can point to a guitar at either extreme and say it's definitely a Strat or definitely a Superstrat, but I'm not sure exactly where one turns into the other!

hollywoodrox

Congratulations it looks very nice & technically qualifies as a superstrat 

roberty

That's cool. For me a superstrat doesn't need a locking trem. A two point with locking keys is enough. Flat or compound radius with big frets. And a full size humbucker in the bridge

stickyfiddle

I don't think a Floyd is important. My instinct is is that a bridge hum bucker and any other modernisation is what gets you there - big frets, flatter boards, garish colours, locking bits, no pickguard, etc.

RichAC

I’m a child of the 80s, A superstrat has to have a Floyd, and preferably an airbrushed image of a Barbarian waving a sword and standing on a pile of skulls.

RichAC

Forgot to say: nice guitar! Ibanez do good stuff.

horse

In my head a superstar usually has a locking trem. Maybe a HSS with a more modern body shape might qualify too (or without a pickguard).

To my mind the guitar in the OP is a fat strat. Looks very nice too.

skullfunkerry

Think all of my guitars are superstrats, and one is a hardtail - so I don't think a Floyd is a must. Congrats on your new superstrat!

Bigsby

Of course, it's an ill defined term, and yes your new Strat can easily fit within it, though clearly not for some folks! (Happy HGD by the way, like the colour).

My first Strat was a Fender Contemporary Strat in the mid 80s (as was my second one). HSS, locking trem, two controls (TBX), side mounted jack, and intended as Fender's answer to the SuperStrats from their rivals. Now, looking back, I can't believe it then took me another 30 years to own a non-super Strat!

OilCityPickups

I used to have a 1980s Fender HM Strat ... which I take as my definition of a Superstrat:
BIG frets, Floyd Rose, side mounted jack, HSS (though HsH and HH are also Superstrat spec guitars), and most often no scratch-plate (Ibanez being an exception to that). .

I would call the OPs Strat (which is lovely by the way) a HB equipped Strat with a vintage trem. 

Offset

Might sound like a non sequitur, but I think a Tele-shaped guitar can be a superstrat.  I have two, and that's how I perceive them.

HAL9000

So… if you can get superstrats, then why not superteles, superlespauls, etc?

theatreanchor

Superstrats are just really good Strats. 

imalrightjack

I’ve had a few shitstrats. 

Not sure a humbucker alone qualifies it. Nice though.