Fender 'Uptown Stratocaster'

Dontgiveupyourdayjob · September 2020

Latest Parallel Universe offering from Fender. Sounds good, and should be super versatile. Not sure I can get away with the looks though. I think it's the pickup selector position that just looks totally wrong to me...

Thoughts?

DrBob · September 2020

It’s kind of the inevitable next step after the Troublemaker Tele isn’t it ?

Funkfingers · September 2020

The toggle selector is located approximately where it would be on a CBS-era Telecaster Deluxe or Custom.

If the sounds are good enough, the looks can be forgiven.

Philly_Q · September 2020

The one in the video has some kind of "poker chip" round the switch, but the ones in shops don't have it. Looks better without.

Sassafras · September 2020

Block inlays on Fenders aren't my favourite things.
Nor are humbuckers.

Bennyboy-UK · September 2020

God - has someone been at the parts bin again?

dazzajl · September 2020

That kind of thing seems to work better with the blue collar tele than it does with its daintier sister. Have to admit, the most exciting bit for me was the mention of a Surf Green case

Bigsby · September 2020

If the design challenge was 'Can we make the Stratocaster uglier than it's ever looked before?', then I think they've pulled it off.

It doesn't matter how good it sounds, it didn't need to be that ugly to sound that good! Why not give it a body shape that works with the control layout, pickguard, selector switch and block inlays that are killing the look of this Strat?

Then again, I guess someone will love it. I wonder how many they'll make, and how cheap they'll be on clearance.