Access Backstage Pass
Latest about Stratocaster
When Fender went to court and lost – revisiting the 2009 court ruling that failed to trademark the Stratocaster
In 2009, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board denied trademark protections to the Strat, Tele and P-Bass. How did it arrive at its judgement? And what’s different this time?
Who’s the greatest Stratocaster player?
Trying to suss out a guitarist who – in all of the model's 70+ years of existence – is the most synonymous with the Fender Stratocaster, is probably a fool's errand, but we want to know your thoughts anyway
The story of John Mayer’s Fender fallout – and how it gave birth to the Stratocaster’s biggest rival
Mayer left Fender after his wishes for an elevated S-style fell on deaf ears – and he found the perfect partner in PRS and the Silver Sky
Fender Japan drops its MIJ Hybrid II 2026 Collection – and we can’t get enough of those new finishes
New Fender Japan models offer vintage-styled specs, modern tweaks, updated electronics and absolutely killer colorways
Best Stratocasters 2026: The best Strats for every budget and playing style
Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats
David Gilmour’s Black Strat could be about to break records all over again
It was the world's most expensive guitar when sold at auction in 2019, but as it goes under the hammer in the Jim Irsay Collection, there are a number of reasons to think it will claim another record
Is this the holy grail of all holy grail Fender Stratocasters?
Only two features distinguished a Mary Kaye Stratocaster from any other Strat that might have rolled off Fender’s production line during the mid-to-late 1950s. So why are vintage examples so darn valuable?
The Cribs' Ryan Jarman explains why a guitar swap with Johnny Marr didn't work out
When Marr briefly joined the band, the two guitarists jokingly agreed to a guitar swap – only for Jarman to realize he would have gotten the short end of the stick
