Probably the most iconic guitar ever made, the legendary Strat wasn’t the first solid-body guitar ever made, but it’s still Fender’s best-selling instrument. There are countless different variations of this legendary guitar, so picking the best Stratocaster can be a tough task considering the wealth of options available. If you’re struggling to make a decision, we’re here to help you find your most suitable Strat.
No matter what your budget is, there’s a Strat within reach of any guitarist whether you’re playing your first chords or looking for a professional level instrument. Part of the appeal of the Stratocaster is its versatility and different configuration options, which means there’s an option to suit any style whether you play rock, blues, funk, or jazz.
If you’re new to the world of the Strat, make sure to have a look at our buying advice section for more information. If you just want to see the very best Stratocaster guitars available today in price order, then keep scrolling…
The Squier Affinity series really does offer a great value – you get a decent-sounding and reliable instrument that can still legally call itself a Strat and will almost definitely perform better than most clones out there at this rock-bottom price range.
Replacing the Mexican Standard series in 2018, and newly updated in 2024, the Player range has been widely praised for bringing everything you’d want out of a Strat to a more affordable price point.
Fender’s American Professional series was hailed as one of the best they’d ever made, so to see it tweaked and relaunched as the Pro II series took us a little by surprise. We’re pleased to say though, that they’ve nailed it. Again.
Finish: 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Olympic White, Lake Placid Blue
Reasons to buy
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As cheap as it gets for a ‘real’ Strat
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Pretty impressive for the price
Reasons to avoid
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Aimed at beginners
Costing roughly a third of the hugely popular, Mexican-made Player Stratocasters - which themselves cost roughly a third of their American-made equivalents - you can see just how far down the family tree we’re going here.
But the Squier Affinity series really does offer a great value – you get a decent-sounding and reliable instrument that can still legally call itself a Strat and will almost definitely perform better than most clones out there at this rock-bottom price range.
If you’re looking for a beginner electric guitar or perhaps buying one for someone you know, the Affinity series - which also has HSS models for those wanting more power - will be hard to beat.
Pickups: Player Series Alnico V Single-Coil Strat Pickups
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2 (Bridge Pickup)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Left-handed: Yes
Finish: Various
Reasons to buy
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Unbeatable value for money
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Very playable
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Welcome return for rosewood fretboards
Reasons to avoid
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Some might prefer lower-output single-coils
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No gig bag included
Replacing the Mexican Standard series in 2018, and newly updated in 2024, the Player range has been widely praised for bringing everything you’d want out of a Strat to a more affordable price point. The Alnico V pickups are voiced similar to the SRV-inspired Texas Hot single-coils, perfect for a slightly thicker Strat snarl that loses none of its bite when pushed.
Best of all, there are a plethora of finish options available from the remarkably vintage Hialeah Yellow and Coral Red to the more modern Birch Green and Polar White. There are also HSS configurations to compliment a Modern C-shaped neck profile with a 9.5"-radius fingerboard and a two-point tremolo bridge with bent-steel saddles.
Ultimately, you’re getting a Strat that can do it all and look the part without breaking the bank.
Pickups: 1x Aerodyne Special Humbucking, 2x Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2 (Bridge Pickup)
Hardware: Babicz Z-Series FCH-2 Point Trem, Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
Finish: Dolphin Grey, Hot Rod Burst, Speed Green Metallic
Reasons to buy
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Phenomenal neck profile
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Rock solid Babicz tremolo
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Versatile pickup configuration
Reasons to avoid
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Not a ‘classic’ Strat
With its sleek modern looks and lightning-fast playability, the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster HSS eschews anything classic about a Strat, making it a properly modern playing machine.
The sound of this guitar is still pure Strat, but the added humbucker gives a lot of extra girth enabling you to play heavier styles with it. Whether it’s pristine cleans or searing leads, this stunning guitar can handle it all. The Babicz tremolo is rock solid and works great in tandem with the locking tuners to provide excellent stability even when you abuse it.
The thing that stood out most to us about the Aerodyne was the playability. The neck is one of the slickest we’ve ever played, straddling the line between fast playability and chunky stability perfectly. Playing on this guitar is like a speed boost for your licks, and we couldn’t help ourselves from playing it extensively.
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup), 5-way blade switch
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Finish: Chrome Glow
Reasons to buy
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Matching headstock always a winner, especially with this finish
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Vintage Noiseless pickups are great
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C shaped neck is super comfortable
Reasons to avoid
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If you’re an uber-traditionalist
The H.E.R. Strat, much like the artist who inspired it, is bold, unique, and has a statement to make. The Grammy-winner H.E.R is well-known for her smooth, emotional R&B tracks where solos take the forefront - so the Strat seems like the obvious choice.
Not only does the H.E.R. Strat look great, but it sounds and feels great too. Many thanks to the combination of the mid-’60s “C” neck profile and Vintage Noiseless pickups, this is a guitar that seriously kicks. The neck is super slim down at the first fret assisting with the bigger stretches and fattens up around the 12th fret to give you something to grab onto for those lead lines.
The Chrome Glow finish, although a little unorthodox, looks spectacular - perfect if you want to turn heads. For some of you, the finish might not be your thing - but the tone is undeniably fantastic.
Fender’s American Professional series was hailed as one of the best they’d ever made, so to see it tweaked and relaunched as the Pro II series took us a little by surprise. We’re pleased to say though, that they’ve nailed it. Again.
The Pro II, like many other Strats, is a marriage of Alder and Maple. With standard options such as whether you’d like a Maple or Rosewood ‘board, as well as the option of a Roasted Pine body on one model, the American Pro II blends tradition and modernity well.
The maple neck sports a “Deep C” profile finished with Fender’s own ‘Super-Natural’ satin, and together they combine to provide slick, easy, and comfortable playability. Along with smooth rolled fingerboard edges and a newly sculpted neck heel, this Pro II Stratocaster pretty much has it all. Narrow Tall frets give a little suggestion of a classic touch, but all in all the Pro II is all about making playing a joy.
Fender’s V-Mod II pickups make an appearance here, as well as a mighty impact. With a slightly more rounded top-end, there are still bags of strat-like ‘breath’ to the tone. They sound crisp and present, without that harsh brightness that we’d rather avoid. All in all, a great option for anyone who’s looking for a tweaked, neatened-up version of the classic we all know and love.
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2 (Bridge Pickup)
Hardware: Pure Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles, Pure Vintage Single Line "Fender Deluxe" tuners
Finish: Olympic White, 3-Color Sunburst, Fiesta Red
Reasons to buy
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True to the original design
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Versatile tone
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Flawless build quality
Reasons to avoid
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Only for vintage-guitar lovers
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Finishes aren’t the most exciting
Let’s face it a real vintage Strat is out of the price range of us mere mortals, but if you want an instrument that evokes the golden age of the big ‘F’, then the Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster will do just the trick.
It’s got three Pure Vintage ‘61 single coils, voiced after an actual 60s Strat pickup. This means bright and clear tones in the bridge position, with a warm yet articulate neck pickup. The original Strat only had a three-way switch, but those in-between positions are accessible here with a tone knob for the bridge pickup that wasn’t there on the original either.
It’s got vintage-size frets, which makes it amazing for bending giving you plenty to force the string against. A ‘C’ profile fits just right with the rest of the guitar. Despite its vintage 7.25” radius, it never feels uncomfortable during long playing sessions.
Clever electronics with S-1 switch expands the Strat’s range
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The Modern D neck profile is superb
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Quality build, hardware and pickups
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Smart new range of finishes
Reasons to avoid
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For some, the Strat was perfected in ’62
The Stratocaster wears the American Ultra’s contemporary stylings well. Here is Fender’s modernism at its best, with the iconic body shape largely unchanged save for some carefully thought-out body contours, and a newly tapered heel to aid upper fret access.
Fender’s modernism is, of course, rooted with one foot in its storied history; the three Ultra Noiseless single-coils offer hum-free performance, and yet they are voiced to recall a bygone era. What’s different now is that, with the S-1 switch adding the neck pickup to any position on the switch, the tone menu just got a whole lot longer.
Top to bottom, the American Ultra Stratocaster represents the acme of Fender’s production line guitar building. There are locking tuners, the Fender logo in gold foil, the Modern D profile neck is comfort objectified in maple, while the compound 10”-14” radius feels thoroughly 2020. Yes, this is a future-forward design, but indelibly still a Stratocaster – a darn good one.
If you ask a non-guitar player to draw a guitar, chances are they’ll come up with the iconic Stratocaster shape. As the best-selling instrument of all time amongst Fender's guitar range, the Strat has become interwoven into the fabric of music culture, becoming an icon in it’s own right.
Countless guitarists have used the Strat as their primary weapon, including Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, and David Gilmour, right through to more modern players like John Frusciante, John Mayer, Cory Wong, and loads more. These players all have very different sounds, yet they can warp the Strat to their own particular taste and style.
While the Strat isn’t as subjectively versatile as a Telecaster, the three pickup configuration allows for many different tones in a single guitar, which is why it’s become such a mainstay of the music world. Read more in our Stratocaster vs Telecaster comparison piece.
What is the most versatile pickup configuration for a Strat?
Yes, you can always swap your pickups out down the line, but it’s always more cost-effective to invest in a Fender Strat that's already voiced to your needs.
Those in search of cleaner tones may prefer to stick with Fender’s typically noiseless and lower-output traditional single coils, while someone looking to dial into more high gain and heavy metal tones might need more bark from their guitar’s electronics, and perhaps be more suited to one or even two humbuckers or hot rail-style pickups.
Fundamentally though, it’s worth asking yourself what has typically been used by the artists you’re most inspired by, as there are always exceptions to such rules – some of the most legendary rock and metal tones ever recorded have shined through thanks to their single-coil grit.
(Image credit: Future)
Are Mexican Strats as good as American?
As fulfilling as it can be to see the words ‘Fender Corona, CA’ gracing the headstock of your newest guitar, it's worth taking a look at the company’s more affordable options made in the Ensenada factory and also the under-budget brand Squier, whose lines recreate the full-fat American-made models, often incredibly well.
This ultimately means you could get the guitar you’ve always wanted for a lot less – depending on what you're looking for in terms of color scheme, parts and build. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality instrument that will retain its value, however, then an American-made Strat will probably best fit the bill.
How we choose the best Stratocasters
(Image credit: Future)
At Guitar World, we have a deep appreciation for the iconic Stratocaster and its timeless appeal. Our team of experienced musicians all own at least one Stratocaster, which is how we’re able to provide you with practical and trustworthy recommendations.
Our handpicked selection of the best Stratocasters showcases exceptional craftsmanship, versatile tones, and outstanding playability. We meticulously evaluate factors such as build quality, tonal versatility, hardware, and overall performance, ensuring that these guitars represent the pinnacle of Stratocaster excellence.
With Guitar World as your trusted source, explore our recommended Stratocasters that have been thoroughly vetted by fellow musicians. Discover the options that will inspire your playing and bring out your unique musical voice. Whether you're a seasoned pro or an aspiring player, let Guitar World guide you in finding the perfect Stratocaster that complements your style, tone, and artistic expression.
You can trust Guitar World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Amit has been writing for titles like Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Guitar World for over a decade and counts Richie Kotzen, Guthrie Govan and Jeff Beck among his primary influences as a guitar player. He's worked for magazines like Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Prog, Record Collector, Planet Rock, Rhythm and Bass Player, as well as newspapers like Metro and The Independent, interviewing everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy to Slash and Jimmy Page, and once even traded solos with a member of Slayer on a track released internationally. As a session guitarist, he's played alongside members of Judas Priest and Uriah Heep in London ensemble Metalworks, as well as handled lead guitars for legends like Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols, The Faces) and Stu Hamm (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, G3).
