Strat Showdown: Which Is Best for You?
All budgets considered!
4,3 / 5,0 | 
This Strat showdown sees us look at various Stratocaster guitars. Whether you’re on a budget or have a hole burning in your pocket. Let’s see which could be your next axe!
Strat Showdown
Strat Showdown: Aren’t they the same?
Welcome to our look at Stratocaster guitars! In this Strat showdown, we’ll start right at the bottom in terms of price and features, and then we’ll work our way up the food chain.
Typically, the more money you pay, the more features you get! Is that entirely true? Well, let’s find out as we compare various models. After all, the Stratocaster is one of the most iconic guitar designs of all time. Surely, you want that piece of rock history?
So, what are we looking for? Aside from materials, the main sticking point amongst players is where the guitar was made. China? Mexico? Indonesia? America?
Harley Benton Standard Series
Okay, so our first look at our Strat showdown comes from Harley Benton. This *ST-20 is one of the cheapest ways to get into a brand-new Stratocaster-style guitar.
Of course, there are many other finishes available. However, this example is finished in a nice Sunburst. Featuring a lightweight basswood body with a bolt-on maple neck, it’ll do the job.
Three single-coil pickups fit the bill, along with a synchronised tremolo system. It won’t be the best guitar you’ve ever played. Ideal for beginners or those on a budget.
Squier Sonic Series
Moving on from the entry level Harley Benton, we’re now with the Sonic Series from Squier. Similarly, this is one of the easiest ways to get into a strat.
Here, we start to see some traditional Strat ingredients. We’ve got a popular body, and again, a maple neck. However, as a Strat enthusiast and owner, I’m personally offended that these Sonic models don’t have a tremolo system! As a result, we’ve got a string-through-bridge which, aside from the visuals, makes string changes harder than they need to be.
21 narrow, tall frets and enclosed die-cast tuners also feature. Without breaking the bank, this one looks okay! And naturally, available in a plethora of finishes.
Squier Affinity Series
Very similar to the Sonic series, a slightly older rendition in our Strat showdown. For years, the Affinity has always been the starting point for any players.
These Affinity models hover around the £200 mark. And in all honesty, you get a pretty good guitar for your money. Sure, some people question the quality of some necks and additional hardware, but most people who go for these are still learning how to play.
Some of these even come with humbucking pickups. Moreover, we get a slim C-profile neck, along with a 2-point synchronised tremolo with block saddles. We can see where the extra cash is going.
Squier Classic Vibe Series
Our next pick in this Strat showdown comes from the plucky underdog! The Classic Vibe series contains such an underrated set of guitars. Plus, we get features from three decades of Strat! 50s, 60s and 70s models considered.
Essentially, these Classic Vibe models give you top features and materials, just with a Squier headstock. So, any brand snobs, look away! Spec wise, both the 50s and 60s models are very similar, however you can see the visual differences in the two headstocks to reflect their respective decades.
I’ve played loads of these, and they all feel well put together. The maple necks and maple fingerboards have a certain quality about them that we haven’t yet seen in our other picks. If you’re an intermediate guitarist looking for a reliable guitar, I’d start by looking at these.
Squier Paranormal Series
Before we look at the real thing, another look at Squier. These Paranormal models dropped the other year. They look weird, but have some cool features!
Differing visuals, we’ve got twin Fender-designed Alnico Soapbar single coil pickups. Moreover, a black triple-layer pickguard that defies convention. Also unusual is the Okoume body and the painted headstock on top of a maple neck. So some things have stayed the same.
Available from Thomann in either a *Crimson Red Transparent or *Vintage Blonde.
Fender Standard Series
Finally, a proper headstock! Earlier this year, Fender released the Standard Series. Arguably, Fender’s most affordable guitars with the famous Fender script on the headstock.
As far as our strats are concerned, we get popular bodies and bolt-on maple necks, along with modern C-profile necks. With these, the fretboard has a 9.5-inch radius and is made of Indian Laurel with 21 medium jumbo frets.
Honestly, I have yet to try one of these. For the price, it looks promising. But I’d go out on a whim and say that a Classic Vibe is just as good, if not better than one of these. You do, however, unlock some cool finishes, such as Candy Cola.
Fender Player Series
Another new addition to the Fender Family. In this segment of our Strat showdown, we’ll be looking at the Player II series. Just because this is the most recent iteration of these guitars.
The main upgrade here is Alnico pickups bespoke to the Player II series. Moreover, we get Fender ClassicGear machine heads and higher-quality hardware throughout. Above all though, an Alder body.
Offering maple finger boards across all models, these guitars are designed to be used and abused. Hence the name! The 42mm nut is plastic, though; it’d have been nice to have had a bone nut at this price point.
Fender Vintera Series
You want to think of these Vintera models like the Classic Vibe strats. However, with these, you’re getting the real deal with no expense spared.
Let’s say you go for a ’50s model, you’ll get full fat Fender ‘50s style single coil pickups to reflect that model. Whereas on the ’60s sunburst model, you get a mint pickguard which just looks so cool and appropriate.
The only downside? These units sit around the four-figure price point. But, that’s still cheap when you look at what else is out there. However, they’re thus far the most impressive strats that we’ve seen.
Fender Hybrid Series
The most expensive guitars yet in our showdown! These Hybrid guitars kind of give you ’80s super Strat vibes. Complete with humbucking bridge and neck pickups.
You get what you pay for here. With locking machine heads and a rosewood fingerboard bolted onto an alder body. Plus, those aforementioned pickups are Hybrid II Custom Voiced Humbuckers bespoke to these guitars. Oh, and you also get a gig bag with these!
My pick of the bunch is the *Sunset Glow. We’re also starting to see some weird and wonderful finishes now that we’re upping the price point.
Fender American Ultra Series
Now, between the Hybrid and the Ultra, you could argue that the American Performer and American Pro sit between them. But, for me, these look to be the king of the hill.
This is about as much as I’d want to spend on a brand-new guitar. At this price point in our Strat showdown, you could start looking at some nice vintage guitars with a bit of provenance.
Nonetheless, we get an ebony fingerboard with 7mm pearloid dot fingerboard inlays. Different from our other models, we’ve got a thicker D-profile neck. For intonation, we’re working with a Graph Tech TUSQ nut and deluxe locking tuners. These guitars also feature powerful noiseless pickups.
Strat Showdown: Too Many Choices!
So, there are loads of Strats to choose from, and we haven’t even scratched the surface! There are other brands to consider such as PRS, Cort, EVH, Jackson, Ibanez and many more. But for the traditionalists out there, it has to be a Fender, right?
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