The Fender Stratocaster: The Life & Times of the World's Greatest Guitar & Its Players - Hardcover

Hunter, Dave

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0760344841 ISBN 13: 9780760344842

Publisher: Voyageur Press, 2013

Synopsis

Fender’s Stratocaster is arguably the number-one instrument icon of the guitar world.

When introduced in 1954, its offset space-age lines, contoured body, and three-pickup configuration set the music world on its ear—it was truly unlike any guitar that had come before. In the hands of the world’s most beloved players, the Stratocaster has since become a popular weapon of choice among rock, blues, jazz, and country players and, not coincidentally, is also one of the most copied electric guitars of all time

In this authoritatively written, painstakingly curated, and gloriously presented tribute to the 60-year-old Fender Stratocaster, author Dave Hunter covers the guitar’s history from concept, design, and model launch through its numerous variations and right up to the present. The story is illustrated with archival images of Stratocasters and their players in action, studio shots of Stratocasters of varied vintage and provenance, memorabilia associated with famous players, and profiles of over 30 noted Strat slingers through the ages.

Influential rock’n’ rollers like Buddy Holly, Hank Marvin, Ike Turner, and Dick Dale; blues players like Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, and John Mayer; metal gods Richie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Dave Murray; esteemed rockers Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Ronnie Wood, Robbie Robertson, Rory Gallagher, Mark Knopfler, and Wayne Kramer; and post-punk heroes The Edge, John Frusciante, and Billy Corgan are all included. And so, of course, is Jimi Hendrix.

With its unprecedented level of detail and stunning visuals, The Fender Stratocaster is the only book tribute worthy of the world’s greatest guitar.

About this title

About the Author

Dave Hunter is an author, musician, and journalist. He is the author of several popular books about guitars, amps, and effects, including Star Guitars and 365 Guitars, Amps & Effects You Must Play, as well as Fender: 75 Years and Fender Stratocaster: 70 Years. A regular contributor to Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar magazines, he resides in Kittery, Maine.

From the Back Cover

The Strat was and still is the most recognizable image, sound, and pioneering guitar to ever make music. The first time I saw a Strat was with Buddy Holly and the Crickets on The Ed Sullivan Show. At the same time, I got a copy of Out of the Shadows from England and saw my first red Strat. The sound had me hooked.

Randy Bachman, from the foreword

The Fender Stratocaster just may be the ultimate guitar. Curvaceous and stylish. Anatomically perfect for playing. Three pickups and a whammy bar. Tone to die for. And somewhere along the way, it changed the world of music.

In the hands of players from Eldon Shamblin to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ike Turner to Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy to Eric Clapton, the Stratocaster has been central to country, blues, punk, rock n roll, even jazz.

Here is the complete story of this legendary["ultimate used above] guitar. Packed with more than 700 photos and memorabilia, plus profiles of the great Strat players, this book is a suitable tribute to the Stratocaster.

Dig in and feel the music.

I mostly play the Fender Stratocaster. I like its body shape, the sense of manipulation, its clarity. I ve been playing Strats pretty much my whole life.

Lenny Kaye

Edition details

• Publisher: Voyageur Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0760344841
• ISBN 13: 9780760344842
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240