Fender has actually presented 3 brand-new additions to its restricted edition 70th Anniversary Stratocaster series, consisting of the futuristic color-changing Ultra Strat HSS, a reissue of its initial 1954 develop and a brand-new take on among the most maligned appearances in its history– the Antigua surface.
Where to begin? Well, for our cash, the heading is the 70th Anniversary Ultra Stratocaster HSS. The design slots into the company’s modern Ultra specification series and sees Fender highlighting the Strat’s ongoing importance as a tool for contemporary guitar players.
It’s completed in a color-changing Amethyst, which Fender keeps in mind “dances throughout the alder body’s toned shapes” and moves tones according to the instructions of the light (Lunar Ice Silver Sky, anybody?.
Those shapes are created to surpass the original’s ergonomics– considerably minimizing the neck heel, using much easier upper fret gain access to and a smoother tummy cut, while doing so.
There’s a brand-new Ultra Quadra Tap humbucker — which uses 2 voicings (engaging a ‘hot’ voicing utilizing a push-pull pot on the Tone 1 control) together with the typical Ultra humbucker double coil-tap changing– and a five-way selector.
“We’re not extremely valuable, which is among the important things that assists keep significance as you move forward,” Fender’s EVP of Product, Justin Norvell informed GW just recently
“You do not desire simply a ream of individuals playing Buddy Holly which’s what a Fender is for. Pal Holly’s wonderful, however it requires to be this thing that keeps moving.”
The Ultra is the Fender’s supreme case in point in this regard and has to do with as far eliminated from Buddy Holly (and the initial conventional Strat specification) as it is possible to be, while still keeping the renowned DNA of the world’s primary electrical guitar
The 70th Anniversary Ultra Strat USS retails for $2,499.
For those who do wish to funnel more of the Buddy Holly ambiance. Well, then the American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster is the one for you– and the design we have actually been getting out of the minute we clocked the huge 7-0 was on the horizon.
It’s a US-made vintage proper reissue of the very first Strats and, as you ‘d hope, the eye for information here is unbelievable.
From the woods (two-piece ash body and one-piece maple neck) to the plastics (single-ply scratchplate, rounded pickup covers and the ‘football’ suggestion on the pickup selector), it is created to feel, sound and look the part.
Even under the hood, Fender has hand-written the body and neck dates on these designs, a la 1954. It’s packed with a trio of 1954 Single-Coil Strat pickups and features a host of killer case sweet.
Break open the 70th Anniversary hardcase and you’ll find a bridge cover, cable television strapreplicated 1954 Strat directions and hang tags– and even an extra five-way selector switch, ought to you desire the alternative to switch out the three-way. It’s set to retail for $2,599.
Fender has actually brought back the once-derided Antigua surface as part of the Strat’s huge birthday events. The oddball paint task was a staple of Fender’s ’70s offerings and turned into one of the most dissentious alternatives the company has actually ever released.
It’s now established its own cult following and has actually been reissued on event (consisting of the now extremely popular Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmasterin 2014).
This Mexican-made 70th Anniversary Vintera II Strat is a difficult tail develop influenced by those initial C.B.S.-era guitars, including a comfy ‘U’ design neck profile (common of the years’s productions), 70th Anniversary Vintage-Style ’70s Single-Coil Strat pickups and a hand-painted matching pickguard. It retails for $1,499.
Fender’s C.B.S. age is not a duration that is warmly concerned in its history (certainly Norvell just recently informed us he keeps the real C.B.S. letters that embellished the Fender factory under his deskas a pointer not to get contented). We envision the quality control is going to be substantially more on point with this design.
What’s more, with the Antigua, Fender is not just tipping the cap to among its oddballs, it’s likewise acknowledging the cult vintage market– and the complete breadth of the Strat’s different life expectancy, warts and all …
All of the 3 most current 70th Anniversary Stratocasters will be offered from April.
To learn more, head to Fender