The Fender Stratocaster also known as the "Strat" is one of the most recognizable guitars in the world. The Strat was designed between 1952 and 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares. The Stratocaster is a signature "S-type" double-cutaway guitar with an extended top horn for balance and comes with 3 single coil fender pickups. The body of the Strat is made out of alder and ash wood, the neck is made out of maple wood, and the fretboard is either made from rosewood or pau ferro, which hasn't changed since the instrument's creation. 

In the middle of the 1950s, the guitar brought some new features to the electric guitar market. For the first time, a mass-market electric guitar did not greatly resemble previous acoustic models thanks to its unique body style, which is now standard on electric guitars. This was innovative for the time. The double cutaway, elongated horns, and curved back were all designed for better balance and comfort to play while standing up and slung off the shoulder with a strap. In comparison to earlier one- and two-pickup electric guitars, the three-pickup design offered players greater versatility and tone quality options. It also featured a responsive and simpler vibrato arm integrated into the bridge plate, which was a major design improvement over other vibrato systems, like those made by Bigsby. The Stratocaster's success helped to promote and eventually establish all of these design aspects as industry norms. 

To provide more tonal variety, Fender has released multiple models with various pickup configurations. They have also made minor cosmetic changes to various parts of the guitar, such as the tuning pegs and the types of wood used in the various parts, as well as minor adjustments to the electronics and base model's constituents. Other businesses have created their own "Superstrats", which are Strat-style bodies. 

• Jimi Hendrix - Hendrix, who is left-handed, experimented with flipping his right-handed guitars over, inspiring a number of aspiring musicians to attempt the same feat in hopes of becoming as close to him as possible. His hot and seductive blues and rock licks have been copied numerous times over the years, but they have rarely been surpassed. Hendrix's most well-known Stratocaster performances are from his appearances at Woodstock in 1969 and Monterey in 1967, the latter of which featured his iconic rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

• Stevie Ray Vaughan - Not only did Vaughan’s voice carry raw power and emotion, but his ability to play lead and rhythm parts simultaneously was incredible. His favorite Stratocaster, named “Number One,” was a hybrid guitar that had a ravaged ’63 body and a ’62 rosewood neck. It also featured a left-handed tremolo in honor of Jimi Hendrix and distinctive stickers spelling out his initials on the pickguard.

• Eric Clapton - Clapton can play fast when soloing, even alternating between major and minor pentatonic scales, but his ability to speak volumes with just a few notes is unparalleled. In the early 1970s, Clapton bought six Stratocasters for about $100 each, giving one to George Harrison, one to Pete Townshend, and one to Steve Winwood. From parts of the other three, “Slowhand” created his most famous Strat, “Blackie,” a mix of 1956 and 1957 models that would serve him well onstage and in the studio for the next 12 years. 

• David Gilmore - “Atmospheric” is a word typically used to describe Gilmour’s style, and rightfully so. He rose to worldwide prominence as a singer and guitarist for Pink Floyd, although he has also forged an acclaimed and popular solo career.