Strat copy
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A Strat copy is a colloquialism that is used to label electric guitars that closely emulate the design and sound quality of the Stratocaster but are not manufactured by Fender or Squier. Stratocasters are popular and hence enjoy a large following, thus fueling a drive for cheaper editions of Stratocasters that a large number of guitarists can afford. They are made by a multitude of manufacturers under many different brand names. The variation of Strat copies are far more wide-ranging than those of the original Stratocasters. They are often found marketed as "budget-priced" guitars aimed at beginner guitar players manufactured by a wide variety of manufacturers. They can also be found as high-end boutique models with hardware and components different from that of the original Stratocasters. These are usually regarded as custom-made instruments however, as the term "strat copy" carries a populist, mass market connotation.
[edit] Budget copies
The most commonly encountered Strat copies are budget copies. These usually differ from the genuine Fender Stratocaster in their use of cheaper materials and components, although this may not always be the case. Many have bodies made of basswood, poplar or plywood, while hardware and electronic components are made with more cost-efficient materials and techniques. These are often sold by non-music establishments such as department stores and mail order catalogs.
Budget Strat copies make ideal, inexpensive platforms for customization. Guitarists who like do-it-yourself designs often replace the stock electronics and hardware on a Strat copy with their own choice of aftermarket parts to improve the guitar's tone and stability. In addition, the cheap bodies invite DIY-ers to customize the appearance of their Strat copies with painting, applying stickers, cutting and reshaping pickguards.
Some professional guitarists, however, like to use budget strat copies because they often have their own unique tone, and because they can be abused and replaced with less cost than an expensive professional-quality guitar.[citation needed] In the DVD audio commentary of the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest in character) comments that the fake Strat he used and damaged during the performance of "Sex Farm" is made by a company called Fake Strat (though the company, like Guest's character, is apparently fictional). Also Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day used a Fernandes Strat Copy whilst recording and performing Green Day's early albums. He has many copies of this guitar made which includes a real Stratocaster with the Fender logo sanded off the headstock. These guitars are nicknamed "Blue".
Budget Strat copies are usually manufactured by low-profile companies, but they may also be manufactured by larger, more reputable companies, but with minor differences to differentiate them from Fender's Stratocasters and avoid a lawsuit. Such examples are Ibanez's GRX40 and Peavey's Raptor, which place their input jack elsewhere on the body.
In response to the rise of these budget Strat copies, Fender marketed its own line of inexpensive instruments under the Squier brand, the Stratocaster-related models among them being the Squier Stratocaster and Squier Bullet. Fender has also marketed Stratocaster guitars under the Starcaster by Fender name. At the same time, Fender retains its position as a more premium guitar manufacturer. These Stratocasters and the like are not considered Strat copies because they are manufactured under the Fender name, to which the Stratocaster trademark is attached to. Rather, they are considered inexpensive variants of the original design.
[edit] Boutique copies
Another class of Stratocaster-inspired guitars, often closely matching the shape and cosmetic details of vintage Strats, is made by boutique luthiers such as Ed Roman, Patrice Vigier, John Suhr, Don Grosh, Gerard Melancon, Tom Anderson, Roger Giffin and James Tyler. These guitars are often considerably of higher quality (and pricing) than even Fender's models and may be built with more high-end exclusive materials than is practical on a mass produced solid-body electric. These are very often unique, being made to order to the exacting specifications of the individual guitarist. G&L, which was co-founded by Leo Fender after he sold away Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, manufactures guitars that closely echo the style of the original designs. Even though Leo created the Stratocaster for Fender in the 50s, G&L obtained a license for using the design, which is trademarked by the Fender company. G&L has also added their own innovations in pickup and bridge design, among other areas.
[edit] Superstrats
While superstrats by non-Fender companies share some characteristics with original Stratocasters, they are not considered Strat copies because they have several modifications that can clearly differentiate them from the original Stratocasters and cater to a different style of playing.
