Icon. Not a word to be used lightly. But the Stratocaster is just that. The new Aerican standard Stratocaster guitars are beauties to behold, look and feel. We kept the hand-rolled fingerboard edges, alnico V pickups and staggered turning machines for playability, tone and stability, and added several new features, including:

- A new bridge with improved bent-steel saddles and a copper-infused high-mass block for increased resonance and sustain.

- A new neck treatment--tintes for a richer presentation, with the maple or rosewood fingerboard buffed to a high gloss. The back of the neck still has that silky stain finish.

- A thinner finish undercoat that lets the body breathe and improves resonance.

- A new Fender-exclusive SKB molded case.

- Two beautiful new finish options, Sienna Sunburst and Blizzard Pearl.