Strat copy
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A Strat copy - literally meaning a copy of a Strat - is a colloquialism that is used to label electric guitars that closely emulate the design 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.
[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. Most have bodies made of basswood or plywood, while hardware and electronic components are made with more cost-efficient techniques. Quality control is generally either lax or non-existent. These are 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 and guilt 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).
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. At the same time, Fender retains its position as a more premium guitar manufacturer. These Stratocasters and the like are not considered Strat copies due to the fact that they are manufactured under the Fender name, to which the Stratocaster design 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. These guitars are often considerably of higher quality and may be made from more exclusive materials than the standard guitars. These are very often unique, being made to order to the exacting specifications of the individual guitarist. Hence, along with being handmade by these luthiers, they are also significantly more expensive. G&L, being co-founded by Leo Fender after he sold away Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, manufactures guitars that closely echo the style of Leo's original designs on license from the Fender company for using trademarked designs, and these also have certain innovations.
[edit] Superstrats
While superstrats by non-Fender companies share some characteristic 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. They thus resemble the Stratocasters, but are not close copies in their own right.
