Back to the future - Fender’s award-winning “VG Strat” innovates an American icon
United States
English
27 November 2007 — Simply put, 2007 has been the year of the VG Strat. Fender’s new high tech axe (partnered with Roland Corp.) set the industry on its ear, just as Fender did when it invented the electric bass in 1951 and has done at countless other points in the company’s history. Modeling technology may be nothing new, but blending the sophisticated technology with the elegant simplicity and classic styling of the Strat was a breakthrough, and turned out to be the one guitar players had been waiting for.
The revolutionary guitar garnered consumer admiration and over 7 international awards, including NAMM’s “Best In Show,” -- the top honor at the industry’s biggest trade show. It hasn’t just wowed the musical instruments world though -- it has been prominently featured in mainstream media outlets including Men’s Health, Playboy, Macworld, Alternative Press, and many more.
And for musicians, it has been a phenomenon. Everyday players and customers are creating their own VG Strat Youtube videos, and professional recording artists from the entire stylistic spectrum have been using the VG and singing its praises. Here are just a few:
“It’s kind of a must-have…with all of the sounds and things you can dial up it saves me from bringing 6 other guitars”
Andy Summers, The Police
“I have to admit I was very suspicious of the VG Strat. I’m a caveman guitar player. One pickup and a volume knob will do thank you very much. The VG’s electronics might as well be from Mars to me. So when the nice people at Fender deemed me worthy to check out a VG I figured I’d really put it to the test. Like the old Samsonite luggage commercial where the gorilla beats the crap out of a suitcase, that’s what I did with this Strat. The Strat won. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break it. The drop tuning feature is incredible. I have an extremely heavy right hand and when I dig in strings cry. I couldn’t get the tuning to screw up. Not one glitch. It tracks perfectly. Those are some powerful wizards you’ve got making magic over there. All the tones are spot on. I especially like the Tele sound. To have all these possibilities in one instrument is truly amazing and it makes the VG Strat an inspiring instrument.”
Scott Ian, Anthrax
“The VG Strat allows me to comfortably switch between many non-Strat tones without compromising the ultimate playability of an American Stratocaster. I use it every night and its been as reliable as any guitar in my line up. Fender has managed to make an instrument that’s as versatile as it is reliable without compromising any feel or aesthetic that you’d expect out of a Fender Stratocaster.”
Scott Patton, Sugerland
The revolutionary guitar garnered consumer admiration and over 7 international awards, including NAMM’s “Best In Show,” -- the top honor at the industry’s biggest trade show. It hasn’t just wowed the musical instruments world though -- it has been prominently featured in mainstream media outlets including Men’s Health, Playboy, Macworld, Alternative Press, and many more.
And for musicians, it has been a phenomenon. Everyday players and customers are creating their own VG Strat Youtube videos, and professional recording artists from the entire stylistic spectrum have been using the VG and singing its praises. Here are just a few:
“It’s kind of a must-have…with all of the sounds and things you can dial up it saves me from bringing 6 other guitars”
Andy Summers, The Police
“I have to admit I was very suspicious of the VG Strat. I’m a caveman guitar player. One pickup and a volume knob will do thank you very much. The VG’s electronics might as well be from Mars to me. So when the nice people at Fender deemed me worthy to check out a VG I figured I’d really put it to the test. Like the old Samsonite luggage commercial where the gorilla beats the crap out of a suitcase, that’s what I did with this Strat. The Strat won. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break it. The drop tuning feature is incredible. I have an extremely heavy right hand and when I dig in strings cry. I couldn’t get the tuning to screw up. Not one glitch. It tracks perfectly. Those are some powerful wizards you’ve got making magic over there. All the tones are spot on. I especially like the Tele sound. To have all these possibilities in one instrument is truly amazing and it makes the VG Strat an inspiring instrument.”
Scott Ian, Anthrax
“The VG Strat allows me to comfortably switch between many non-Strat tones without compromising the ultimate playability of an American Stratocaster. I use it every night and its been as reliable as any guitar in my line up. Fender has managed to make an instrument that’s as versatile as it is reliable without compromising any feel or aesthetic that you’d expect out of a Fender Stratocaster.”
Scott Patton, Sugerland
