[NAMM] New Fender Stratocaster Select guitars

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The Stratocaster has a place of honor this year at Fender’s and to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the guitar, the brand launches new Select models.

The Fender Select Series welcomes two new Stratocaster guitars, both equipped with the new Channel Bound neck/fingerboard.

The first model, called Select Stratocaster Exotic Maple Quilt, received a quilted maple top with an Iced Tea Burst gloss lacquer finish which gives the wood a marble effect. Fender adds that you won’t find two instruments alike. The body of the guitar is made of alder, and the birds-eye maple neck with C shape received a rosewood fingerboard, thanks to the Channel Bound technique. The fingerboard has a compound radius (9.5” – 14”) with 21 medium jumbo frets and Vintage Ivory Dot inlays.

As for the electronics, this Stratocaster has an SSS pickup configuration, with three Fender Select Stratocaster single coil models, a 5-way pickup switch, a master volume and two tone knobs.

Also present on the instrument are a bridge with a two-point synchronized tremolo and bent steel saddles, Deluxe staggered tuners, Bi-Flex truss rod, Micro-Tilt neck adjustment and a Fender Select medallion on the back of the headstock.

MSRP of this Select Stratocaster Exotic Maple Quilt is $2999.99, and the guitar ships in a tweed case with a cable, a strap and a polishing cloth.

The second model introduced for 2014 is an HSS model, with a flamed maple top and a Bing Cherry Burst gloss lacquer finish, hence the name Select Stratocaster HSS Exotic Maple Flame. Just as the Quilt Maple model, the finish makes each instrument different from the other.

The guitar features an alder body, a Modern C rosewood neck with an inlaid maple Channel Bound fingerboard (this wood setup is a first) with a compound radius (9.5” – 14”), 21 medium jumbo frets and black pearloid Dot inlays. The bridge with bent steel saddles features a two-point synchronized tremolo, and you’ll also find deluxe staggered tuners, Micro-Tilt neck adjustment system, Bi-Flex truss rod and the Fender Select medallion on the back of the headstock.

The Select Stratocaster HSS Exotic Maple Flame is also equipped with a Twin-Head Vintage humbucking bridge pickup and two Select Stratocaster single coil middle and neck pickups, to be controlled via a master volume, two tones and a 5-way switch.

Announced at $2999.99, the guitar also ships with a tweed case with strap, cable and cloth.