Fender Starcaster (by Fender)

The electric guitars in this range were manufactured in the Far East and typically sold as part of a starter package. In 2006–2007 the Fender website identified them as being sold through a number of major general retail outlets. Different finishes were available exclusively from each outlet, for example, 3-tone sunburst with rosewood fretboard from Best Buy, black with maple fingerboard from Target, metallic black with rosewood fingerboard and pearloid scratchplate from Sam's Club. Although the range was withdrawn from the Fender website in 2007, it continued to be developed and was sold through a variety of outlets.

The typical Starcaster Strat Pack solid-body electric was fitted with 3 single coil pickups, a five-way selector switch, and a floating tremolo bridge. The neck on models up to 2011 features the large CBS headstock and may have 21 or 22 frets depending on the model. Some models have the headstock painted to match the guitar body. Later Starcaster models feature the smaller Fender headstock. The body may be basswod or agathis depending on model and year of manufacture. The pickup cavity is routed to allow an H-S-H pickup configuration, which allows for flexibility in pickup arrangement. Although most models feature the classic Stratocaster configuration of 3 single-coil pickups, at least one uses the S-S-H pickup configuration with a humbucker in the bridge position. They have been manufactured in countries like China and Indonesia and are not considered a Strat copy because the Stratocaster design is owned by Fender.