Gearank

The Stratocaster is easily one of the most familiar electric guitar designs ever, made popular by iconic guitarists but used just as much by aspiring rockers. With so many clones and variations available, the Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster '70s stand out in terms of ratings, thanks to it being a licensed and good quality reproduction of strats from the 1970s.

It starts off with a classic double cutaway body, crafted from basswood, paired with carved maple neck and a '70s era style headstock. Squier equipped it with three Duncan designed singlecoil pickups that replicate the sound of vintage strats at a more cost-effective price point. Completing its features is a vintage style synchronized tremolo.

• Body: Basswood
• Finish: Metallic Gold (pictured), Cardinal Red, Ebony, Pelham Blue, Ebony
• Bridge: Tune-o-matic and Stopbar Tailpiece
• Pickups: 3 Duncan Designed SC-101 Single-Coil Pickups
• Neck: Maple
• Scale Length: 25.5”
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5”
• Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
• Nut Width: 1.65”
• Controls: 2-volume, 2-tone
• Pickup Selector: 3-way toggle switch

Pros

Market sentiment for this guitar is overwhelmingly positive, impressing students and experienced players alike. Many describe it as having authentic Fender Stratocaster tones, or at least it sounds very close - even those who have more expensive instruments find the sound of this guitar to their liking. Many are also suprised with its build quality.

Cons

There are a few reports of cosmetic flaws and setup issues out of the box, much like any guitar in this price range.

Overall

Unfortunately this Stratocaster is no longer in production, so if you're looking for an alternative then take a look at our guide to The Best Electric Guitars Under $500 or The Best Electric Guitars for Beginners.