Fat Strat
Encyclopedia
A Fat Strat is a name for a design of electric guitars that are based on the Fender Stratocaster
, but have a humbucking pickup at the bridge position instead of a single-coil pickup. Apart from this difference, a Fat Strat still retains other characteristics of a Stratocaster, such as the C-shape neck (instead of the thin neck in Superstrat), a 21/22-fret fretboard, and a synchronized tremolo bridge. Like "superstrat", the term is commonly used to denote any electric guitar in this style, with or without an association to Fender, though Fender recognize such an arrangement and produce their own Fat Strats.
A Fat Strat is more conventionally referred to as a Strat HSS, which stands for the pickup setup (humbucking, single-coil, single-coil). Fender offers an American Deluxe Strat HSS
(also known as American Deluxe Fat Strat), featuring a pair of Fender N3
single-coils (neck/middle), an Atomic humbucking pickup in the bridge position, an S-1 switching system for series/parallel sounds, a "Passing Lane" bypass switch and a deluxe 2-point vibrato bridge with a pop-in arm (there was also an HSS LT model with a Fender Deluxe Locking synchronized tremolo bridge
which was produced between 1998 and 2007), as well as an American Standard version sporting two Tex Mex single-coils (neck/middle), a Diamondback humbucker in the bridge and an American 2-point bridge with vintage-style bent steel saddles (the "American Series" had the S-1 switch and an American bridge with stainless steel block saddles. The HH model featured Black Cobra and Sidewinder humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions and was also available with an American hardtail non-tremolo bridge).
Fat Strats usually feature a C-shaped neck, 21-22 fretboard, and the well known synchronized tremolo bridge. Sometimes they're setup in a way that you can bypass one of the coils in the humbucker, so that you get a different sound from the humbucker, this is done by a “push-pull” volume potentiometer, which acts directly on the humbucking coil.
The Standard Series Stratocaster HSS comes with the choice of vintage-style or licensed Floyd Rose
locking tremolo. Other features include a tinted maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard, 3-ply parchment pickguard and CBS
-style logo.
The American Special Strat HSS and HH, released in 1992, featured an original Floyd Rose
locking tremolo, Gotoh/Kluson tuners and DH-1 humbucking pickups. Fender discontinued these guitars in 2003.
Because the only change on a Fat Strat compared to a conventional Strat is that it has a humbucker in the bridge position, it is typically different from a superstrat, which only shares a major similarity with a standard "Strat" in the shape of its Strat-like body. A Fat Strat is more similar to a standard Strat, having 2 single-coil pickups at neck and middle position, and the tone is fairly identical to its Strat equivalent, save for the sound of the humbucking pickup in the bridge position. Some higher-end American-made Fender models such as the American Series Strat HSS feature an S-1 switching system allowing the pickups to be wired in series and parallel mode, or vice-versa. The "Fat" name is derived from the fact that the bridge-position humbucking pickup produces extra high gains, which could be necessary for playing lead guitar
.
Like the definition of superstrat, it is often questionable whether additional modification, such as having a 2-octave fretboard, a Floyd Rose
tremolo or other similar features, would make it into a superstrat, or allow it to remain a Fat Strat (several humbucker-equipped Stratocasters are equipped with Floyd Rose trems). When it has a pair of humbucking pickups and up to 22 frets, it will typically be referred to as an HH or Double Fat Strat, which sounds dramatically different from the sound of a traditional Strat, and far closer to Gibson SG
. Due to this, it is quite common to refer to even this configuration as superstrat. Using a humbucker/single-coil/humbucker pickup configuration, a 24-fret Double Fat Strat, or one with Floyd Rose, will also usually make it a superstrat.
Example of Fat Strat include:
guitar with a humbucker
(generally with metal pickup covers) in the neck position. Double Fat Tele designates a Telecaster
with two humbucking pickup
s. Both terms were later replaced by the more conventional Tele SH and HH.
Fender produced Fat Telecasters in 1997. These models were removed in 2003. The budget-priced Squier
Standard Fat Tele lasted until 2007; the twin-humbucker Double Fat Tele Deluxe has been taken out of production around 2003-early 2004.
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
, but have a humbucking pickup at the bridge position instead of a single-coil pickup. Apart from this difference, a Fat Strat still retains other characteristics of a Stratocaster, such as the C-shape neck (instead of the thin neck in Superstrat), a 21/22-fret fretboard, and a synchronized tremolo bridge. Like "superstrat", the term is commonly used to denote any electric guitar in this style, with or without an association to Fender, though Fender recognize such an arrangement and produce their own Fat Strats.
A Fat Strat is more conventionally referred to as a Strat HSS, which stands for the pickup setup (humbucking, single-coil, single-coil). Fender offers an American Deluxe Strat HSS
Fender American Deluxe Series
The Fender American Deluxe Series is a line of middle-range electric guitars and basses introduced by Fender in 1998 and upgraded in 2004 and again in 2010.The American Deluxe line replaced the Plus Series models of 1987....
(also known as American Deluxe Fat Strat), featuring a pair of Fender N3
Vintage Noiseless
The Vintage Noiseless series is a line of electric guitar pickups made by Fender. Introduced in 1998, they feature a stacked-coil design. The range includes models for electric guitars and basses. The Vintage Noiseless pickups were an original equipment material on the American Deluxe series...
single-coils (neck/middle), an Atomic humbucking pickup in the bridge position, an S-1 switching system for series/parallel sounds, a "Passing Lane" bypass switch and a deluxe 2-point vibrato bridge with a pop-in arm (there was also an HSS LT model with a Fender Deluxe Locking synchronized tremolo bridge
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
which was produced between 1998 and 2007), as well as an American Standard version sporting two Tex Mex single-coils (neck/middle), a Diamondback humbucker in the bridge and an American 2-point bridge with vintage-style bent steel saddles (the "American Series" had the S-1 switch and an American bridge with stainless steel block saddles. The HH model featured Black Cobra and Sidewinder humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions and was also available with an American hardtail non-tremolo bridge).
Fat Strats usually feature a C-shaped neck, 21-22 fretboard, and the well known synchronized tremolo bridge. Sometimes they're setup in a way that you can bypass one of the coils in the humbucker, so that you get a different sound from the humbucker, this is done by a “push-pull” volume potentiometer, which acts directly on the humbucking coil.
The Standard Series Stratocaster HSS comes with the choice of vintage-style or licensed Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
locking tremolo. Other features include a tinted maple neck with rosewood or maple fingerboard, 3-ply parchment pickguard and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
-style logo.
The American Special Strat HSS and HH, released in 1992, featured an original Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
locking tremolo, Gotoh/Kluson tuners and DH-1 humbucking pickups. Fender discontinued these guitars in 2003.
Because the only change on a Fat Strat compared to a conventional Strat is that it has a humbucker in the bridge position, it is typically different from a superstrat, which only shares a major similarity with a standard "Strat" in the shape of its Strat-like body. A Fat Strat is more similar to a standard Strat, having 2 single-coil pickups at neck and middle position, and the tone is fairly identical to its Strat equivalent, save for the sound of the humbucking pickup in the bridge position. Some higher-end American-made Fender models such as the American Series Strat HSS feature an S-1 switching system allowing the pickups to be wired in series and parallel mode, or vice-versa. The "Fat" name is derived from the fact that the bridge-position humbucking pickup produces extra high gains, which could be necessary for playing lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
.
Like the definition of superstrat, it is often questionable whether additional modification, such as having a 2-octave fretboard, a Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
tremolo or other similar features, would make it into a superstrat, or allow it to remain a Fat Strat (several humbucker-equipped Stratocasters are equipped with Floyd Rose trems). When it has a pair of humbucking pickups and up to 22 frets, it will typically be referred to as an HH or Double Fat Strat, which sounds dramatically different from the sound of a traditional Strat, and far closer to Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
. Due to this, it is quite common to refer to even this configuration as superstrat. Using a humbucker/single-coil/humbucker pickup configuration, a 24-fret Double Fat Strat, or one with Floyd Rose, will also usually make it a superstrat.
Example of Fat Strat include:
- Yamaha PacificaYamaha PacificaYamaha Pacifica is the name of a series of electric guitars manufactured by Yamaha. The line was originally designed in Yamaha's California custom-shop by Rich Lasner, working with guitar builder Leo Knapp...
- Ibanez SAIbanez SThe Ibanez S Series is a guitar series produced by Hoshino Gakki. Introduced in the late 1980s, the S Series is notable for being a streamlined mahogany bodied guitar with a maple neck that plays comfortably while retaining the resonance of mahogany...
Fat Tele
The Fat Tele usually refers to a Fender TelecasterFender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
guitar with a humbucker
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
(generally with metal pickup covers) in the neck position. Double Fat Tele designates a Telecaster
Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
with two humbucking pickup
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
s. Both terms were later replaced by the more conventional Tele SH and HH.
Fender produced Fat Telecasters in 1997. These models were removed in 2003. The budget-priced Squier
Squier
Squier is a musical instrument brand name owned by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender, under the ownership of CBS, acquired the Squier brand name in 1965 when it bought a USA based string making firm , but it lay dormant for many years...
Standard Fat Tele lasted until 2007; the twin-humbucker Double Fat Tele Deluxe has been taken out of production around 2003-early 2004.