Paul Balmer: Haynes Fender Stratocaster Manual (2nd Edition)

Leo Fender launched the Stratocaster electric guitar in 1954 as an upgrade to his revolutionary Telecaster. The ‘Strat’ – streamlined, chrome-plated, efficient, fast and sexy – soon gained icon status. Today, while original models change hands for thousands of dollars, almost identical Stratocasters are mass-produced by Fender USA for sale worldwide. The ‘Strat’ remains a low-maintenance ‘good little runner’ and, with the help of the second edition of this practical ‘how to’ manual, will last a lifetime.

Key content

• Buying a ‘Strat’, used and new options, pitfalls, authenticity issues, getting the right ‘Strat’ for the job.
• Pre-gig checks, tuning, stageside repairs.
• Routine maintenance and servicing.
• Set-ups and careful ‘customising’.
• Safety, electric shocks, hearing damage, paint spray hazards, repetitive strain injury.
• Dimensions and weights, buying spares, model identification.
• ‘Under the hood’ with celebrity users: how the pros set up their ‘Strats’ and related hardware.
• This second edition is fully updated throughout, and includes extra case studies and a new section showing how to 'Voodoo' your Squier Strat.