Somewhere right now, a guy is talking himself into a much pricier Strat while this one sits on the wall doing pretty much the same job for a lot less money.

Don't be that guy.

Black body, white guard, rosewood board. It looks like a Strat, and it plays like its teething at the bit to be onstage. The single-coils are bright, articulate, and a little mean when you dig in. Those factory Duncan Designed single-coils are where the personality lives: bright, articulate, and happy to bite a little when you lean on them. The five-way switch gives you every classic voice, including the in-between positions where Strats earn their reputation. The neck is comfortable and familiar, and the trem is there for a little shimmer or a dive.

Coming up from a Bullet or an Affinity, this is the one that finally feels like a real guitar. If you already own something nicer, it's the backup you won't need to baby. If you're a tinkerer, the foundation is good enough to deserve your parts bin.

This is a USED guitar in VERY GOOD condition. There's one small scrape on the back of the lower bout and a few very small marks elsewhere. The frets show no noticeable wear. We checked the electronics, and every control and switch position works.

Included: Guitar and tremolo arm. No case or gig bag.

Spec block

Body / Construction
Body Material: Basswood
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Finish: Black, gloss polyester
Neck Joint: Bolt-on, 4-bolt
Orientation: Right-handed
Weight: 7.6 lbs

Neck
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Gloss urethane
Neck Profile: C shape
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fret Count: 21
Fret Size: Medium jumbo
Nut Material: Synthetic bone
Inlays: Dot
Headstock: Large '70s-style

Hardware
Bridge: 6-saddle vintage-style synchronized tremolo
Tremolo Arm: Included, installed
Tuning Machines: Vintage-style
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Pickguard: 3-ply white/black/white
Control Knobs: White plastic

Electronics
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Neck Pickup: Duncan Designed SC-101 single-coil
Middle Pickup: Duncan Designed SC-101 single-coil
Bridge Pickup: Duncan Designed SC-101B single-coil
Controls: Master volume, tone 1 (neck pickup), tone 2 (middle pickup)
Switching: 5-position blade