It’s been three years since I’ve done one of these, time for an update. As usual, I’ll try to list them from least to most expensive. Only regular production, no Custom Shop. I’ve omitted the Japanese models, as their availability outside of Japan is somewhat inconsistent.

US-made (“MIA”)

These are made in the Fender factory in Corona, California.

American Performer

The American Performer Stratocaster is Fender’s entry-level US-made Stratocaster, replacing the American Special in early 2019. It features ’70s styling with a large headstock. It comes with a 9.5?, medium jumbo fret C neck, 6-point vibrato, and Yosemite pickups. Three colors are available, and it comes with a Rosewood or Maple fretboard, depending on the color. The American Performer is also available in HSS configuration (four colors). Street price is around € 1,400.

American Performer Stratocaster (Honey Burst)

American Professional II

Fender’s replacement for the long-running (in different iterations) American Standard series was introduced in early 2017, and updated in 2020. Besides the traditional SSS configuration, it is also available as HSS model. The American Professional features a 9.5?deep-C neck with narrow-tall frets. The pickups are the new V-Mod II type, the rest of the hardware is similar to what we were used to from the American Standard: two-point vibrato with stamped saddles, non-locking tuners. 9 colors are available (8 on the HSS), most of them with a choice of Rosewood and Maple fretboard. Street price now above € 2,000 including the nice Deluxe case.

American Professional II Stratocaster HSS (Miami Blue)

American Vintage II

The only significant change in the US lineup since 2022. The American Vintage II series has replaced the American Original series, going back to more vintage-correct specifications and thus a 7.25″ fretboard radius, but with vintage tall frets. 1957, 1961, 1965, and 1973 models are available – the 1957 in four different colors, the others in three. Specs are as one would expect:

• 1957: solid V-shaped maple neck, skunk stripe, single-layer pickguard
• 1961: medium C neck, slab rosewood fretboard, clay dots, triple-layer pickguard
• 1965: C-shaped neck (should be a fuller C), thinner rosewood fretboard, pearl dots
• 1973: ash body, large headstock, bullet trussrod, three-bolt neck

Street price is €2,200 – €2,500 with a vintage style case.

American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster (Sea Foam Green)

American Ultra II

The American Ultra got a minor upgrade. Available as SSS (6 colors) and HSS (5 colors) model. Upgrades over the American Professional II include locking tuners, block saddles, contoured neck heel, a compound 10?-14? radius fretboard, and D-shaped neck. Pickups are the Ultra II noiseless models, which continue the lineage of noiseless pickups that started with the Lace Sensors in the Strat Plus. Fretboards are maple or ebony, pickguards black or brushed aluminum, depending upon the color. The colors are quite flashy. As I’ve written before, the features are great for live use, but I’m not a big fan of the neck shape. Street price around €2,400 including case. 

American Ultra II Stratocaster (Avalanche)

Artist

Perhaps the most interesting range, as they can differ quite a bit from the norm. These are, if I’m not mistaken the US-made artist models:

• Cory Wong: modern D shape neck, compound radius rosewood fretboard, Seymour Duncan pickups, slightly smaller body.
• Eric Clapton: soft V neck, 9.5″ radius maple fretboard, Vintage Noiseless pickups, active electronics.
• Eric Johnson: soft V neck, 12″ fretboard radius (both maple and bound rosewood available), Eric Johnson pickups.
• Jeff Beck: noiseless pickups, C shape neck with 9.5″ radius rosewood fretboad, LSR roller nut, locking tuners.
• Jim Root: modern C shape neck, compound radius ebony fretboard, large headstock, hardtail bridge, active EMG pickups.
• Juanes: deep C shape neck, compound radius maple fretboard, Juanes Ultra noiseless pickups/Humbucker, mid-boost.
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd: C shape neck, 7.25″ radius bound rosewood fretboard, Kenny Wayne Shepherd pickups, chambered body.
• Lincoln Brewster: soft V neck, compound radius maple fretboard, DiMarzio pickups, mid-boost, locking tuners. 
• Michael Landau: C shape neck, 7.25″ radius rosewood fretboard, Ultra noiseless pickups and Humbucker.
• Nile Rodgers: C shape neck, 9.5″ radius maple fretboard, Nile Rogers pickups, slightly smaller body, locking tuners.
• Stevie Ray Vaughan: ’60s neck profile, Pau Ferro fingerboard with 12″ radius, Texas Special pickups, gold hardware.
• Yngwie Malmsteen: ’70s style with large headstock, modern C neck, scalloped 9.5″ fretboard (maple or rosewood), Seymour Duncan pickups.

Street prices are in the €2,000-€2,700 range.

Mexican-made (“MIM”)

The MIM Stratocasters are made in Fender’s factory in Ensenada, Mexico.

Player II

The Player II series has replaced the Player series as entry-level Mexican-made Stratocaster. The specs are mostly the same: Modern C shape neck, 9.5″ fretboard radius, alder body, two-point vibrato, Alnico pickups. Fretboards are once again rosewood and no longer Pau Ferro. Available also as HSS model, and in no less than 11 colors. Street price around €800.

Player II Stratocaster (Aquatone)

Player II Modified

The replacement for the Player Plus series. Available in three versions: SSS (6 colors), HSS (5 colors), and HSS Floyd Rose (3 colors). Upgrades over the standard Player II include locking tuners, noiseless pickups, and modified pickup switching. These come with a gig bag at a street price slightly above €1,000.

Player II Modified Stratocaster (Sunshine Yellow)

Vintera II

The Vintera II is the Mexican-made equivalent to the American Vintage II models. Available as ’50s, ’60s’, and ’70s model, each of them in three colors. Period-correct features in terms of neck shape, pickguard material, etc. These come with a gig bag at a street price of around €1,100.

Vintera II ’60s Stratocaster (Lake Placid Blue)

Artist

Fender also make quite a number of artist models in their Mexican factory:

• Albert Hammond Jr: ’70s style with large headstock, modern C shape neck, 7.25″ radius rosewood fretboard, ceramic pickups.
• Buddy Guy: soft V shape neck, 9.5″ radius maple fretboard, Standard pickups.
• Dave Murray: C shape neck, compound radius rosewood fretboard, Floyd Rose vibrato, single coil-sized Humbuckers.
• H.E.R.: mid-60s C shape neck, 9.5″ radius maple fretboard, Vintage Noiseless pickups.
• Jimi Hendrix: large reverse headstock and reverse bridge pickup to give the upside-down look and feeling. C shape neck, 9.5″ maple fretboard, American Vintage ’65 pickups.
• Jimmy Vaughan: V-shaped neck, 9.5″ radius maple fretboard, Tex-Mex pickups.
• Mike McCready: slim C neck shape, 9.5″ radius rosewood fretboard, Mike McCready pickups, roadworn relic finish.
• Ritchie Blackmore: ’70s style with large headstock, U shape neck, 7.25″ radius rosewood fretboard with partial scalloping, neck and bridge pickup only (Seymour Duncan).
• Robert Cray: Fender’s only normal production hardtail model (except for the non-traditional Jim Root and Tom DeLonge). C shape neck, 9.5″ radius rosewood fretboard, Custom Shop pickups.
• Steve Lacy: deep C neck, 9.5″ radius maple fretboard, noiseless pickups, fuzz circuit.
• Tash Sultana: modern C neck, 9.5″ radius maple fretboard, HSS pickup setup, gold hardware.
• Tom DeLonge: modern C neck, 9.5″ radius rosewood fretboard, hardtail bridge, bridge Humbucker only.
• Tom Morello: modern C neck, compound radius rosewood fretboard, noiseless/Seymour Duncan pickups, Floyd Rose vibrato.

Street prices are in the €1,200-€1,700 range.

Indonesian-made

Standard

There was a time when €500 bought you a MIM Standard, but along with better features (such as Alnico pickups), prices steadily increased to now around €800 for the Player II. This lead to a gap between the Squier and MIM offerings that Fender has now decided to bridge with a new, Indonesian-made Standard range.

For the Stratocaster, this means an SSS (four colors) and HSS (three colors) model. The bodies are poplar, fretboards are either maple or indian laurel, depending upon the color. The pickups use ceramic magnets and reportedly have a bit higher output than more vintage-oriented Alnico pickups. But with street prices around the €600-€650 range, I’m not sure whether these can actually be considered a good deal compared to the Player IIs that come with alder bodies, rosewood fretboards, and Alnico pickups. 

Standard Stratocaster HSS (Candy Cola)

Squier

Squier is of course still around as entry-level brand, with the following series:

• Sonic: these replace the Bullet series. Also available as hardtail. Street price around €175.
• Affinity: large headstock, SSS, HSS, and HH configurations. Street price €220-€250.
• Classic Vibe: ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s style Stratocasters but with modern C necks and 9.5″ fretboard radius. These are known as being quality instruments. Street price around €400.

Sonic Stratocaster HT (Torino Red)