In today’s article, we’re going to have a close look on one of the coolest Strats available on the market right now – Fender Vintera Stratocaster. This series of guitars was introduced by Fender a few years ago and it’s still extremely popular among all-level guitarists. But is actually worth the money?
Absolutely! Fender Vintera Stratocaster seems to be one of the best Mexican-made Stratocasters in the history. The manufacturer did an amazing job with these guitars and they released it in three different versions: ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Each one of them is slightly different, but they are all totally worth it.
Undoubtedly, it’s really difficult to be disappointed with this guitar in your hands. Let’s dive deeper with research and find out why these guitars are so good. In addition, we’re going to compare all Vintera Strats available on the market. There will be a few sound samples too, so you’ll hear how they all sound.
About Vintera Series
According to the official website of Fender, the Vintera Series features ‘vintage style guitars for modern era‘. And to be honest, that description fits these axes really well. This gear is heavily inspired by the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, so it’s kind of like traveling back in time.
It is also worth mentioning that there are A LOT of different models available. Whether you’re into a twangy tone of a Fender Telecaster or a surfy vibe of a Fender Jaguar, you’ll find something for yourself. Same with Vintera Stratocasters – there’s a few of them. We’ll talk about them in detail in the next part of the article.
Out of my experience with these Strats, when you have it in your hands, you get the impression that you’re holding something really unique and valuable. It’s a weird, but enjoyable feeling – it’s like having a brand new and vintage guitar at the same time.
Is It Better Than The American Strat?
For those who are not aware, Fender manufactures guitars in three locations: Asia, Mexico and the United States. The Mexican-made guitars are generally considered as their mid-level guitars suitable for both amateur and more intermediate players. Currently, the Vintera Series is manufactured in Mexico.
In general, the best and most expensive Fender guitars come from the factory in Corona, California. Nevertheless, the Fender Vintera Series proves that you don’t necessarily need to spend thousands of dollars for American-made guitars. In fact, some people say that Vintera guitars are actually better than far more expensive American Professional guitars.
It’s difficult to determine whether that’s true or not. To be honest, it’s highly subjective. But when you look at some of the video reviews and tone comparisons online, you’ll see that these guitars sound actually really similar.
Here’s a great video that highlights the Vintera and American Professional Strats. Check it out and see if you can spot the difference.
Comparison Of Fender Vintera Strats
As I mentioned earlier, there’s a few interesting Vintera Strats that you can choose as your next guitar. It is extremely difficult to determine which one of them is the best, because it all really depends on what kind of music you’re into and what are your preferences. Still, these guitars are not the same, so it’s worth knowing the differences between them.
I prepared a detailed overview of three Vintera Strats suitable for both amateur and professional players. There’s also a few sound demos, so make sure to check them out as well. If you’d like to see detailed specs and pricing of these guitars, feel free to click on the blue button below.
Fender Vintera ’50s Stratocaster
The most popular Vintera Stratocaster. Is it worth it? Absolutely! The guitar features a unique “soft-V” shaped maple neck, which is really similar to the V profile used back in the ’50s. That gives this guitar a really special and vintage feel. In addition, it sounds and looks absolutely beautiful!
Personally, I really like the classic aesthetics of this Strat. There is something really cool about this maple fingerboard and vintage-style pickups. What’s more, this sea foam green color hasn’t been used too frequently by Fender in the recent years, so it’s definitely a really cool and unusual option.
Feel free to check out the official demo below.
Fender Vintera ’60s Stratocaster
As you’re aware, the music industry in the ’60s looked completely different than in the ’50s. In fact, this is probably one of the most important eras for guitarists, because it shaped a lot of new genres and popularized electric guitars thanks to such icons as Jimi Hendrix or Frank Zappa.
I think that this Strat will be perfect for all lovers of classic rock with psychedelic influences. In comparison with the previous Strat, this one has a Mid-60’s C-Shaped neck. It’s extremely comfortable and at the same time, it’s really versatile, so I think that it should be enough for the most demanding guitarists out there.
Here’s the demo.
Fender Vintera ’70s Stratocaster
Again, in comparison with two previous models, this Strat has a different neck. Fender decided to use the Early 70’s C-Shaped neck, which is slightly thicker. And what’s what makes it so fun to play!
It’s really tough not to love this guitar. Sounds awesome and it looks great – isn’t it all that matters? In addition, Fender decided to use a classic ’70s headstock for this model, which is slightly different than in previous models. Personally, I think that this axe is a great tribute to that era.
Here’s the official demo.
FAQ
What year did Fender Vintera came out?
The company introduced Vintera guitars in 2019, so they are still relatively new. This series of guitars quickly became recognizable and admired by the whole industry and the community of guitarists.
What does Vintera mean?
Vintera means vintage era. Since all of these guitars are heavily inspired by ’50s, ’60s and ’70s guitars, the name has to represent that vibe.
Fender Vintera vs Fender Player
A lot of guitarists wonder whether Vintera guitars are better than Player guitars. To be honest, it’s really tough to pick a clear winner. I think that it all comes down to your own preferences. As a massive fan of vintage guitars, I’d choose the Vintera Series without any hesitation. Still, there are guitarists who don’t like this vintage vibe and they’d feel better with regular Mexican-made Strats.
For me, the Player Stratocaster sounds like a classic, bright and funky Strat. And I love that sound too! It’s the sound that we all know and admire. But the Vintera series has a bit more unique and darker tone, which I think is much better. Still, it all depends on your personal needs.
If you’re torn between two Strats and you don’t know what to buy, you should go to your local music store and compare these guitars in real life. Alternatively, you can check out the tone comparison below.
Summary
If you took your time and you check out the sound demos shared above, you probably know why these guitars are so popular. They sound awesome, they look awesome and although they’re not cheap, they’re still more affordable than American-made Strats.
Which Vintera Stratocaster would I choose? Well, that’s a tough choice. Personally, I really like the ’50s Strat. All of these guitars have a strong vintage vibe, but the ’50s version sounds the best in my opinion.
How about you? Which Fender Vintera Stratocaster would you choose? Let me know in the comments section below, I’m really curious! In addition, if you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
