Best Fender Stratocasters Under $1000 (our four picks)

We're highlighting four Fender Stratocasters that have one primary feature in common: They all retail for less than $1000. If that's what you're looking for, this list is perfect for you, as it covers your budget and recommends the best Fender Strats within that price range. We're also considering a more broad list of quality indicators, including pickups, hardware, playability, and more.

Our Top 4 Picks

We've chosen four models of Fender Stratocasters, all with their own unique appeal and quality markers. Keep in mind: They're similar guitars in a similar price range, so the distinctions we can make between them are limited. At the same time, we'll do our best to contextualize each recommendation so you can figure out which one will be most ideal for your situation.

The Deluxe HSS is a heavier Stratocaster that can bridge the gap between rhythm and lead, and push some thicker tones and chord progressions. For those that like the brighter Strat style, but want the capability of pushing higher gains and more rhythmic tones, the Deluxe HSS will give you a good balance of lead and rhythm.

IDEAL FOR: Rhythm and lead hybrid styles

The Player is the consummate mid-range Stratocaster, particularly built for lead and blues, though versatile and applicable to a wide range of musical styles. For the price range, it's one of the best-value guitars on the market, and certainly our top pick within this price range. 

At its price, you could even do a pickup upgrade and have some room to spare. 

IDEAL FOR: Lead styles, blues, mid-level recording/gigging, and avoiding bells/whistles

A step above the Player series, the Deluxe Roadhouse Strat is a more aggressive lead electric guitar, ideal for blues, southern rock, and Stevie Ray Vaughan-inspired playing styles.

IDEAL FOR: Blues, southern rock, subtle overdriven tones, and tube amps

The Diamond version of the 75th anniversary Strat has a spec sheet that's similar to the Player Stratocaster, and sits at a similar price point. Though it's not in production outside of a Custom Shop model - which is far more expensive - it's one of the Stratocasters we've liked most in this price range. You can still find used options floating around. 

IDEAL FOR: '60s styles, blues

How We Chose

Pricing Limitations and Exclusions

For example, we didn't consider any Squiers or Fender American Series Stratocasters, since the Squiers are too cheap and the American Strats are too expensive. If you want, you can compare a bunch of Fender Stratocaster models here without regards to pricing.

Other Strat Features

Here are a couple additional features to keep in mind (aside from price), when shopping for a Fender Stratocaster.

Pickups (Fender Noiseless?)

First, check to see what kind of pickups are on your Stratocaster. In this price range, we like to see the Fender Noiseless Strat pickups, pictured below, or some kind of branded Fender pickup from the Custom Shop:

Otherwise you're looking at a kind of stock Alnico 5 single coil pickup, which is much cheaper and not as nice as the Noiseless series. That doesn't mean the guitar is terrible, but we really like to see that "NOISELESS" insignia in our Strat and Tele pickups, whenever possible.

In our list, the Player series and 75th anniversary diamond Strats don't have the Noiseless pickups added.

You can always add them later if you have the energy for a Stratocaster pickup upgrade.

Series

If you've narrowed down your choices to a Stratocaster, get familiar with the series and models within the Fender Strat lineup.

Pricing is tiered through these series, and quality tends to shift dramatically from one to the next. For example, the American Professional Stratocasters are way nicer than the Player Series Strats, but also more expensive.

You've got to pay attention to where you are in those tiers, especially if you're buying a used Strat that may (or may not) be a great deal. 

What You Should Get in our Price Range

This leads us to some standards in terms of what we should get for what we're paying, between $700 and $1000. We'd say you should at least have the following three things in exchange for that investment.

Decent Pickups

If you don't get the Noiseless pickups and get stuck with the stock Alnico 5 stock versions, we might recommend changing those out at some point. But try and hold out for a Strat that has the Fender-brand pickups, whether they're the Noiseless version or something similar.

Mid to Upper Series Models

In our price range you should be expecting to get one of these mid to upper-tier Strat models, either in the Player or Deluxe series. Every once in a while we see a low-end American Strat come down under $1000, but that's usually just in used markets.

Reliability

Generally speaking, these Stratocasters should be more reliable and trustworthy than cheaper Strats. They should last longer, sound better, and have less noise issues than the cheaper Squier Strats and knockoff versions.

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