The Stratocaster Turns 70

Just want to start a little sub thread on favorite guitar YouTube channels. For me it’s Chris Buck, hands-down, his Friday Fretwork series is phenomenal for the history of guitars, amplifiers and rock and roll. He’s also a fantastic guitarist that puts little intermissions in each of his videos with incredible playing.

https://youtube.com/@chrisbuckguitar

I dig this, but If you had asked me what the greatest electric guitar design was I would have actualy answered Telecaster.

...and ever since generations of electric guitarists have been confused over tremolo and vibrato, because Leo Fender mixed them up.

One the the Stratocaster's major innovations was a bridge system that allowed for large string bends without messing up intonation. For unknown reasons he called this a tremolo system, even though the effect produced using it is vibrato (varying pitch) rather than tremolo (varying volume).

He did a similar thing with the Fender Vibrolux amp. That had a tremolo effect built in, but Fender marketed as vibrato.

Why did so many great guitarists who made their mark using other guitars then settle into boring middle-aged mediocrity playing a Stratocaster? Never understood.

Iconic guitar butt Jazzmaster is better IMHO.