Are all Fender-style guitars Partscasters?
When Fender emerged in the late ’40s and early ’50s, Gibson didn’t consider them serious competition; they laughed at them.
In comparison, Gibson’s design was more complex—producing beautiful guitars known as Electric Spanish (ES), which were hollow or semi-hollow-bodied with pickups.
Guitarists like Charlie Christian and T-Bone Walker revolutionised the instrument, transforming it from a rhythm tool into one capable of playing solos.
Fender, on the other hand, was the affordable, simple alternative—a plank with a bolt-on neck, painted in colours reminiscent of the cars of the time. It quickly gained popularity among American teenagers after World War II.
In hindsight, the established acts of the early ’50s mostly played expensive Gibson guitars. Scotty Moore (Elvis’s guitarist), Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, and B.B. King—the list goes on, and it was all Gibson.
Many of these musicians played Fender amps, but not their guitars.
At a grassroots level, however, Fender grew rapidly because they produced affordable yet great-sounding instruments.
Ironically, trying to purchase one of those cheap ’50s Strats today might require remortgaging your house! Recently, I saw a 1954 model in Paris sell for $88,000.
Today, buying a new Fender Strat or Tele is more expensive than before, and there’s an endless array of variations available.
Looking at new Fender guitars, different shops often offer unique models based on their specific orders. This customization makes most Fenders unique. One begins to wonder: Are they all Partscasters?
These new Fenders range from relatively cheap models to outrageously expensive ones, with various woods, pickups, and colours. And this doesn’t even include the custom shop builds!
In contrast to Gibson, Fenders are ideal for upgrading, modifying, and personalising.
Take David Gilmour’s black Strat, for example; it evolved over time until he stopped modifying it. Clapton, too, constantly swapped bodies and necks, eventually creating his signature model by adding a preamp. Nile Rodgers found a hardtail Fender with a ’60s body and a ’59 neck. Now, they make it as his signature guitar—the Hitmaker.
Perhaps the best approach is to buy a Fender or Fender-style guitar and then start customizing it.
Having owned many Fender-style guitars, that’s exactly where I ended up. The good news? It was easier than I expected!
Reflecting on this journey, here are some tips for each part I learned along the way.
Tremolo System
After trying various tremolo systems on Strats, I’ve come to two conclusions:
- Vintage-style saddles offer better sound quality than deluxe versions.
- A small UK company called Wudtone produces the best tremolo system I’ve encountered. Their design features a metal plate against which the tremolo slides, allowing for better resonance and improved tuning stability.
Tuners
There are three basic types of tuners:
- Standard vintage tuners – Classic and reliable.
- Hipshot tuners – These require cutting the string to an appropriate length, which adds a bit of complexity.
- Locking tuners – While they might cause initial tuning issues, they can be managed similarly to vintage tuners, with the added benefit of a locking mechanism.
Necks
Since Strat and Tele necks share a standard pocket size, you have the option to experiment with different necks. Warmoth is a popular choice for replacements, and Fender offers its own options. Experimenting with various shapes and materials is key to finding what works best for you.
Bodies
The standard wood for a Strat body is Alder, but alternatives like Ash, Basswood, Maple, and Mahogany are also available.
Roasting bodies, particularly Swamp Ash, has become a popular trend. Chambered bodies offer a lighter feel and slightly different tonal characteristics.
Pickups
Experimenting with pickups is one of the most obvious ways to customise a Fender-style guitar. You could consider adding humbuckers in the bridge position or blending pickups, as David Gilmour does. Recently, there’s also been a trend of using P90 pickups in Strats.
The beauty of a Fender-style guitar lies in its ability to be customised to your liking—replacing any part until you find your perfect combination. This flexibility is what gave rise to the term “Partscaster,” which might as well describe all Fenders.
Personally, I ended up with a USACG all-mahogany and rosewood Strat, using ’69 Custom Shop pickups in the neck and middle, with a Jeff Beck Jr. in the bridge, along with a Wudtone tremolo and Schaller lockable tuners. I might swap the Jeff Beck Jr. for a TV Jones Powertron, aiming for an Angus-style bridge, Clapton in the middle, and Nile/Gilmour in the neck.
But the real question is: what will your Partscaster be?
Partscaster | Related Pages
Chic
Nile Rodgers’ Chic is famous for its many iconic Disco hits, but it’s his work as a producer and songwriter that has truly solidified his legacy.
He’s worked with Madonna, Sister Sledge, David Bowie, Diana Ross, Daft Punk, Duran Duran, and SRV, making Nile a true legend in the music industry.
Eric Clapton
In addition to being a member of bands like Derek & The Dominos, The Yardbirds, and Cream, Eric Clapton has played sessions for more stars than any other guitarist.
His illustrious career has earned him three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Fender Amps
Explore the complex world of Fender amps. In my opinion, Mike Campbell has perfected the sound by combining two specific models.
The amps discussed include the Champ, Princeton, Deluxe, Vibrolux, Super Reverb, Pro Reverb, Bassman, and Twin Reverb.
David Gilmour
David Gilmour is an English musician, best known as the lead guitarist, primary vocalist, and one of the main songwriters for Pink Floyd.
Renowned for his melodic prowess and exceptional tone, Gilmour is widely regarded as one of the greatest British guitarists of all time.