Fender is commemorating a considerable turning point in the history of the Stratocaster in 2024, as the world's most well-known electrical guitar turns 70. And now it has actually begun the events with a star-studded cover clip of Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
It's a rip-roaring, varied take on the guitar hero's timeless, including a variety of special voices that are plainly meant to show the Strat's versatility.
The complete list of highlighted artists consists of Tom Morello, Nile Rodgers, Ari O'Neal, Mateus Asato, Rei, Tash Sultana, Jimmie Vaughan, Rebecca Lovell, Tyler Bryant and Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil.
It's rather the line-up– one that wisely reveals the breadth and depth of the Strat's usage in the hands of both timeless and modern artists from throughout the musical spectrum– albeit with a strong slant to rock, offered the base product.
Yes, it's a marketing clip, however we need to confess's an enjoyable one– remembering the tag-team format of the Jackson Virtuoso Mega Shred video that we enjoyed in 2015– albeit directing among rock's most renowned guitar structures at the same time.
Hearing the various characters including brand-new life to a extremely familiar lick is truly inspiring, too– with a breakneck mix and turning cast to hold your interest.
Along with the primary jam, Fender has actually likewise shot a host of clips, in which the artists included discuss their own Strat stories.
“I got my Stratocaster in 1973 when I recognized that it was what my noise was missing out on, and as soon as I did … it altered my life 1000%,” discusses Rodgers, [as transcribed in the accompanying press release]
“I have actually had the ability to compose the jazz-influenced dance-disco funk-pop tunes that individuals have actually liked for years– in addition to rock, nation, folk and EDM partnerships– thanks to my Strat.”
Rodgers appropriately concerns himself as something of a category chameleon and highlighting the instrument's versatility appears to be a collective style of the 70th events.
In our current discussion with Fender's EVP of Product, Justin Norvell, the officer likewise highlighted the Strat's tonal and category versatility as the secret to its long life.
“You can play nation, punk, metal, funk, blues, whatever on a Stratocaster,” shows Norvell.
“You seem like a Stratocaster. You sound like yourself. You can hear Stevie Ray Vaughan, you can hear David Gilmour, you can hear any quantity of individuals. And you ‘d resemble, ‘I understand who that is, however I likewise understand it's on a Strat.' That openness which charm [means] it continues to be an appropriate tool.”
Tom Morello wields his Soul Power Strat (Image credit: Alysse Gafkjen/ Fender)
The “Forever ahead of its time” tag definitely represents a clever angle from Fender: acknowledging the altering routines of gamers who are now much less worried by the musical people and category restrictions that controlled the Strat's very first years.
