Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $950
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Dive into the realm of sonic excellence with the Fender American Elite Stratocaster. A masterful blend of tradition and innovation, this guitar elevates the iconic Stratocaster design to new heights. Equipped with 4th-generation Noiseless pickups and a versatile S-1 switching system, the American Elite Stratocaster offers a rich palette of tones, from crystal-clear highs to warm, rounded lows. Whether you're crafting delicate melodies or powering through crunchy riffs, this guitar's refined ergonomics and responsive touch ensure a seamless playing experience. Perfect for the modern musician who respects the past while looking forward, the American Elite Stratocaster stands as a testament to Fender's unwavering commitment to quality and creativity.
Key Features:
- 4th-generation Noiseless pickups for superior sound quality and noise reduction
- S-1 switching system provides 10 distinct tonal options
- Compound maple neck with a newly designed heel contour for enhanced playability
- Refined bridge and tremolo system for stable tuning and smooth whammy action
- Available in a range of finishes and with maple, rosewood, or ebony fretboard options
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | American Elite Stratocaster |
| Finish | 2-Color Sunburst, 3-Color Sunburst, Aged Cherry Burst, Autumn Blaze Metallic, Champagne, Mystic Black, Ocean Turquoise Metallic, Olympic Pearl, Satin Ice Blue Metallic, Satin Jade Pearl Metallic, Sky Burst Metallic, Tobacco Sunburst |
| Year | 2016 - 2019 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder, Ash |
| Body Shape | S-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Tremolo Bridge |
| Color Family | Black, Blue, Brown, Gold, Green, Orange, Red, White |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss, Metallic |
| Fretboard Material | Ebony, Maple, Rosewood |
| Fretboard Radius | 14", 9.5" |
| Frets | Medium Jumbo |
| Model Family | Fender Stratocaster |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Nut Width | 1.6875" |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | SSS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Fender American Elite |
FAQs
-
What is the neck profile of the Fender American Elite Stratocaster?
-
The Fender American Elite Stratocaster features a modern "C" to "D" compound neck profile, offering a comfortable grip for both chord playing and fast soloing, making it versatile for various playing styles.
-
What type of pickups does the Fender American Elite Stratocaster have?
-
This guitar is equipped with Fender's 4th Generation Noiseless pickups, providing classic Stratocaster tones with reduced hum, making it suitable for both clean and overdriven sounds.
-
Is the Fender American Elite Stratocaster suitable for advanced players?
-
Yes, the Fender American Elite Stratocaster is designed with advanced features like a compound neck profile and noiseless pickups, making it ideal for professional musicians seeking versatile tone and playability.
-
Does the Fender American Elite Stratocaster have a tremolo bridge?
-
Yes, it features a two-point synchronized tremolo bridge, allowing for smooth pitch bending and vibrato effects while maintaining tuning stability.
-
What are the finish options available for the Fender American Elite Stratocaster?
-
The Fender American Elite Stratocaster is available in a variety of finishes, including 2-Color Sunburst, 3-Color Sunburst, Aged Cherry Burst, and several metallic and solid color options, allowing players to choose a style that suits their preference.
Videos
Fender
Clare Dunn Demos The Fender American Elite Stratocaster | American Elite | Fender
Clare Dunn Demos The Fender American Elite Stratocaster | American Elite | Fender
Fender
Fender American Elite Stratocaster | N Stuff Music
N Stuff Music
In-Depth Rundown of Fender American Elite Stratocaster Features
MooreMusicGuitars
Fender American Ultra Stratocaster VS Fender American Elite Stratocaster: Is the Ultra better?!
Alamo Music Center
Epic Deal! - Up to £660 off Fender American Elite Guitars & Basses
Andertons Music Co
Fender American Elite Stratocaster | Swing City Music
Swing CIty Music
Namm 2019 | New Fender Elites in SATIN!
GAK
Demo Fender American Elite Stratocaster
Cutaway Magazine
Is it any good?? Oh Yea!! FENDER AMERICAN ELITE STRATOCASTER
Jon is just TOO LouD!!
Fender American Elite Stratocaster 2019 (Sound Demo- with song context)
Ben Reviews
Fender American Elite Stratocaster gear demo
Max Guitar B.V.
FENDER USA Elite Stratocaster "Ocean Turquoise + Maple" (2017) - SQUEALINGPIGGUITARS
Squealing Pig Guitars
Reviews
PROS
-
Incredible tone variety with S1 switching and noiseless N4 pickups
-
Beautiful and flawless finish options, including eye-catching Ocean Turquoise Metallic
-
Smooth and playable C to D compound radius neck with comfortable contour
-
High-quality hardware including short post locking tuners and 2-point tremolo system
-
Effortless truss rod adjustments with accessible design
-
Collectible status, seen as peak of Fender's U.S. production model
-
Includes modern appointments like strap locks and locking tuners, no upgrades needed
-
Versatile, can cover multiple genres beyond typical Strat sounds
-
High build quality compared to newer Ultra and Ultra Luxe models
-
Comfortable playability, even on higher frets due to cutaway design
CONS
-
Heavier than expected for some users
-
Clip-in whammy bar may wear out over time
-
Volume knob position may interfere with playing style
-
Overdrive tones may not meet everyone's expectations
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender American Elite Stratocaster.
Mods and upgrades
-
Owners recommend replacing stock noiseless pickups with Lollar Blackface single coils for improved tone clarity.
Source
Setup and maintenance
Comparisons
-
An owner preferred the comfort and playability of a Suhr HSS over the Elite due to better factory setup and lack of fret buzz.
Source -
The American Elite is likened to the Ultra series for its playability but differs in tonal characteristics due to different pickup configurations.
Source -
The Pro II's VMOD-II pickups have a classic bite missing from the Elite's noiseless pickups, influencing some buyers' decisions.
Source
Build quality
-
Some units have factory issues like dried glue on fretboard edges, requiring careful removal with a blade.
Source
Features and functionality
5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 18 Ratings
181
very pretty & sounds super
The C to D neck of this guitar feels superb in all playing positions. Although I use it mainly to play modern blues and genres with lots of Strat-style string bending and tones, its S1 switching system permits it to be used for much more than this. It came from the factory with all the modern appointments, strap locks, locking tuners, etc. - no upgrades required. The Maple Fretboard Ocean Turquoise Metallic finish with its white pearl pickguard is stunning to look at.
3485
Great Strat for People that aren't fans of Strats
The Fender American Elite Stratocaster has really upped the game, in terms of tone, playability, feel, and looks.
I have tried very hard to like Stratocasters. Many of the artists that I listen to utilize these types of guitars and make them sound very, very good. However, whenever I pick one up I feel like I'm starting over in terms of playing guitar. Whenever I play a strat, I find myself always bumping the volume knob, turning myself down. The Strat tremolo also was an issue for me. I found that the tremolo was not usable and would put the guitar out of tune way too much. I spent some time looking for hardtail strats, but quickly gave up that hunt as well. I also found that I could not get the overdrive tones out of a strat that I would have liked.
However, with the release of the Elite series of Strats, I resumed my attempt to like strats. The American Elite Stratocaster features Fenders newly designed N4 Noiseless pickups, which addresses the issue of early compression in the previous rendition of the pickup. The N4 noiseless pickups are virtually silent single coil, while retaining vintage tone. The guitar sounds great in all five positions, producing nice quacky tones, to big, round strat tones that we all know and love. Coupled with Fender's S1 switch, you have even more tones at your finger tips if the traditional 5 strat positions just aren't right for what you're doing.
Fender also redesigned the neck for this guitar, having a compound radius on the fingerboard and the shape of the back of the neck gradually shifts from a modern c shape to a D shape up in the upper frets. This makes for a guitar that is almost too easy to play. Fender also has added all short post locking tuners to the headstock, which provides for stabile tuning and a better break angle over the nut that makes for more sustain.
The locking tuners also couple nicely with the 2 point tremolo system found on the Elite guitars. This allows the tremolo to be more usable with very little detuning when returning back to normal tuning. The insert-only tremolo arm is useful and a smarter move by fender as it stays in place where you leave, with no need for the small springs on the american standard guitars and no fear of cross threading or stripping your tremolo or tremolo arm.
Another beautiful feature of this guitar is the Music Man Styles truss rod adjustment at the bottom of the neck. This make adjustments effortless on the fly. You don't even have to remove your strings.
My elite stratocaster is Mystic black, which is a black gloss finish with metallic flake within the finish. The guitar is stunning from afar, but up close and personal, the finish catches your eye with shimmering flake. The neck is maple with a maple fretboard. The back and fingerboard of the neck are satin for playability and the headstock is gloss, with a reflective silver fender logo on the headstock.
41026
if you know how to set up a 6 screw vintage stat trem properly and you're very careful its pretty stable even when getting excessive with the bar for short spells... much more stable than the modern 2 pin that tries to be a flyd-like knife edge.... tis a flawed desing but can be made to work with careful spring adjustment and a lot of patience
that said, the elite sounds fun, you made me wanna go try one in a store and fender failed to do that with their advertising! great review
Artist usage
Add artist.jpeg?v=1782928959)
In this video, Ichika uses a purple Fender American Elite Stratocaster. He has a similar stratocaster when was featured in the Fender Japan "why we play" ad.
Externally the American Elite Stratocaster has Fender's timeless style, but under the hood it's an entirely new breed of guitar designed for 21st-century players who constantly push the envelope. With over a dozen new innovations, each guitar is a true performer with eye-catching style, exceptional feel and versatile sound from the very first moment you plug it in and play. Serial: US15084374. Blue Burst. Anodized pick-guard. Whammy bar. In pristine condition. Molded OHSC that flops all the way open. Great piece from Dave's shop.
In this video at 0:26 you can clearly see Boy Pablo playing a Fender American Elite Series Stratocaster
In this live we can see Amber using a 2016 Fender American Elite Stratocaster.
In the YouTube video "Jack Garratt - A Cardinal Sessions Performance (Haldern Pop Special)" by CardinalSessions, Jack Garratt is seen playing a Fender American Elite Stratocaster. This is further confirmed by an article on the official Fender website.
In this Tweet shared by Fender, Fairchild is seen playing the Fender American Elite Stratocaster.
Novo Amor is seen using the Fender American Elite Stratocaster Electric Guitar in Olympic White during live performances, as evidenced by a photo on Dcmusicreview.
Jimmy is often also seen playing Stratocasters, while it's unclear what exact model or models he uses, it is very likely they are American Elites, evidenced by it's unique quilted pickguards.
In the linked video you can see a live session, where he used an American Elite Stratocaster in White.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
More Fender Solid Body Electric Guitars
$798.98
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
.png?v=1782932350)
$975.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,988.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,799.99 - $2,555.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1783004688)
$1,499.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$615.93 - $849.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$2,294.99 - $3,111.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1783004443)
$875.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$2,222.00 - $2,599.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$619.00 - $719.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1782994731)
$609.99 - $799.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$999.99 - $1,149.39
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$450.00 - $679.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1783004258)
$1,460.21 - $1,999.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$999.00 - $1,939.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
.png?v=1782984003)
$1,000.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$395.00 - $879.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$400.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1782744988)
$1,000.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1783004193)
$939.99 - $1,988.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,988.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,399.00 - $1,849.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$799.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,479.99 - $1,999.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$513.93
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,412.99 - $1,839.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$849.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,349.00 - $1,999.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$999.99 - $1,499.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,100.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$400.00 - $645.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$2,699.99 - $2,900.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$499.00 - $679.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$699.95
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
-m.webp?v=1783004223)
$2,190.00 - $2,899.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$649.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
$1,460.21 - $1,999.99
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
.jpg?v=1782916911)
-m.webp?v=1783004250)
$1,035.00
in Solid Body Electric Guitars Rank
Accessories & Related Items
-s.webp?v=1782996424)
Community setups
Similar
Gear Guides
Most Popular Solid Body Electric Guitars
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
joshua_nelsonGear IQ 243
-
