Fender Debuts New, Limited-Edition H.E.R. Signature Stratocaster
The new iteration of the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter's signature Strat features a stunning Blue Marlin colorway.
Back in 2020, Fender teamed up with Grammy-winning R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R. for a new signature Stratocaster.
Now, Fender has pulled back the curtains on a new, limited-edition version of the signature electric guitar.
Save for a new finish – a gorgeous Blue Marlin colorway, with a matching painted Blue Marlin headcap, to boot – the new H.E.R. Strat is identical to its Chrome Glow-finished predecessor.
Like the original H.E.R. Strat, this six-string boasts an alder body and 25.5," 9.5" radius Mid '60s C-shaped maple neck with a maple fretboard sporting 21 Vintage Tall frets and abalone dot inlays.
Sounds on the guitar come by way of a trio of Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups, controlled by the standard Strat layout of a master volume, two tone knobs, and a five-way blade pickup switch.
Elsewhere, there's a six-saddle, vintage-style synchronized tremolo, single-ply anodized aluminum pickguard, vintage-style tuners, and a custom H.E.R. engraved neck plate.
“I distinctly remember my father teaching me how to play my first blues scale on a Fender mini black-and-white Stratocaster," H.E.R. (the stage name of Gabriella Wilson) said in a statement. "Filming this interview with him, reflecting on my musical journey, and the development of my second signature Fender guitar has been a surreal ‘pinch me’ moment.
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"I designed my Limited Edition Stratocaster guitar with a color, shape, and sound that is 100 percent my own so that young women and players from all backgrounds feel inspired to pick up this guitar, tap into their thoughts, and create amazing music.”
The new Fender H.E.R. Stratocaster is available now – in a limited run of 300 – for $1,349.
Its release comes less than a month after H.E.R. wowed viewers of ABC's live-action Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration with a stinging solo, played on an insane Custom Shop "stained-glass" Stratocaster.
For more info on the guitar, visit fender.com.
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
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