Electric Guitar Trends

The Fender Strat Plus was manufactured from 1987 - 1999. It is a high end model in 3 variants: Strat Plus, Strat Plus Deluxe, and Strat Ultra.

According to The Stratocaster Book, in late 1986 Jeff Back asked Fender to make a custom Stratocaster painted the same color as the hot rod in the movie American Graffiti. Fender named the color Graffiti Yellow.

Fender wanted to make a Jeff Back Signature Stratocaster, but he declined.  So Fender kept making the “Strat Plus” (including some in Graffiti Yellow) until he relented in 1989.

 All Strat Plus models shared the following features;

• Locking Tuners
• Lace Sensor pickups
• Schaeller straplocks
• Magnesium bridge
• Roller nut
• 22 fret neck with a 9 1/2″ radius
• Wider, 1 11/16″ fretboard

Fender used Sperzel locking tuners for the Strat Plus in 1987 and early 1988. Fender/Schaeller locking tuners were used afterwards. Changing strings is easier with locking tuners, and tuning stability is enhanced.

The Strat Plus came with 3 Gold Lace Sensor pickups. These pickups were designed by Don Lace of Actodyne General, to give a ’50s single coil sound with a lot of chime and glassy tones.

The early Strat Plus models had a Wilkinson Roller nut. This nut could not accomodate heavier string gauges, and sometimes contributed to string rattles.

The Strat Plus series also has staggered tuners, so no string trees are necessary.

The Wilkinson roller nut is 1 11/16″ wide, so the Strat Plus has a wider fretboard than other Fender Stratocasters!

By 1993, the LSR nut was used on the Strat Plus. These are an improvement, but the bearings could fall out if the guitar was held upside down during string changes. Retrofit kits were available from Fender to change out the Wilkinson roller nut.

Starting in 1990 the tremolo came equipped with a Hipshot Tremsetter, which ensures the trem block returns to its original position each time. The Tremsetter, along with the magnesium bridge, locking tuners, a bevelled trem block, and roller nut, permit more aggressive tremolo arm action.

The Strat Plus series has a skunk-stripe down the back of the neck, a nice C neck profile, as well as a bi-flex truss rod.

Note the 3-ply tremolo cover!

The Deluxe Strat Plus appeared in January 1989. This model featured 2 Silver Lace sensors with a Blue Lace sensor in the neck position. After 1989, the pickups were changed to 1 Silver, 1 Blue and 1 Red Lace Sensor. Around 1991, a pearloid pickguard was added.

The Deluxe Strat Plus typically has a transparent finish. The bodies are made of Alder, with an Ash veneer on the top and the back.

The Strat Ultra was introduced in 1990. It featured 2 Red lace Sensor pickups in the bridge position, with a coil splitting control. The Strat Ultras also featured an ebony fretboard and a pop in tremolo arm.

Today, the Strat Plus is considered a workhorse guitar. They do not yet fetch premium prices in the used guitar market, but resale prices for the older Plus models are starting to climb.