Starcaster by Fender
Starcaster by Fender, not to be confused with the older Fender Starcaster, is a range of instruments and accessories aimed at students and beginners, marketed by Fender since the early 2000's.
The electric guitars in this range are manufactured in the Far East and typically sold as part of a starter package with a Squier SP-10 practice amplifier (e.g. Starcaster Strat Pack). In 2006-2007 the Fender website identified them as being sold through Best Buy, Target, Sam's Club, and Costco outlets. Different finishes were available exclusively from each outlet, for example 3-tone sunburst with rosewood fretboard from Best Buy, black with maple fingerboard from Target, metallic black with rosewood fingerboard and pearloid scratchplate from Sam's Club. Although the range was withdrawn from the Fender website in 2007, it continues to be developed and is now sold through a variety of outlets, such as BJ's Wholesale Club, Amazon.com and Buy.com. Most of these guitars are Stratocasters but some early versions had a pointed headstock similar to the Fender Swinger.
The typical Starcaster Strat Pack solid-body electric is fitted with 3 single coil pickups, a five way selector switch and a floating tremolo bridge. The neck may have 21 or 22 frets depending on the model. Some models have the headstock painted to match the guitar body. Being an instrument sold at a lower cost, the quality of course does not match that of USA/Mexican Stratocasters. However, if properly setup, it is a well playing guitar. The body may be basswood or agathis depending on model and year of manufacture. Other minor changes such as a lower grade tremolo have also been made to bring down the cost, as well as the Starcaster being manufactured in Far Eastern countries such as China or Indonesia. The pickup cavity is routed to allow an H-S-H pickup configuration, which allows for flexibility in pickup arrangement. Although most models feature the classic Stratocaster configuration of 3 single-coil pickups, at least one uses the American Deluxe Stratocaster S-S-H pickup configuration with a humbucker in the bridge position.
