The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation was the outcome of what happened in 1946, when Leo Fender designed and built the first Model26 instrument amplifier. Then in 1950, the Esquire was introduced with a single pick-up. The Stratocaster was introduced in 1954, becoming one of the most common electric guitars to be used in the world. The name was adopted from a new aircraft that was introduced by Boeing, the B-52 Stratofortress.

The 'Strat', as it's commonly termed, had a slanting edge on the back of the guitar, where the arm rests. The upper bouts had two cutaways, making it easier to play on the higher frets. There are three single-coil pickups with staggered magnetic poles. The single-coil's pickups produce a trebly sound with a high top end and bell-like harmonics. A three-way selector switch allows you to play with three different tones; Rhythm, Normal tone, and Lead, and you also have two tone controls along with a volume knob. The first Strats had a sunburst finish, all-maple neck, an ash or chrome body and thermoplastic parts. As of today, there are around thirty different Fender Strat models in different colors and woods. There are also the Artist Series, where guitarists like Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler have custom-designed Strats.

Fender has also introduced a budget-minded line of guitars called the Squire. This line showcases models made in Indonesia and China from locally obtained wood.