Review: Fender Standard Series Stratocaster HSS

The Fender Standard series is the ever-evolving heart of the legendary manufacturer’s catalogue. With just about each passing year there is an update to each of Fender’s core models, cutting away unnecessary features, adding new ones and keeping those that guitarists have loved for generations. Fender’s 2025 Standard Series is no exception, featuring an all new lineup of familiar favourites, expertly optimised for today’s market. 

The 2025 Standard Stratocaster HSS is a shining example of Fender’s mastery of simplicity, their respect for their legacy and their commitment to making high quality instruments that working musicians can actually afford. From its no-nonsense classic Strat design to its high-output pickups and reasonable price tag, this is a versatile electric guitar that players of all experience levels can enjoy. 

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Introduced in the 1950s, the Stratocaster is still one of the most popular guitars in the world. Known for its comfortable, contoured double cutaway body and its distinctly vocal, midrange-heavy sound, the Strat is an incredibly powerful tool with a diverse range of applications. Normally equipped with three single coil pickups, in more recent times Fender has been producing HSS models like this one with a humbucker in the bridge, hot rodding the instrument’s sound for a wider range of uses. 

Standard Series Stratocaster

Ditching the more traditional white pickguard, Fender went for a striking black on black look for this model, giving the instrument a tasteful modern edge. Featuring black controls, chrome hardware and a stunning chocolate brown Indian Laurel fretboard, this HSS is a looker. As you would expect from a Stratocaster, this model is also extremely comfortable thanks to its “Modern C” shaped neck, finished in an ultra-smooth satin finish for a velvety feel. 

As is typical of a modern Stratocaster, the Standard HSS features a 25.5” scale length for a bright and snappy tone, a 9.5” fingerboard radius for speedy modern playability and 21 medium jumbo frets. If, like me, you grew up playing Fenders, you’ll feel right at home with this guitar and if it’s your first, it’s a super comfortable place to start. This guitar also features the classic Strat 2-Point Tremolo with Satin Chrome Steel Block Saddles for all your whammy bar needs, staying in tune nicely thanks to an excellent factory setup. 

Standing of course for Humbucker, Single-Coil, Single-Coil, this HSS model diverts from the traditional Stratocaster design with its Fender Standard Humbucking bridge pickup, beefing up the guitar’s sound and expanding its sonic repertoire. Featuring ceramic magnets, these standard Fender pickups sound just as they should despite being an entry level set. Paired with a five way switch, there isn’t much these pickups can’t do. 

Ceramic pickups often get a bad rap for their association with more affordable guitars but have been favoured by many players from Carl Perkins to Kirk Hammett for their bright, powerful tone. A generous amount of high end and compression as well as a particular suitability for distortion make ceramic pickups a viable option for many genres and in this guitar, they produce a classic Strat sound that doesn’t disappoint. 

In the neck position, the Standard HSS produces a smooth, warm tone that really sings. A pleasantly even frequency response and slightly rolled off highs makes this a great position for clean jazzy tones as well as smooth sustaining solos. With just enough high end to cut through, the neck pickup is dark but has enough attack to be a great option for chunky rhythm sounds or Clapton-esque ‘Woman Tone’ leads.

In the fourth position, neck and middle pickups combine to create that luscious, noise-cancelling out of phase sound that only a Strat can produce. Rich in overtones, this position is famous for its quacky, hollow sound that players have been having fun with for decades. This is a great sound for funky, percussive playing and for delicate, voice-like leads.

The middle pickup in this guitar provides a balanced, midrange heavy sound with both plenty of meat on its bones and a healthy amount of top end zing. This is a great position for riffing with the help of a bit of distortion thanks to its healthy midrange and rich overtones and sounds just as good clean. Check out Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy” or Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” for examples of the great Strat sound that the Standard Series HSS has in spades. 

The second position is a little different in this guitar than a traditional Strat, combining the middle single coil with the more powerful humbucking bridge pickup results in a slightly different tone than the usual combo of two single coils. Imagine Knopfler’s “Sultans of Swing” tone with a bit more growl to it and you’re getting close. The slightly harsher sound of this position lends itself more to distorted tones than cleans, having a slightly nasal quality that would work well for cutting through a dense rock mix. 

Humbucker

In the bridge position, the HSS comes into its own with its supercharged humbucker. A beefier, higher output sound than a standard Strat bridge pickup, the humbucker allows this Strat to cover heavier, thicker tones. Perfect for overdriven, hard rock sounds, this position has plenty of high end bite and midrange presence and provides a convenient volume boost for solos as compared to its single coil counterparts. 

All in all, the 2025 Standard HSS Stratocaster is everything you want in an accessible level Strat, plus a bit more. The chic black-on-black aesthetic gives it a real element of modern class, the silky smooth neck is incredibly comfortable and the HSS configuration makes it incredibly versatile sonically. Whilst the HSS configuration deviates from the traditions of a Strat, it does provide a chance for newer players who are likely to only own one guitar to have a vast collection of sounds at their disposal. 

With its slightly higher output ceramic pickups, this is definitely a guitar built for rock and roll and due to its modest price tag and diverse myriad of sounds, would make both an excellent first electric guitar for a new player or a fine addition to a more experienced player’s collection. It may be a Standard model, but Fender is setting the standard very high indeed. 

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