If the Fender Stratocaster is such a perfect design, why – wonders Dave Burrluck – is there a whole industry of aftermarket parts and pickups to improve it?

Two new lower-end, similarly priced Stratocasters cater for both vintage and more modern tastes and blur the line between Fender’s USA and Mexican manufacturing. Which one has your name on it?

IF YOU’RE EXPECTING something like Rory Gallagher’s or Mike McCready’s tattered Strats, you’re going to be disappointed. The new limited-edition Road Worns — a ’50s Jazzmaster, the ’60s Strat reviewed

The only other Fender in The Final Encore collection is this modded firecracker of a Tele

After some considerable time, the Les Paul Custom returns to Gibson USA’s production line-up in classic 70s style, while the lesser Marauder is celebrated with a limited throwback design. Time to investigate!

Three new signature models for team Oasis. Valid instruments or another cash-in? Let’s examine the evidence…