The Original Fender Electric Guitar

Despite their attempts to showcase a broad range of noteworthy designs, educators and mentors have consistently overlooked what I consider to be one of the greatest and longest-running case studies in industrial design history: the Fender "stratocaster" electric guitar. Few individuals outside the music world realize that this American classic has been in constant production since the 1950s. It is not purchased exclusively by collectors or connoisseurs as a trophy-piece, but rather by thousands of everyday musicians who are in need of a precision instrument and are captivated by a spectacular design. The incredible sales history of this product truly makes it an undeniable contender in the history of great I.D. accomplishments.

First produced in 1954, the Strat's styling cues and chrome appointments reflect the tail-fin flash that characterized American automobiles of the era. The sensual curves of the hand-fabricated maple body seamlessly mate with the musician's torso in any playing position, and the unmistakable reference to the female form is classy and timeless.

Thesis Design Premise

The premise of my thesis is a viable redesign of a guitar whose shape, materials, and method of manufacture have remained virtually unchanged for a half century. The focus of the project includes the following essential Industrial Design concerns:

-maintaining ergonomic functionality

-the substitution of synthetic molded materials in place of wood

-integration of digital signal processing technology into a traditionally analogue instrument

-creation of a fresh aesthetic while maintaining a visual reference to the classic Strat

The overall solution is the result of the volumetric constraints imposed by the use of molded resin in the body, and a simple styling goal. Synthetic resin was first implemented in guitars in the early eighties by Steinberger, and its use is both beneficial and detrimental to a guitar design. The artificial material provides superior strength and rigidity, but quickly adds weight onto a players shoulder because of its high density. A molded construction also eliminates the highly labor-intensive process of hand-fabricating wooden parts. By necessity, the original polymer guitars were minimal in volume, and therefore had puny trapezoidal bodies, a tank-like utilitarian aesthetic, and an oddly absent feel. The most challenging design parameter of resin is that it must be used sparingly.

My thesis approach was to minimize weight from the INSIDE out, and retain a hint of the classic Strat profile. Although the overall look is quite different than that of a traditional Fender, the outer contours remain as an abstract reference to the original's iconic curves. The profile line is heavily radiused to soften the edge that contacts with the player's body.

The digital age has revolutionized how a guitar's electric sound output is processed, amplified and controlled, but a sophisticated onboard sound control panel has yet to be successfully integrated into a mass-produced guitar. Many of Today's musicians take advantage of digital processing equipment to create new sounds, but are inconvenienced by a myriad of wires, foot pedals, and rack-mounted control modules. One of the most endearing qualities of the guitar is its freedom of mobility--lost when a player becomes chained to a rig of electronics, squinting to make sense of floor-level controls and readouts.

As sound processing becomes more software/PC-based, foot-pedals could be consolidated, and a retractable LCD mounted on the guitar itself could serve as a sound control interface as well as a display for chords/ setlists/ lyrics. An onboard LCD provides superior readability over floor mounted displays -it is much closer to the eye and always remains in the player's line of sight.

There are many Fender purists in the music industry who remain steadfast in their devotion to the tried-and-true Strat and contribute to an industry resistant to any (re)design. For my final school project, I chose to represent a smaller, younger market of musicians who look to the future and are open to innovation.

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