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The Strat That Sold 500 Million Records





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Daft Punk, Chic, David Bowie, Madonna, Diana Ross, Duran Duran. What do these artists have in common? A single Strat, appropriately dubbed the Hitmaker, expertly played by Nile Rodgers on some of their iconic hits. If you’d like to capture some of the Hitmaker’s legendary rhythm quack, Fender has replicated the original to create the Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster. The Hitmaker features a 1960-style alder body that differs from a traditional Strat, with greater contours and a slightly smaller size ? which, according to Nile (and Cory Wong!), improves the tone. Paired with this body is a 1-piece maple neck that sports a comfortable ’59 profile, loaded with 9.5-inch radius and medium-jumbo frets to facilitate Nile’s funky rhythm chops. A trio of Hitmaker single-coil Strat pickups are voiced to replicate all the glassy quack and bell-like tone of the original Hitmaker Strat. Finally, just like Nile’s original guitar, this guitar boasts a rock-solid hardtail bridge.





Related Videos: Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster Electric Guitar - Olympic White


Slightly downsized body





Nile tells us that his Strat has a special quality to its sound, and who are we to argue with the Hitmaker’s unparalleled resume? One thing that adds to the Hitmaker’s signature treble bite is its somewhat unusually shaped body that’s slightly smaller and more contoured than a traditional Strat. Nile specifically requested this, and it’s not just him: Cory Wong asked for the same thing on his signature Strat!





Signature “Hitmaker” pickups





If you’ve listened to pop music at any point in the past 40 or so years, then you’ve heard the Hitmaker’s signature treble quack. The Fender Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Strat’s pickups are a stunning re-creation of Nile’s original models, voiced to capture the sound that backed the rhythm of several decades of funky pop hits, from David Bowie to Chic to Daft Punk.





Hardtail-style bridge





Often overshadowed by traditional vibrato models, Fender has produced hardtail Stratocasters since 1955. For the player who doesn’t require a vibrato, the hardtail model offers many advantages, including improved tuning stability, easier setups, and faster string changes. By removing the route needed for the vibrato unit, hardtail Strats have a higher body mass, and Sweetwater guitarists find this leads to greater sustain and resonance.





Fender Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster Electric Guitar Features:


Replication of Nile Rodgers legendary Hitmaker Strat, heard on several decades’ worth of pop hits


Slightly downsized 1960-style alder body with greater contours


1-piece maple neck with a comfortable ’59 that fills out your hand, with a sleek satin finish


Smooth playing 9.5-inch radius with medium-jumbo frets


Hardtail Strat bridge offers greater tuning stability and sustain


3 Hitmaker Stratocaster pickups capture the rhythm bite of Nile’s original guitar


Olympic White lacquer finish and mirrored chrome-plated brass pickguard to match the looks of the original Hitmaker


Rock-solid Sperzel locking tuners


“Nile Rodgers & Chic” logo on the back of the headstock, with a Hitmaker logo on the neck plate


Custom hard case with Hitmaker-embroidered interior