Industry Sep 26, 2026

Fender CEO on Stratocaster Design

In short

Edward 'Bud' Cole says Fender wants to "help" other brands move away from the Stratocaster design to create something "unique to the naked eye" – but who defines unique?

Originally published by MusicRadar
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Fender CEO on Stratocaster Design

Fender CEO Edward 'Bud' Cole expressed regret over the company's past cease-and-desist actions concerning Stratocaster-style guitars. He stated that Fender aims to encourage other brands to develop unique designs rather than closely imitating the Stratocaster. The company's goal is to foster originality in guitar design. Originally reported by MusicRadar.