The Fender Stratocaster 1956 is a Fender electric guitar, currently around $3285.24. Close alternatives include the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul and the Ibanez S470. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Mesa Boogie Electra-Dyne Simul-Class 45/90-Watt 1x12".
Fender Stratocaster 1956
Fender · electric guitar
This entry covers a 1956 Fender Stratocaster with no specific documented owner or recorded history attached. By 1956 the Stratocaster had settled into its now-classic mid-50s form: an alder body finished in two-tone sunburst, three single-coil pickups, and a one-piece maple neck bolted on with the original four-screw plate. Guitars from this early production window are prized among collectors for a lighter body weight and brighter, more resonant voice than later Strats, largely due to the specific wood and finish choices Fender used before larger design changes arrived later in the decade.
- mid
- brightness
- vintage
- natural
- bright
- modern
- production
- resonant
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Fender Stratocaster 1956 is commonly used in
- Rock
- Rockabilly
- Blues
- Jazz
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Swing
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Fender Stratocaster 1956
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
24% matchFriedman Dirty Shirley stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Mesa Boogie Electra-Dyne Simul-Class 45/90-Watt 1x12"
Mesa Boogie
22% matchMesa Boogie Electra-Dyne Simul-Class 45/90-Watt 1x12" stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Bogner Barcelona
Bogner
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Mesa Boogie Rectifier Badlander EL34/100 Head
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
1970s Mesa/Boogie Mark I 'Snake King'
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Carr Mercury V
Carr
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchPut Friedman BE-Mini Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchRun mid-forward into Synergy SL2 Module for more high gain on top
Pedals that stack with the Fender Stratocaster 1956
Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax
Electro-Harmonix
23% matchPut Electro-Harmonix Hot Wax in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Cusack Music
21% matchCusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
Behringer
tonal matchInto Fender Stratocaster 1956, Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp
Crazy Tube Circuits
tonal matchCrazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Fender Stratocaster 1956 gives it exactly that
Tech 21 SansAmp Character Plus Fuzzy Brit
Tech 21
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload
Crazy Tube Circuits
tonal matchCrazy Tube Circuits Motherload's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Fender Stratocaster 1956 delivers it
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Fender Stratocaster 1956 gives it exactly that
Boss OD-3 Overdrive
Boss
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Cheaper alternatives
Yamaha Pacifica 1421
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-125
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Gretsch Country Gentleman 6122
Gretsch
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
Gibson
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Ibanez S470
Ibanez
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy"
Dan Erlewine
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-335
Gibson
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Schecter Blackjack Pt
Schecter
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone Zephyr
Epiphone
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Fender Stratocaster 1956 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Fender Stratocaster 1956?+
The closest matches in character are the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul, the Ibanez S470, the Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy". Budget picks: Yamaha Pacifica 1421, Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar, Gibson ES-125.
What pairs well with the Fender Stratocaster 1956?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Mesa Boogie Electra-Dyne Simul-Class 45/90-Watt 1x12", Bogner Barcelona — Friedman Dirty Shirley stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here.
How much does the Fender Stratocaster 1956 cost?+
Around $3285.24 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
- vs Ibanez S470
- vs Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy"