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When it comes to musical icons, there is arguably none bigger than the Fender Stratocaster guitar. This iconic instrument has been played by some of the greatest guitarists known to man, from Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Holly to John Mayer and Kurt Cobain. First on sale in 1954, the Strat is celebrating 70 years in the business, and to mark the occasion Fender is releasing seven new special edition models you won’t want to miss. These include two classic models (the Player and American Professional II) along with five special editions that celebrate the history of Leo Fender’s masterpiece. The 70th Anniversary Stratocaster Player Stratocaster (£959) features Pure Vintage ’59 Single-Coil Strat pickups, a maple Modern C neck and an Alder body, finished in Nebula Noir (black with multi-coloured flecks). Three further models for the 70th-anniversary collection include the stunning Vintera II Antiga Stratocaster, which has a ’70s-style profile with a U-shaped maple neck, vintage-tall frets and single-coil Strat pickups, priced at £1,299. The American Vintage II 1954 Stratocaster (£2,649) has a two-piece ash body and one-piece maple neck, with 1954 single-coil Strat pickups. Finally, there’s the American Ultra Stratocaster HSS (£2,649) with a pearly iridescent Amethyst finish, modern D neck profile, ultra noiseless Strat pickups and ultra quadra tap humbucker.