Fender Stratocaster (Xbox 360)

Lore & Background

In Rock Band, the player's guitar is not a single fixed model but a customizable instrument whose body, pickguard, headstock, and strings can be mixed and matched. The Fender Stratocaster option brings the iconic double-cutaway, three-single-coil-pickup profile into the game's visual vocabulary. Selecting it changes the rendered model on stage and in the band selection screen while leaving the six-button gameplay layout untouched.

The Stratocaster has been a staple of rock, blues, and pop guitar since the 1950s, and its presence in Rock Band's customization roster mirrors the instrument's cultural ubiquity. Players who favor the look of a Strat in real life can project that identity onto their in-game avatar without any mechanical trade-off, making it a popular default choice for new and returning players alike.

In Their Own Story

The stage lights dim to a single amber wash. Your avatar steps forward, guitar slung low, the Stratocaster body catching the glow along its contoured horn. The crowd—thousands of pixelated silhouettes—roars as the first chord hits. You strum the six colored buttons, the rendered strings vibrating in perfect sync, the pickguard gleaming white against the dark body. Somewhere in the audience, another avatar raises a Les Paul. You don't look back. The song is yours, and the Strat looks exactly the way you wanted it to.

Reader's Guide

Fender Stratocaster — Guitar Body

Applies to: Guitar slot (standard 6-string layout). No effect on bass, drums, or vocals.

Unlock: Available as a selectable body style within the in-game customization menu. In Rock Band (Xbox 360), body options are accessed from the band setup or gear screen and can be cycled through by the player. Specific unlock conditions (score thresholds, achievement rewards, or DLC) vary by patch and region; consult the in-game gear list for the current availability on your save.

Visual description: Double-cutaway body with a rounded waist, three single-coil pickups in a row, a contoured upper horn, and a six-in-line headstock. The silhouette is instantly readable as a Strat at a glance, distinct from the single-cutaway Les Paul or the slab-body Telecaster also offered in the menu.

Gameplay note: Selecting the Stratocaster body changes only the rendered model and color palette. The six-button string layout, scoring, and combo mechanics are identical to every other guitar body option. There is no Pro-mode string reassignment tied to this cosmetic choice.

Manufacturer (real world): Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Scorrs, California. In-game, the model is a stylized representation and does not carry Fender branding on the rendered headstock.

Did You Know?

• The Fender Stratocaster's real-world design dates to 1954, making it one of the most copied guitar shapes in history; its silhouette is instantly recognizable even in Rock Band's stylized rendering.
• In Rock Band, choosing the Stratocaster body is purely cosmetic—the six-button gameplay, combo system, and scoring are identical whether you select a Strat, a Les Paul, or a Telecaster.
• Rock Band was developed by Harmonix, the same studio behind Guitar Hero and Frequency, and was published by MTV Games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Wii.
• The Stratocaster's three single-coil pickup layout is visually distinct in the game's customization menu, helping players differentiate it from the humbucker-equipped Les Paul at a glance.