To commemorate 50 years of Hello Kitty, Fender reignites a partnership first formed nearly 20 years ago with the fusion of two icons whose worlds-apart origins have taken them around the globe and back: the Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster. Kawaii aesthetics abound with this eye-catching axe, crafted from a bright and harmonically rich dyad of maple and poplar tonewoods. Its straightforward design is anything but simple, thanks to the singular Alnico-powered, Fender-voiced humbucker that brings its rich foundations to life, where “simple” might be better substituted by “no holds barred.” Teeming with warmth and character (in more ways than one), guitarists of every sonic shade are delighted by the return of this vanguard collaboration, lauding the aural enhancements made to deliver sweet, dynamic heat that could rival mama’s fresh-baked apple pie!

Meaningful friendships — like Fender’s and Hello Kitty’s — require solid foundations, and this Squier Strat is no exception. Poplar and maple tonewoods comprise the Strat’s sonic cornerstone, creating a rich musical profile rife with possibilities. Its resonant poplar body delivers an overall balanced sound, with an additional touch of mid- and upper-range emphasis. Across the neck and fingerboard, maple imparts a veneer of shimmering brightness in every register, with sonorous and focused articulation ensuring every chord, riff, and lead is exceptionally voiced. And with the combination of a 6-saddle hardtail bridge and dual-wing string tree, tones stay buzz-free and in tune.

For everything Hello Kitty and the broader Sanrio universe represent, few would say she’s complicated. Fender should know better than most that “when it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” — after all, the Stratocaster and rock ’n’ roll have been synonymous for longer than Hello Kitty’s been around! To that end, the Squier Hello Kitty Strat was built to be a straightforward tone-crafting machine, with a deceptively vast sonic aperture contrasting its single-pickup and lone-volume-knob arrangement. Mounted in the bridge position, an exceptionally versatile humbucker supplies an impressive array of tones courtesy of its alnico-magnet construction and — more importantly — its voicing. This pickup was voiced in-house at Fender, taking all the steps needed to secure its flexible yet focused profile, supporting clean and crisp

As Hello Kitty says, “You can never have too many friends!” And what’s more friendly than sharing your artistry with the world? Fender crafted the Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster to be something any guitarist — from entry-level riff-rockers to speed-demon tech-shredders — could use. This philosophy starts with the single-pickup control scheme and continues well into the Strat’s exceptionally accommodating playability. Its rear-body contours and trademark double-cutaway design make any manner of playing a comfortable experience, from sitting in the studio to standing on the stage, in addition to giving you clear access to all 21 frets. This goes double for the guitar’s neck profile, using a classic Fender C shape that accommodates virtually every playstyle and preference. At the same time, the fretboard’s complementary 9.5-inch radius supports thumb-over playing, lightning leads, and everything in between!

If there’s one thing that defines Hello Kitty, it’s the importance of friendship. Her love of mama’s apple pie is a close second, but what Fender and Hello Kitty share is a commitment to community and the power of collaboration. Fender launched the first iteration of its Hello Kitty collaboration in 2005, with the now-unmistakable Squier Stratocaster that features the eponymous Sanrio mascot emblazoned on a bubble-gum pink backdrop. It’s difficult to overstate how much of a dark horse — or “dark cat?” — this axe would become, near-instantly transcending its initial pre-teen and teenage-girl demographics to become a staple that would appear among the likes of Mickey Green, Dave Navarro, Katy Perry, Krist Novoselic, Courtney Love, Lisa Loeb, and many more. In fact, the top-hat-toting legend himself, Slash, has been known to brandish the power of friendship every once in a while. After all, Slash and Hello Kitty are both icons — without the spirit of creative collaboration, music wouldn’t be much fun to make or enjoy, right? Fender and Hello Kitty are here for both!

MPN: 0379102970
UPC: 885978059478

• Exclusive collaboration commemorates 50 years of Hello Kitty with striking style and sound to match
  
• Iconic Hello Kitty finish includes matching headstock and rear-body signature
  
• Poplar body provides a balanced foundation for building oodles of tone
  
• Maple neck and fingerboard provide shimmering brightness, articulation, and warmth
  
• Single bridge-mounted humbucker features an alnico construction, voiced in-house by Fender, ensuring flexible yet focused voicing that supports multiple styles with ease
  
• C-shape neck profile accommodates players of numerous styles with plenty of comfort and precision to go around
  
• Fretboard’s 9.5-in. radius and 21-fret array give ample range of sonic exploration
  
• Contoured body and double-cutaway design provide unfettered access and adaptable comfort
  
• Special gig bag included to complete the kawaii Kitty presentation