Fender Extends Its Parallel Universe II Series With the LP-Inspired Uptown Strat

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The classic double-cut tweaked with some choice single-cut specs.

Fender Uptown Strat
(Image credit: Fender)

Fender has expanded its Parallel Universe II series with the Uptown Strat – Stratocaster with several Les Paul-inspired appointments.

The new model features a one-piece mahogany body with a Static White nitrocellulose lacquer finish.

Further channeling the LP-vibe, the Uptown Strat also features a 24.75" scale length, a '60s C-shaped mahogany neck, and a 9.5"-radius rosewood fretboard with block inlays. There's an American Ultra-style sculpted heel, too.

The guitar's pickups – based on PAF humbuckers, claims Fender – feature the company's DoubleTap design. Each pickup can be adjusted via individual volume and tone controls, the latter of which split their respective humbucker. The three-way selector switch is in a very LP-like position, too.

This is still a Strat at its core, however, thanks to a two-point tremolo and classic Stratocaster headstock, complete with ClassicGear tuners.

Fender Uptown Strat

(Image credit: Fender)

The Uptown Strat is available now for $1,999. For more information, head to Fender.

Sam Roche
Sam Roche

Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.