The 2013 edition of the Fender Select Stratocaster HSS ups the ante on its 2012 predecessor with several striking new features. First among these is the "channel-bound" rosewood fingerboard, a brand-new Fender innovation in which the compound-radius (9.5"-14") rosewood fingerboard is "inlaid" into the thick modern "C"-shaped maple neck. In addition to creating a stylish new look, it imparts an amazingly comfortable fretting-hand feel in which both edges are pleasingly rounded, with no side seam between neck and fingerboard.

The Fender Select Stratocaster HSS also has a beautiful flame maple-top body with traditional contours. The body has an elegant hand-stained Tobacco Sunburst finish with a gloss lacquer topcoat, and the neck has a hand-rubbed oil finish and a comfortable contoured heel. Other premium features include Fender Select Stratocaster single-coil neck and middle pickups, a full-throated Twin-Head humbucking bridge pickup, five-way switching, three-ply parchment pickguard, aged white control knobs, 21 medium jumbo frets, Bi-FlexTM truss rod system, two-point synchronized tremolo bridge with vintage-style bent steel saddles, deluxe staggered locking tuners and Fender Select headstock medallion.