“If this guitar had come out of one of our other facilities saying Fender no one would be having this conversation”: Fender’s Justin Norvell on the $599 Standard Series, how it was made, and why it is not a Squier with a different decal on the headstock

Fender's executive vice president of product Justin Norvell.

Fender has truly put the Strat among the pigeons with the launch of the Standard series. Here we are taking out a second mortgage to finance the purchase of a dozen eggs then along come genuine Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters for $599 street.

Yes, those figures are correct. Unveiled during the new gear fever of NAMM 2025, the Standard range is the most affordable Fender you’ll find and comprises the Strat, HSS Strat and Telecaster, Fender’s O.G. bass guitars, the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass – plus, the pièce de résistance, the Acoustasonic Jazzmaster and Telecaster (again, street price $599).