Originally introduced in the 1970s, the Starcaster was Fender’s bold take on a semi-hollow electric. With its offset body shape, center-block construction, whacky F-holes, and unique headstock shape, the Starcaster stood apart among the '70s Fender lineup. It was short-lived in its original form, but its unique design and unmistakable tone earned it a devoted following over the decades.
This Starcaster was made it in 2014, and it's part of the Modern Player series—a "Crafted in China" reissue of the classic 1970s specs. True to the original, it features a funky offset semi-hollow body made of a laminated maple with a solid center block, designed for clarity and focused resonance. The unbound maple neck has a maple fingerboard and a comfortable modern “C” profile with a gloss finish. Dual Fender Wide Range-style humbuckers provide warm, articulate tones that cover clean chime, smooth rhythm, harmonic overdrive, saturated crunch, and everything you can imagine.
This 2014 Fender Starcaster sports a classic '70s three-tone sunburst. Although it has been played and enjoyed of the years, it's in pretty nice shape for its age (see photos). Play wear is minimal, and the protective film is still on the pickguard. The setup is excellent, and frets are in pristine shape. It includes a pretty basic, unimpressive gig bag. Unfortunately, the cool headstock shape makes it hard to fit the Starcaster in a regular case or bag. But fortunately, this one is more than sufficient to cart it around.
Fender's goal was to compete with other American-made semi-hollow guitars, but there's nothing else quite like the Starcaster. This 2014 reissue captures that '70s ethos perfectly. It plays great, sounds like it should, and it captures a vibe all its own. It's easy to understand why the Starcaster has a cult following!