The "three-tone" sunburst on a 1970 Strat. The four-bolt neck plate on a '63. LEAP FORWARD, STEP BACK The Strat in Transition BY GEORGE GRUHN AND STAFF B elieving the long-term survival of his company hinged on creating the world's best electric guitar, in 1953, Leo Fender set out to improve on his own Telecaster before Gibson or Epiphone could take their shots at supplanting it atop the solidbody market. And from the moment it was introduced in '54 - two cutaways, body carves, three pickups, and cutting-edge vibrato in place - his Stratocaster hit the mark. VINTAGE GUITAR 42 September 2017 Retaining certain elements of the Tele while jettisoning others, Leo's second six-string Spanish guitar incorporated upgrades devised with input from those who really used an electric guitar - customers or staff, weekend warriors or touring pros. Among the changes were comfortenhancing contours suggested by local player/part-time Fender employee Bill