Best Ebony Fretboard Stratocaster Guitars in 2024

Here you'll find the best Ebony fretboard Stratocaster style guitars. This is one of the most expensive woods there is, which is why it's mostly used for fretboards. It is dense, heavy, highly resistant and comes in a really dark color that gives any guitar a classy touch. Tone wise, it helps the high side of the spectrum and provides good sustain.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. Fender Custom Artisan Spalted Maple Thinline Stratocaster

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Fender Custom Artisan Spalted Maple Thinline Stratocaster
FIND IT ON:
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Playability 73
Sound 77
Build quality 75
Value for money 60
Overall Score 75
FIND IT ON:
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  • From Fender Custom's 2020 Artisan series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Spalted Maple top
  • Roasted Ash with Spalted Maple Top body
  • 3A Roasted Birdseye Maple neck
  • Round-Lam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • '60s Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage Style with Tortoise Shell Buttons tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • From Fender Custom's 2020 Artisan series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Spalted Maple top
  • Roasted Ash with Spalted Maple Top body
  • 3A Roasted Birdseye Maple neck
  • Round-Lam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • '60s Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage Style with Tortoise Shell Buttons tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom Artisan Spalted Maple Thinline Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

    2. Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature

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    Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoReverb logoAmazon logo
    Playability 73
    Sound 79
    Build quality 75
    Value for money 61
    Overall Score 76
    FIND IT ON:
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    • 4 Prices - New from $3,289.30 >
    • From Schecter's 2017 Artist series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 14" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • Contoured 4-Bolt Wenge neck
    • Macassar Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • Schecter Vintage 2-Point Tremolo bridge
    • Nick Johnston Custom C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter/Hipshot Staggered Locking Tuners tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 4 Prices - New from $3,289.30 >
    • From Schecter's 2017 Artist series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 14" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • Contoured 4-Bolt Wenge neck
    • Macassar Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • Schecter Vintage 2-Point Tremolo bridge
    • Nick Johnston Custom C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter/Hipshot Staggered Locking Tuners tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
    • Locking Tuners
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Black Tusq XL Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    3. Fender Jim Root Stratocaster

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    Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoAmazon logoSweetwater logoMusician's Friend logoFender logo
    Playability 72
    Sound 77
    Build quality 74
    Value for money 64
    Overall Score 74

    What our users think

    • Neck access to high frets: Easy (2 votes)
    • Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
    • Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
    • Weight: Slightly heavy (2 votes)
    • Neck profile shape: C (36 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (35 votes)
    • Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
    • Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoAmazon logoSweetwater logoMusician's Friend logoFender logo
    • 7 Prices - New from $1,767.56 >
    • From Fender's 2012 Artist series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Mahogany body
    • Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
    • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
    • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
    • Modern C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 Jumbo frets
    • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 7 Prices - New from $1,767.56 >
    • From Fender's 2012 Artist series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Mahogany body
    • Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
    • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
    • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
    • Modern C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 Jumbo frets
    • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
    • Locking Tuners
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Strap Lock
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

    All Prices

    4. Fender Custom Artisan Koa Thinline Stratocaster

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    Fender Custom Artisan Koa Thinline Stratocaster
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    Playability 73
    Sound 77
    Build quality 75
    Value for money 60
    Overall Score 75
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    • 3 Prices - New from $4,387.50 >
    • From Fender Custom's 2020 Artisan series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
    • 4A Figured Koa top
    • Roasted Ash body
    • 3A Roasted Birdseye Maple neck
    • Round-Lam Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
    • '60s Oval C Bolt-On neck
    • 21 Narrow Tall frets
    • Vintage Style with Tortoise Shell Buttons tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 3 Prices - New from $4,387.50 >
    • From Fender Custom's 2020 Artisan series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
    • 4A Figured Koa top
    • Roasted Ash body
    • 3A Roasted Birdseye Maple neck
    • Round-Lam Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
    • '60s Oval C Bolt-On neck
    • 21 Narrow Tall frets
    • Vintage Style with Tortoise Shell Buttons tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender Custom Artisan Koa Thinline Stratocaster
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    5. Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster

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    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    Playability 73
    Sound 77
    Build quality 73
    Value for money 59
    Overall Score 74
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    • 2 Prices - New from $4,933.62 >
    • From Fender Custom's 2020 Artisan series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Burl top
    • Roasted Alder body
    • Birdseye Maple neck
    • Macassar Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
    • 1963 C Bolt-On neck
    • 21 Jumbo frets
    • Vintage-Style tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 2 Prices - New from $4,933.62 >
    • From Fender Custom's 2020 Artisan series
    • Made in United States
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Burl top
    • Roasted Alder body
    • Birdseye Maple neck
    • Macassar Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
    • 1963 C Bolt-On neck
    • 21 Jumbo frets
    • Vintage-Style tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender Custom Artisan Maple Burl Stratocaster
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    6. Schecter Jack Fowler Traditional

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    Schecter Jack Fowler Traditional
    FIND IT ON:
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    Playability 73
    Sound 80
    Build quality 65
    Value for money 73
    Overall Score 73

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: C (42 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (37 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoReverb logoMusician's Friend logo
    • 5 Prices - New from $1,049 >
    • From Schecter's 2021 Artist series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 14" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • Roasted Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Diamond Vintage Tremolo bridge
    • Thin C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 5 Prices - New from $1,049 >
    • From Schecter's 2021 Artist series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 14" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • Roasted Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Diamond Vintage Tremolo bridge
    • Thin C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Schecter Jack Fowler Traditional
    • Locking Tuners
    • Expensive Wood
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    7. Schecter Nick Johnston Traditional

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    Schecter Nick Johnston Traditional
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
    Playability 73
    Sound 71
    Build quality 62
    Value for money 74
    Overall Score 69

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: C (42 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (37 votes)
    • Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
    • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
    • 6 Prices - New from $809 >
    • From Schecter's 2019 Artist series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 14" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • Roasted Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter Diamond Nick Johnston Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Schecter Diamond Nick Johnston Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter Diamond Nick Johnston Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • Diamond Vintage Tremolo bridge
    • Thin C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 6 Prices - New from $809 >
    • From Schecter's 2019 Artist series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 14" Fretboard Radius
    • Alder body
    • Roasted Maple neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter Diamond Nick Johnston Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Middle pickup: Schecter Diamond Nick Johnston Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter Diamond Nick Johnston Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
    • 5-way Switch
    • Diamond Vintage Tremolo bridge
    • Thin C Bolt-On neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Schecter Nick Johnston Traditional
    • Locking Tuners
    • Expensive Wood
    • Black Tusq XL Nut
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

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