Best Poplar Body Stratocaster Style Guitars in 2023
Here you'll find the best Poplar body Stratocaster style guitars. It's similar to Alder in terms of tone as it has a fat low-end with strong mids, but it's a lot cheaper and softer. It's a bit heavier so it's mostly used for tops.
Out of the more than 2000 guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones. 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.
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1. Sterling Cutlass CT50SSS
- From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Roasted Maple neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- Vintage Tremolo bridge
- Cutlass Bolt-On neck
- 22 Medium frets
- Locking tuners
- Compare Specs >
Sterling Cutlass CT50SSS
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Compensated 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
2. Sterling Cutlass CT50HSS

Player Feedback
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (7 votes)
- From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Roasted Maple neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- Vintage Tremolo bridge
- Cutlass Bolt-On neck
- 22 Medium frets
- Locking tuners
- Compare Specs >
Sterling Cutlass CT50HSS
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Compensated 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
3. PRS SE Silver Sky
- From PRS's 2022 SE series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 8.5" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Maple neck
- Rosewood fretboard
- Bridge pickup: PRS 635JM "S" (Single Coil/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: PRS 635JM "S" (Single Coil/Passive)
- Middle pickup: PRS 635JM "S" (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: PRS 635JM "S" (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- 2-Point Steel Tremolo bridge
- 635JM Bolt-On neck
- 22 Vintage Tall frets
- Vintage-Style tuners
- Compare Specs >
PRS SE Silver Sky
- Expensive Wood
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- 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
4. Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster HH FR

Player Feedback
- Neck access to high frets: Easy (2 votes)
- Fret edges: Slightly sharp (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (2 votes)
- Weight: Lightweight (2 votes)
- Neck profile shape: C (22 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (20 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (3 votes)
- From Fender Squier's 2021 Contemporary series
- Made in China
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Roasted Maple neck
- Roasted Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- Floyd Rose by Floyd Rose Double Locking Tremolo bridge
- Modern C Bolt-On neck
- 22 Jumbo frets
- Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts tuners
- Compare Specs >
Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster HH FR
- Locking Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in China
- No Expensive Woods
- 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 Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
5. Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster

Player Feedback
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (2 votes)
- Tuning stability: Not bad (2 votes)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (23 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (13 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
- From Fender Squier's 2023 Sonic series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 9.5" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Maple neck
- Indian Laurel fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles bridge
- C Shape Bolt-On neck
- 21 Narrow Tall frets
- Die-Cast Sealed tuners
- Compare Specs >
Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- 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
6. Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster HT

Player Feedback
- Neck profile shape: C (23 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (13 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
- From Fender Squier's 2023 Sonic series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 9.5" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Maple neck
- Indian Laurel fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- 6-Saddle Top-Load Hardtail with Block Saddles bridge
- C Shape Bolt-On neck
- 21 Narrow Tall frets
- Die-Cast Sealed tuners
- Compare Specs >
Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster HT
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Tremolo
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS

Player Feedback
- Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (23 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (13 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
- From Fender Squier's 2023 Sonic series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 9.5" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Maple neck
- Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles bridge
- C Shape Bolt-On neck
- 21 Narrow Tall frets
- Die-Cast Sealed tuners
- Compare Specs >
Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- 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
8. Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
- From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Hard Maple neck
- Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
- Cutlass Bolt-On neck
- 22 Narrow Tall frets
- Diecast tuners
- Compare Specs >
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- 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
9. Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS

Player Feedback
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (7 votes)
- From Sterling's 2020 Cutlass series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Hard Maple neck
- Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
- Cutlass Bolt-On neck
- 22 Narrow Tall frets
- Diecast tuners
- Compare Specs >
Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- 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
10. Sterling Cutlass Short Scale

Player Feedback
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (7 votes)
- From Sterling's 2020 Cutlass series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 24"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Hard Maple neck
- Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
- Cutlass Bolt-On neck
- 22 Narrow Tall frets
- Diecast tuners
- Compare Specs >
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
- Compensated Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- 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