Iconic guitar maker Fender has released a new Squier Stratocaster with a USB port available only via the Apple Store – for the GarageBand aficionados among us.
As well as the usual quarter-inch input, the Squier by Fender USB Stratocaster has a mini-B USB connector that enables bi-directional audio streaming. Two cables come packaged with the guitar, one with a standard USB connection and another with a 30-pin connector for hooking up with all sorts of iDevices; though not any of the new ones – you’ll need a Lightning adaptor for that.
USB ports have appeared on guitars before but this is a first from Fender. The Squier range offers low-cost alternatives to Fender staples and this cheaper version of the famous Stratocaster model is listed in the Irish online Apple Store as costing €209.95.
Stock is not yet available, it seems, but I bet we’ll see this guitar popping up on a few techies’ Christmas wish lists nonetheless. The promotional video – featuring Arizona band This Century – includes an unsurprising cameo from GarageBand, Apple’s software for creating music on its devices.
The Squier by Fender USB Stratocaster also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and high-quality headphone amp, allowing users to monitor the processed guitar signal directly.
