1.What is your budget? It may sound like the most obvious thing, but if you don't set your budget before you start looking to buy your Stratocaster then you might get a bad case of GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome)! Stratocasters are nice, Stratocasters are shiny, and it is very easy to keep going over your budget. We all want to find a cheap Fender Stratocaster and it really does pay to shop around

2.Do you want to buy a new or used Stratocaster? Personally I like the feel of being the only person who has played a guitar. Other people I know love an instrument with a bit of history about it. If you are buying a used Strat then I would always recommend going to see it and play it first. When buying a new one you can buy online and save yourself a bit of money. Finding a cheap Stratocaster is always welcome.

3.How is it going to be used? If you are buying to play at home for your own enjoyment then it is likely that you don't need a top of the range instrument. That's not to say that you shouldn't buy one if you have the money. It's a Strat right, we all want to buy the best Stratocaster we can. Seriously though, if you are going to be gigging with your new guitar then it is probably worth spending that bit more to get the quality you need.

4.How will you be using your tone? Can you tell the difference between the tone of a mid-range Stratocaster from that of a mid-high range model. For some people this is very easy to spot and if you play your guitar clean with no effects than this might be worth looking into. However, if you like to add a bit of distortion and perhaps some other effects then there is not going to be such a noticable difference.

5.Do you have a set idea of the 'look' you are trying to create. The finish and colour of your Stratocaster can have a big impact on the amount of money you are going to spend. If you are only going to be playing for your own enjoyment then do you really need that custom finish.

6.Is there a better guitar for you to buy? No! Strats are great!