Hello Kitty Stratocaster guitar by Fender

Seemingly perfect for either up-and-coming Bikini Kill-style riot grrl rockers or androgynous Marilyn Manson-style glamfreaks, the Hello Kitty Stratocaster guitar and Badtz-Maru Bass from Squier by Fender are curiously being marketed to pre-pubescent girls, whose role-models today seem to mostly eschew musical instruments in favor of skimpy clothing and "back-up" tapes. Anyway, the Kittycaster features the little cutie herself on the pickguard, comes in pink or black, and costs a very non-indie $230. This hot Kitty action has definitely put us in the HK mood, so don't be surprised if you see a little more Kittypr0n before the day is over.

[Via Luxist, Sonicflare, and Techie Diva]

[Josh Ray @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

So everyone knows, the loudspeaker shown is NOT official Hello Kitty material. I pasted the kitty head on the killer $2800/pair Zu Druid speakers for my article over at SonicFlare. Very few people know that Bose is the low end of audio, not the high end. Maybe HK branding is the solution to shine some light on high-end audio...a very nauseous one, but still a solution.

More coverage and reviews of Zu's speakers here:

http://www.sonicflare.com/archives/zu-druid-followup-review.php

And hit up Zu's site for more details and how to order. Though they don't do Hello Kitty, they will do any graphics your little heart desires:

http://www.zucable.com/druid/index.html

[eskimo @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Crap, now my sister wants one.


Thanks a lot, Engadget.

[Johnny Fusion @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

If that is suppossed to be a strat, its missing a few pickups...

[Dee @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

My little girl would love this guitar. She has Hello Kitty everything. So do I for that matter. My Explorer is all Powder Blue Kitty. Thanks. I will definitely check this out for a possible birthday gift.

[manfesto @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

It's a Squier Bullet Special with a paint job.

The scary thing - I want one. I could use a sixth guitar...

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I sent this to my sister, and now she has me calling around town to find out who has it/when it can be had. Silly Christmas...

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Question - 'non-indie' $230? Perhaps the poster isn't aware of what guitars cost? I have an American Fat Strat on a stand by my computer desk that I paid $1400 (CDN) for several years ago. That's a little more typical for the price of a quality guitar.

[Tall @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

i think that's really disrespectful to girls

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I think that is a telecaster, not a strat.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

To Matt... have you ever seen a Telecaster?

[Bean @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

To #1

Bose is the low end of audio? I seriously doubt that. It might be possible to say Bose is the low end OF the high end. However, I don't think it would be wise of me to go trading my Bose system for some sweet Koss action. Do you?

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Yeah, I had an American Fat Strat (Texas Special) that set me back $900 and that was in 2000, before Fender raised the prices in Gibson-like move. My current guitar is a PRS Custom 22 10top that goes for $2,400 in stores. (i stole off ebay for 1,600 though. :)
#3, not all strats have the same number of pickups, especially the ones belonging to home hot-rodders. Also, the Tom Delonge strat only had one humbucker in the bridge.

[Jeremy Moses @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

To #9

You're close. Bose is the high end of the low end, and _definitely not the low end of the high end. :-)

[Bean @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Well, what I know for sure is that Bose is the high end of what I'm willing to pay to hear stuff.

[soomp @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

they have a black batz-maru bass. i need it.
so i already have 3 basses... :D

[Trent @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

What sick ass came up with the idea of having a pussy with no lips anyway? Hello Kitty cannot say hello back TO you

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Bose is definately low-end gear, much better can be had for the same money. I talked my Dad out of a Lifesytle home theatre system and took him shopping instead, he still thanks me for it.

I got my Fat Strat in 99, with the exchange rate (at the time) and such it's about the same. I love that guitar, there's absolutely no way anyone can get me to part with it. I can sell it now for more than I paid, but that's not gonna happen! :-)

[Greenline @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Fender? I mean are sales really that bad?

and

#15 get a new website to post to, we don't need it

[Trent @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

sorry i'm an ass, #17

[riotgrrl @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

The article wrote:
> curiously being marketed to pre-pubescent girls, whose role-models today seem to mostly eschew musical instruments in favor of skimpy clothing and �back-up� tapes

There are many teen/pre-teen girls who listen to Bratmobile and Sleater-Kinney and the like, instead of girl pop. So the marketing isn't wrong. Whether or not those girls want a Hello Kitty guitar is another matter.