Buddy Merrill was one of the earliest strat players, one of the very first to play a strat on national television. I don't know if I'd call him a jazz guitarist - more of an all around player. His co-guitarist Neil LeVang also played a strat from time to time. Both were top notch players.

Just my personal preferences (with budget-minded guitars):

Big band jazz/swing -- an Epiphone ES175 or Emperor
Old school jazz fusion -- an Epiphone Dot (ES335) with humbuckers
Heavy jazz fusion -- use your Epi Les Paul on the neck pickup
Funky jazz -- use your Strat
Country swing/jazz -- use your Tele

Have fun.

Favorite clean-tone amps for jazz: Old Roland 2x12, Fender Twin (keep the treble below 5)

No. If you do the jazz poilce will come arrest you in the middle of the night and force you to give up your associates........

Yep, I use an SSS AmStd (strung with 10s) and sometimes an HSS (with 9s) and most of what I play could be described as some cross between jazz and something else (usually folk, sometimes rock-blues).

I normally use either a Super 210 or an SCXD and while granted I don't get quite the tone of the Guild X150D (full sized) jazz box, either Strat is more than credible.

As for the Jazz Police getting you ... well, ummm ... doing some time will just add to your "blues cred"!

Ian Sheridan, that was tres beaucoup humangous perceptive and something we do not think of enough; individuality when approaching art. Further thoughts stimulated by your bold declaration:

It is the very act of choosing to involve oneself in a form of artistry-creativity which transfoms one into an artist.

When one picks up a musical instrument and commences to generate sound, that person becomes an artist. Same for a paintbrush or pastel or pen to paper to write.

Ergo, a Stat to play jazz or a Mona Lisa created in stained glass, the quest is and the product is Art and the seeker-creator is an artist. The journey and tools are strictly personal.

Life's here, dig it.

Strats sound good for bebop, swing, nu-jazz, modern jazz, acid jazz, jazz fusion, lounge, smooth jazz and rockabilly jazz or is that jazzabilly?

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Thank you. Although I may be just a novice, I've always loved quality and a good tune. You all with the recomendations are greatly appreciated...