Fender Stratocaster Sunburst

This is one of the very last pre-CBS Stratocasters.

This guitar features all the 1964 specifications: green guard, grey-bottom pickups with Formvar copper wire. It truly dates from the transition period between 1964 and 1965, with a neck stamped November 1964 and three matching potentiometers dating to the 5th week of 1965. The pickups are also from early 1965 and hand-dated. Note the small piece of masking tape in the neck pickup cavity, bearing the initials of the worker who completed the instrument.

Now, when you look at the back of the instrument, it’s clear that it has been played. The sunburst finish is vibrant and original Of course, it shows the wear of countless hours of playing, giving it a character that is still so difficult to replicate by Custom Shop instruments.

Over time, it has understandably received a 5-way selector switch and a refret (the original selector is included in the case, along with the back plate and a few screws). Let me tell you: this refret is outstanding. I have rarely encountered a Stratocaster this precise. At the 19th fret, there isn’t even a single hertz of deviation. It is perfectly in tune and sounds incredible in every pickup position. This is a truly great instrument. For the sake of completeness, the pickguard is cracked at the neck pickup—as is often the case—and also near the selector switch, where it has been stabilized.

It is sold with its original Scandinavian case.