Vintage Fender Stratocaster - USA 1957

The 1957 Fender Stratocaster is considered one of the true classic Strat years. Fender had just transitioned from ash to alder as their primary body wood in 1956, making 1957 the first full year of alder-bodied Strats (excluding blonde finishes). During this period Fender was also in the midst of switching from bakelite to plastic pickup covers and control knobs, so a degree of variation and crossover is common with 1957 examples. It was also the final year of the thicker V-shaped neck profile and the two-tone sunburst finish, with the one-piece maple neck and fingerboard still very much the standard.

This guitar has belonged to a high-end collector for a number of years and has been kept in meticulous condition, with a long documented service history, most recently attended to by renowned Sydney technician Greg Fryer. At some point in its life both the middle and neck pickups were professionally rewound to correct vintage specifications, retaining the original bobbins and magnets while restoring their output and tonal balance.

Many Fender historians and players regard 1957 as a true golden year for the Stratocaster, and this example fully lives up to that reputation in both sound and feel.

There is some minor fret and fingerboard wear that does not affect playability. The neck has a beautifully comfortable soft V profile, with plenty of life remaining in the original frets, and both the tuners and truss rod operate perfectly.

These early pickups are the heart of the instrument’s voice, delivering everything from mellow, woody warmth through to exceptional bite and clarity from the bridge position, with the rewound neck and middle units perfectly capturing that unmistakable late-50s Strat character.

The two-tone sunburst finish remains in splendid condition. Naturally, after nearly 70 years there are some chips, light scratches and a little belt-buckle rash on the back, all of which contribute to the story of a genuinely well-loved vintage instrument. The tremolo functions smoothly and the guitar holds tune well. Aside from the documented pickup rewinds, the instrument retains its original character throughout.

Included are the backplate and screws, bridge cover, and a lovely set of 1960s Fender string sleeves.

This is a particularly fine example of a 1957 Stratocaster, with its perfect neck profile and lightweight original body combining to create a truly inspiring late-50s Fender.

It comes in its original tweed hard shell case, showing honest wear but remaining structurally sound. The interior label reads: “Cushioned with Comfort Engineered U.S. Koylon. United States Rubber Co.”

Features:

Action at 1st fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th fret: 1.75mm

Neck depth at 1st fret: 23.46mm

Neck depth at 12th fret: 25.06mm

Nut Width: 42.21mm

12 fret width: 52.23mm

Weight: 3.43kg / 7.57lb

Neck date: 2/57

Body date: 2/57

Pot codes: 304704

Neck plate serial number: -183xx = 1957 

Bridge pickup: 6.33 ohms 

Middle pickup: 6.10 ohms

Neck pickup: 6.29 ohms