Vintage Fender Stratocaster - USA 1968

The Fender Stratocaster is arguably the most iconic, most played, and most copied electric guitar design of all time. Fender launched the Strat in 1954, and the model evolved throughout the '50s and '60s. Following the CBS purchase of Fender in 1965, guitars from late 1965 and 1966 are considered "transition" era Fenders. And a while before the newbies at CBS started tinkering with the design of the Strat, the company continued to make well regarded instruments from 1967 through to 1969. And as we all know, substantial changes were in place from mid 1970 on. 

But compared to the pre CBS output, relatively few Stratocasters were made in 1967, 68 and 69. The guitars from those years adhered primarily to earlier design principles apart from the enlarged headstock and F stamped tuners.

And one James Marshall Hendrix certainly made good use of a 69 Strat at Woodstock.

Here is a great playing, beat up-looking example of a classic late 60s Fender Stratocaster. The look is iconic - double cutaway contoured alder body, with a white pickguard on a refinished and relic'ed vintage off-white finish.

Features –

Maple neck with C profile

Curved rosewood fretboard with pearloid dot inlays.

White three-layer pickguard. 

Larger style headstock.

Four bolt neck plate.

F-stamped tuners.

Single string tree.

25.5” scale length.

1 5/8” nut width.

Three non-original later installed Fender '65 Pure Vintage single coil pickups with staggered pole pieces and white plastic covers.

Non-original Emerson wiring harness.

After market five-way pickup selector with white switch tip.

One volume and two tone controls with white plastic knobs.

Synchronised tremolo bridge individual adjustable string saddles. 

It has had a pro refret and a new nut fitted.

This Strat is in very good shape considering it's deliberate relic'ing. The neck is very clean, with little wear showing on the back, or on the lovely rosewood fingerboard.

The action is a comfortable medium height. It plays just fine as it is, and could easily be adjusted to preference. Frets are in great shape, with no wear showing. There is no buzz or fretting out along the neck and intonation is good.

Tone from the replacement Fender Pure Vintage '65 pickups is classic Strat - round and warm in the neck, chimey in the middle, and spanky in the bridge.

Serial number 2xxx33 points to early 1970, but may not be 100% accurate. 

While the neck date reads Jan 1968.

Weight: 7.76 lbs

This is a great opportunity to own a very original classic Strat without the L Series price tag.

Comes in a non-original Fender hardshell case in excellent condition.