In a world where Pre-CBS Fender instruments are becoming increasingly less attainable, a player-friendly Stratocaster from the early 1960s is always a refreshing sight. With its Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, clay dot fret markers, celluloid pickguard, spaghetti logo, and trio of black bobbin pickups, this 1964-built Fender bears all the hallmarks of a golden-era Stratocaster. Offering authentic Pre-CBS Fender tone, vibe, and feel, combined with excellent playability thanks to a fresh refret in our repair shop, this 1964 Stratocaster is the ultimate player's guitar.

The guitar's refinish appears to be a decades-old job. While the neck was refinished along with the body, whoever did the work had the foresight to save the original headstock decals. Both the "Fender "and "Original Contour Body" decals are original to the guitar and were oversprayed at the time of refinishing. The guitar's hardware is largely original, or period correct. The original three-ply celluloid pickguard has a plugged hole between the pickup switch and tone knob, but is otherwise in very good condition. The period correct potentiometers are dated to 1961. All three pickups appear to be original, with the middle pickup date stamped June 12 '64. The bridge pickup has been rewound by Tom Brantley, and a 5-way switch has been installed. The original backplate for the trem cavity has been lost to the ages.

An absolutely fantastic Stratocaster in both tone and playability, this '64 build is an exciting guitar. The pickups offer thick and harmonically rich tones with excellent bite in the bridge position, an open and airy voice in the middle, and a warm and articulate response in the neck. The fret work is very well done, and the guitar plays flawlessly across the fingerboard.

Scale length of 25.5", nut width of 1-5/8", 1st fret depth of 0.775", and 12th fret depth of 0.945". Pickup DC values of 6.1K in the neck, 6.2k in the middle, and 5.7k in the bridge. weight of 7lbs 10oz.

With hardshell case.