ARCHIVED • SOLD
1959 Fender Stratocaster
This slab-board Stratocaster is in very lovely condition and is completely original but, perhaps, for the second tone control knob, which is a little lighter in color. Original finish throughout, original electronics and solder throughout. Original everything else. The guitar’s only modification will be hard to spot: there is an extra screw holding the pickguard down immediately in front of the bridge, centred perfectly between the D and G strings. It’s been installed so nicely that you might think it was an original factory addition. Finally, there is a 70’s Dymo-made name tag on the side of the bass horn which we opted to leave in place.
The guitar weighs just under 7.5 lbs. Body date is 7-59, and there is no neck date. The pot codes are all 304920 (20th week of 1959), and the pickup DC values are 5.6k, 6.1k, and 6.3k (neck to bridge). The neck depth at the 1st fret is .750” and the nut width is Fender’s standard 1-5/8”. The neck thickens nicely to .953” at the 12th fret. The original frets show light to average wear and play cleanly; there are shallow fingernail divots in the area of the first five frets.
The guitar sounds incredible, with a bridge pickup that offers a very open full-bodied tone, really well defined mids and none of the harshness that can plague later models. The neck and mid pickups are also well defined and without any muddiness, offering the mid-range support, warmth, and liveliness that makes a great Strat really hard to put back in the case.
With original tweed hardshell case and case candy.
