Fender Stratocaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Fullerton, California, serial # L 40943, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

A really beautiful example of a late Pre-CBS Stratocaster, with typical features for the time. The neck sports the older style small headstock with the newer "transition" gold logo. The thin rosewood fingerboard still has the earlier "clay" dot inlay that would be phased out at the end of 1964, replaced by pearl dots. The sunburst finish is darker, softly blended and a bit grainy in contrast to the more quickly sprayed "bull's-eye" bursts that would become the norm in 1965. The pickguard is the lovely slightly greenish nitrocellulose plastic that would also disappear by the end of the year. The neck is dated July 1964, the pots to the 22nd week of that year and there is a clear yellow-stamp marking on the pickup base of April 29 '64.

This is simply a great sounding, light and very resonant Strat built shortly before "things started a-changin" in Fullerton after the January 1965 sell-out to CBS. This Strat is a fine unmolested example of the products of the high summer of Fender, still housed in a very nice original black tolex case.
 
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). Very fine all-original condition; some small dings overall and a little buckle wear to the back. Completely original hardware and electronics, the finish is beautiful deep red 3-color sunburst with virtually no fade and very little checking. Played but not abused, ready for the next 50 years. Excellent + Condition.

Item # 3901