1965 fender stratocaster

It includes a fairly worn out '60s alligator case, and we'd love to help the new owner track down a case that will be more suitable for such a fine instrument. All rights reserved. Instead of the flared CBS-era headstock, it has the traditional Strat headstock shape with the transition gold Fender logo. By mid-1964, the peghead "Fender" logo changed from the petite (and rather cute) thin The potentiometers were then shipped to Fender and subsequently installed in guitar, so the code doesn't indicate exactly the week the guitar was made. Peghead Fender decal has 4 patent numbers (2,573,254 & 2,741,146 & 2,960,900 & 3,143,028). Fender guitar collectors like myself use the exact year it was made, the condition, the color, and the originality as the most important factors to determine how much the guitar is worth to us. Interior was routed for mini humbuckers at some point, cavities painted. The rarity of the finish can demand significant prices depending on the model, year and color. The serial number on this 1965 Fender Stratocaster is on the metal neck plate on the back of the guitar. "spaghetti" logo to a more bold "transition" logo. I'm especially looking for the Strats with original custom color finishes like this guitar. Describing the condition of a Fender Stratocaster is notan exact science, so it's more helpful to compare visually one guitar to another. That's why a custom color Fender is more rare and desirable to Fender guitar collectors (like the author of this post!). Peghead design enlarged significantly about 12/65 (known as Using Gibson Melody Maker pickup, having EX-, these are rather rare as the stronger output large pickup was only made for 18 months. 1965 Fender Stratocaster in very good condition. The metal spacer below the butterfly string tree was replaced with a white plastic spacer. Description: 1964 & 1965 Fender Stratocaster guitar 7.35 lbs. Click the red Contact Me button in the lower right corner of your browser. Includes original hardshell case. Fender Stratocaster values float over time but there is a way to compare one guitar's worth to another. Serial number range for the 65 Fender Stratocaster are generally The 1965 Fender Stratocaster sawa number of changes and not really any of them being necessarily an improvement. Some obvious wear and lacquer checking, missing back plate. This 1965 Fender Stratocaster is an excellent player, and it is priced to reflect its condition and repair history. Its neck is dated to January of 1965, and based on other details for the specs and pot codes, this guitar was likely completed some time in the spring of '65. not considered pre-CBS models). The Fender Custom Color Chartfrom 1965 indicates that "14 colors plus Blond available at 5% additional cost. Pearloid fingerboard dots replace clay dots. While the Stratocaster remained much the same, 1965 saw huge changes for the Fender company as a whole. by Underground of the "pre-CBS" Fender Stratocaster (hence large peghead 1966 Fender Stratocasters are Want to sell something? If you need to figure out the exact year of your pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster, use the serial number Production: no official (or unofficial) production numbers available. Seattle, WA 98104 The body of this 1965 Stratocaster has been refinished, and the neck has been over-sprayed but still shows original finish underneath. Hours: Guitar is in great playing shape, with straight neck and minimal fret wear. Around 12/64 the nail holes are no longer present under the pickguard. site by Chris Cline, 1990s Electro-Harmonix Sovtek Russian Small Stone Phaser. Sign up for our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new and incoming inventory, as well as upcoming events and all of the latest Walt Grace happenings! Have a questions about an item? The goal at this point was to start moving toward an assembly line type flow. You can contact me here to find out what I would pay for your vintage Fender Stratocaster: Fender Guitar Collector. Sign up to receive sale invitations and event alerts via email. Note the cool glued on Collectibility Rating: C The standard color for a Fender Stratocaster in 1965 was Sunburst, so all other colors areless common and more desirable to Fender guitar collectors. The headstock design was enlarged significantly about 12/65 (known as the large or CBS era headstock Strat). This Fender serial number lookupshows that the F style plate began in 1965 with a 100,000 range and finished the year under 200,000. (a plastic that looks like pearl), and late 1964/early 1965 brought a change in 2022 Pre CBS Stratocasters. This guitar sounds brilliant, woody and just frankly fantastic..This is a rock star guitar! When I walk into my music room to play a guitar, I still think of this 1965 Fender Stratocaster in Olympic White that has been gone for years now. Custom color Fenders have been the craze for vintage collectors for years. After serial number L99999, the serial number plate now has a large script F (known as an F plate). As the new ownership sought to increase production and maximize profits, there is a perceived decline in quality over second half of the 1960s. Includes original amp-logo hardshell case, which is nearly flawless. ), SEP = September, 65 = 1965, and B = standard neck width of 1 5/8". Fender serial numbers are typically found on the metal plate that helps stabilize the neck to body joint. I'll get back to you as quickly as I can. See the Fender Serial Number Info web page The neck has been refretted, and it looks like at some point someone installed modern USA-style string trees on the headstock. 206.382.0231. There were also some minor cosmetic changes such as a three-ply plastic pickguard and a 3-tone sunburst that showed red in between the yellow and black. Shopify Theme This serial number was used on a Fender guitar in 1965. That large headstock shape remained in place until 1982 when Fender was sold again. You don't need a PayPal account to pay with Paypal, Address: 83 South Washington St. A Fender Stratocaster with modifications and replaced parts is still a valuable guitar, but an all original Stratocaster will usually be preferred by players and collectors alike. It also has the '65 white plastic three-ply pickguard that replaced the slightly green-tinted pickguard of the early '60s. Built by Digital Edison. This guitar is all original and in very clean shape for its age with only minor dings and light buckle wear on the back of the body. let our experts help. translucent). A transitional guitar, this sunburst Strat is built of a mix of pre and post CBS parts. The neck heel ink stamp was applied to the end of the neck of Fender guitars a bit early in the manufacturing process but is still helpful for Fender guitar dating. Neck, pickups and pot codes all reflect 1965, switch replaced with a 5-way. Awesome piece of Fender history! See the previous years 1964 Fender Stratocaster. You can see in the image below how white the plastics are. and the general features of the guitar. Looks like someone else has great taste and beat you to this one. Sunburst is a great looking color so most players in 1965 didn't feel like paying extra for a different color. If you have a vintage pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster guitar for sale, please let me know. I like to survey the currently available market for 1965 Fender Stratocasters and compare their condition and price. Because of that, instruments made while Leo still owned the company are particularly revered, and the "transition era" guitars from 1965 also have strong appeal and collectibility. The serial number starts at 100000 but with no preceding L. All blog comments are checked prior to publishing. After serial number L99999, the serial number plate now has a large By the fall of 1964 "clay" fingerboard dots where changed to Pearloid The Brazilian board has great color and character and shows only very small indentions between the second and third frets. Pearloid fingerboard dots replace "clay" dots. MON-SAT 10:00-4:00 This Fender Stratocaster 1965 in original Olympic White finish stands out as one of my favorite vintage guitars I've ever had. for the Stratocaster at about the same time, allowing Fender to use body wood of lesser I hope one day that I can find another Fender Stratocaster that can fill the hole in my heart left by this guitar! Tuners change from "single line" Kluson Deluxe to "double line" A fantastic transitional Stratocaster featuring the pre-CBS small headstock with transitional decal and pearl dots. Itravel world wide to buy the vintage guitars I'm looking for. becoming pearloid. Do you need help on finding the perfect product for you? Black-bottom pickups and a late '63 neck with clay-dots and spaghetti logo are at the heart of the instrument and predate the sale of Fender to CBS, while the guitar's body, plastic parts, and pots are all 1965 issue. Peghead Fender decal has 4 patent numbers (2,573,254 & 2,741,146 & 2,960,900 & 3,143,028). General Comments: All Photos and Text 2001 - 2022 Copyright Willie's Guitars. The nut may have been replaced altogether or least reworked and reglued. the 1/4" fingerboard dots converting to pearl first, followed by the smaller side dots Please email or call with any questions. As with most things vintage collectible, originality of a vintage Fender Stratocaster is extremely important. with no preceeding "L". $3,995.00, Fireglo, EX, a charming solid body Rick with original electronics for that unmistakable Rickenbacker sound. I'm always on the lookout for nice examples of Fender Stratocasters. The last of the L series serial numbers stopped at L99999 and they began to use a plate that had a large F on the plate. visual quality (and also making the sunburst finish look less appealing). script "F" (known as a "F plate"). Weighs in at 7 lbs 13 oz, comes complete with original hardshell case and original trem arm. Maple fingerboard optional (2 piece neck, no "skunk stripe"). It was light weight, the pickups were bright but full sounding, the action and set up was dialed in, and the neck profile sat comfortably in my hand when I played it. By the mid-'60s, the Stratocaster very clearly resembled the 1954 original, except each one had an Alder body (instead of some that were Ash) and a fine Rosewood veneer fingerboard instead of plain Maple. The bridge and middle pickup on this '65 Strat are both original, but interestingly, the neck pickup was replaced with what appears to be an early-'80s Fullerton reissue pickup. I may be able to come to you for an in-person transaction if you have the guitar I'm looking for. The Kluson tuners also remained on the Stratocaster for the next couple of years as well. Pickups change from "black bottom" to "gray bottoms". Sunburst, just in, all original except for a pro refret, previously owned by Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, comes with the original hard case. Since Fender Stratocasters are easily disassembled using only a screwdriver, it's important that all the parts match to the year that the evidence says the guitar was made. Sunburst finishes at no extra cost." Consigned. neck plate to a "F-series" (there was now a large script "F" stamped into the metal As we mentioned on the 1964 Stratocaster page thelate 1964/early 1965 brought a change in pick guard material from the mint-green celluloid to a very white ABS plastic already being used on the knobs and switch tip. The finish on the sunburst changes (especially the yellow, guitar ever made. $695.00, Sunburst, single cut with large pickup. The headstock was changed from the sleek and small headstock to a large headstock as seen below. Telephone: 206.382.0231, 2022 Emerald City Guitars This is known as the "transition" Strat logo. By December 1965 Fender also changed from the "L-series" serial number format on the The cleaner the condition, the higher the price with all other things being equal. The finishing procedure also changed for the Stratocaster at about the same time, allowing Fender to use body wood of lesser visual quality (and also making the sunburst finish look less appealing). It appears it was refinished as a three-tone, but without the yellow undercoat that Fender used to achieve this finish, the red middle tone has faded. $3,595.00, Red, missing trem but retains the original bridge and trem assembly that make these poor guitars like Rhinos that are hunted only for parts. The serial number starts at 100000 but The Fender Stratocaster debuted in 1954 and each year is slightly different from another year. Plastic white three layer pickguard replaces the "mint green" celluloid (this happens Mon-Fri: 11am-6pm, Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: Closed. Now has 4 patent numbers (3,143,028 added). This headstock shape defined the CBS era of Fender. 206.382.0231, We use Paypal to process payments. Dates are often seen on the bottom of the gray pickups in either a Neck dates to December 1964, frets are original, in great condition and very much playable. One look and youll get the vibe. Available: 1954 to present. It's important for Fender guitar collectors to familiarize themselves with the full picture of how to date a Fender Stratocaster. The tuners are changed from single line Kluson Deluxe to double line Kluson Deluxe (where Kluson and Deluxe are now in two vertical parallel lines). a white plastic spacer. Plays great featuring a comfortable medium-C profile and sounds incredible! A gold Fender peghead decal thicker than previous "spaghetti" logo. This plate is affixed using Phillips head wood screws so it's easily swapped for a different plate. (due to their "bolt together" nature). 1965 Fender Stratocaster - Lake Placid Blue! It came through my shop in 2016 and was one of the guitars that turned me into a lover of Fender Stratocasters. See the. One thing that most dont realize is that the Leo Fender remained with Fender as a consultant until 1971. This 1965 Stratocaster, in very rare Black finish, is a true find for any collector or Fender enthusiast. This transitions in with However, we only ship to USA via this shopping cart. This Strat has a lot of vibe and would be more than suitable for studio or stage work, but it also has some sincere collectibility in its own right (especially since museum-level examples now exceed $25k). Natural, this guitar has some excellent mojo. The Fender decal now featured 5 patent numbers (2,573,254 & 2,960,900 & 2,741,146 & 3,143,028 & 2,817,261). I've been looking to replace this guitar ever since but haven't found one quite like it. Not only that, but the serial number scheme and style changed multiple times throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The 3 bolt neck joint was actually his invention. Stratocaster guitar, and Fender Strats do seem to have been easily modified Here are four different places to look for evidence of the years it was made: serial number, neck heel ink stamps, potentiometer codes, and general features. You can contact me here to sell a Fender guitar. But in many ways, the Stratocaster design needed little tweaking to deliver the tones and inspiration musicians needed. The potentiometer code on the back of the volume potentiometer on this Stratocaster reads "304 6532 where 304 = Stackpole, 65 = 1965, and 32 = the 32nd week of the year. These mid-60s Strats tend to be a little fatter, while still retaining the classic Strat tone, making them very versatile instruments. This stamp reads "2SEP65B" where 2 = Stratocaster model (not the day! It is in all original condition displaying fantastic looking player wear over the majority of the instrument. While the body looks like a clean two-tone sunburst, there is some red hidden underneath the pickguard and neck plate. This large film decal only lasted a month or two, around 12/65. The pickup materials changed from black bottom to gray bottoms. Paypal accepts all major credit cards. about 12/64 to 3/65, though early style mint green celluloid pickguards can be found It had the exact feel that I look for in vintage guitars: loved and played enough to look vintage but with perfect playability and tone. Any modifications or changed parts will lower a guitar collector's interest level. The metal spacer below the butterfly string tree was replaced with Had a Bigsby long ago but with the original trem back on, so now all pickguard material from the mint-green celluloid to a more stark white ABS plastic. This large film decal only lasted a month or two, around 12/65. Apart from that, all of the remaining parts and components appear to be original and period correct. Musician owned and operated since 1992, Telluride Music Co. offers an extensive selection of quality stringed instruments. A pot date code of 6514 can be seen on the middle pot (14th week of 1965). The bridge pickup on this one is particularly powerful and well-voiced, and the original middle and replacement neck pickup both balance nicely around it. By December of 1965, the neck plate also changed. Pots date to the 16th week of 1965 and pickups date to June 7th, 1965. Trem arm included as well. The potentiometer codes can also be very helpful for Fender Stratocaster dating since the potentiometers were installed very late in the manufacturing process. L20000 to L55000 (on the neck plate). All Rights Reserved. Early models (1954 to 1965, known as "pre-CBS" models, since CBS You can contact me here here if you're interested in where to sell a Fender guitar near me. The serial number is located on the back metal neck plate. $3,500.00, phone: (651) 699-1913 This 1965 Fender Stratocaster is a fitting transition-era example. 1953 Fender Stratocaster The Controversial Prototype, 1954 Fender Stratocaster The True Complete Guide, 1962 Fender Stratocaster The Full Complete Guide. Serial number range for the 64 Fender Stratocaster are generally Just out of our shop with a fresh neck reset! The codes on the potentiometers indicate the manufacturer, the year, and the week of the year that the part was made. Powered by Shopify. See the next year's 1966 Fender Stratocaster guitar. cfh@provide.net, See the previous year's 1963 Fender Stratocaster guitar. On January 4, 1965, Leo Fender sold ownership of the company to CBS. Kluson Deluxe (where "Kluson" and "Deluxe" are now in two vertical parallel lines). which is now sprayed in addition to the yellow body dye, and is far less Since 1954, the Fender Stratocaster has set the bar for the electric guitar. I am a private vintage guitar collector (not a store), and you can contact me at Back to the main Fender Vintage Guitar Info webpage. Contact Us, 254 Cleveland Avenue South St. Paul MN 55105 | phone: (651) 699-1913 | email: info@williesguitars.com This transitions in with the 1/4 fingerboard dots converting to pearl first, followed by the smaller side dots becoming pearloid. This change, and the enlargement of the Strat's peghead signify the end It has the original clay dot position markers of the pre-CBS era, but the 19th fret marker has been replaced with white plastic. the "large peghead" Strat). neck plate). Often the film of the headstock Fender Stratocaster decal is much larger. The serial numbers on these plates began at 100000. There was also a major change to the look of the guitar. A very 'Straty' Strat - if you can imagine - round, fat, and clean, lots of hop and pop, strong sustain, and particularly rich. email: info@williesguitars.com 1964 and 1965 brought a number of changes to the Fender Stratocaster (and none of them good). Only 243 melody makers left the factory in 1960 and Please call us and we will calculate shipping cost to your location and assist you with your purchase. Originality and condition are the two most important features of a vintage Fender We ship Worldwide. While both tone pots are original, the volume pot has been changed to a modern CTS, and this guitar has a five-way switch. Copyright 2022 True Vintage Guitar The contouring of the body is now even less dramatic, especially on the right forearm. If you've never taken the neck off of a vintage Fender then you'll want to have a professional guitar technician do this part of the inspection. Broadcaster Company bought Fender in January 1965) are the most collectible. Do you have a '65 Fender Stratocaster you would like to sell? Dates are often seen on the bottom of the gray pickups in either a black hand-written pen or in a yellow ink stamp. Contouring of the body is even less dramatic, especially at the right forearm. 1964 Fender Stratocaster Exposed Are They Worth The Money? Versatile and expressivebut originally conceived as an affordable, workingman's instrumentthe Stratocaster has become ubiquitous across all genres of music as a Swiss-army-knife guitar. black hand-written pen, or in a yellow ink stamp. Lake Placid blue (yellowed to almost Ocean Turquoise), and all-original. for help determining the year. choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. The 2nd string saddle appears to be a period-correct replacement. Often the "film" of the peghead "Fender Stratocaster" decal is much larger. Usually, the earlier the year the more valuable the guitar is. About 12/64 the "nail holes" are no longer present under the pickguard. It has a large stylized "F" logo underneath and six digits beginning with 10. A plastic white three-layer pickguard replaces the mint green celluloid (this happens around 12/64 to 3/65, though early style mint green celluloid pickguards can be found on some Strats throughout 1965). The Fender Stratocaster guitar is probably the most popular solidbody electric A tremendous Strat, the guitar sounds perfect, with excellent balance between the pickups as well as between the strings. Peghead Fender decal has 5 patent numbers (2,573,254 & 2,960,900 & 2,741,146 & 3,143,028 & 2,817,261). An exemplary mid-60s Strat! Back tothe Pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster Home Page. True Vintage Guitar comes to you from Birmingham, AL. L55000 to L99999 (on the neck plate). on some Strats throughout 1965). The effect makes this guitar look like someone tried to replicate the mid-'50s two-tone look. The transition decal stayed the same for the next 3 years. The maple fretboard was optional (2 piece neck, no skunk stripe). Other minor changes ensued, all to make the production of the Fender Stratocaster quicker (cheaper). The finishing procedure also changed Weighs in at 7 lbs 13 oz, comes complete with original hardshell case and original trem arm. Finding the year of a Fender Stratocaster is more than just using a Fender serial number lookup.