1964 Fender Stratocaster, Sunburst

A super clean pre-CBS example, finished in a wonderfully vibrant 3-tone sunburst with a strong amount of red still present. This is a particularly attractive guitar that has clearly been well looked after over the years.

This example comes a few months before the CBS takeover of Jan '65. Features include the small headstock and transition logo, rosewood fingerboard with clay dot markers and the correct narrower 12th fret dot spacing. The neck is stamped AUG ’64 with a comfortable medium C profile, measuring 41.6mm at the nut, with depths of 20.9mm at the 1st fret and 24.7mm at the 12th, making it a very easy and familiar Strat to settle into, with a nice amount of thickness at the upper register great for lead playing and string bends. Original frets are still present and retain plenty of height, and the nut is correct too.

Under the hood, this one is equally impressive. The electronics appear stock, with three correct CTS pots all dating to the 22nd week of 1964, and the wiring presenting exactly as it should. The three black-bottom pickups all appear correct, with the neck pickup retaining a yellow date stamp from August 1964. Output readings come in at 5.6k at the bridge, 5.51k in the middle and 6.1k in the neck. Overall it has a very well balanced sound with the rounded, woody and resonant qualities you want from a good ’60s Strat, with plenty of clarity and sparkle but without ever becoming thin or overly sharp. Whether it's clean playing, edge-of-breakup rhythm work or more vocal lead tones this one can handle it all with ease.

The rest of the spec is just as it should be, hardware and plastics are correct. Weighing 3.17kg, it is also a very comfortable guitar in the hands. Completing the package are the original bridge cover, trem arm and the correct no-logo black tolex case.

All in all a super clean, all original and great sounding 1964 Stratocaster from one of Fender’s most sought-after periods. It has the looks, the feel and the sound, with a lovely vibrant finish and all the right details to satisfy both player and collector alike.