1965 Fender Stratocaster, Fiesta Red

A particularly special and exceptionally clean transition model, this 1964/65 Fender Stratocaster in it's original Fiesta Red finish is a superb custom colour example from one of the most desirable periods of Fender production. Finished in its original Fiesta Red over a white undercoat on a yellow-dyed alder body, it has all the hallmarks collectors hope to see, and on inspection this one presents remarkably well throughout. With its transition logo, small headstock, rosewood fingerboard with clay dots, white three-ply guard and L-series neck plate, it captures a narrow crossover period as CBS gradually introduced changes to the model.

Visually, the guitar is stunning. It is an impressively clean and honest example, complete with its original case and tags, and appears to have lived it's life mainly in inside it's original case. The neck is dated October 1964, with three matching CTS pots dating to the first week of 1965 and all three grey-bottom pickups initialled and dated January 1965.

Constructionally and cosmetically, everything here points the right way. The body shows the correct white undercoat beneath the Fiesta Red topcoat, with the yellow-dyed alder body visible in the pocket as expected. The neck pocket looks excellent, the three nail holes are present and correct, and the routing details are all very reassuring, right down to the fuzz in the worm route. There is masking tape remnants in the neck pocket too revealing the white undercoat as is often seen, and the overall impression under the guard is of a guitar that has escaped the sort of invasive work so many others of this age have suffered. Even the neck bolts are notably tight, suggesting it has not been repeatedly apart over the years.

Under the guard, the three grey-bottom pickups are exactly what you would want to find. They're all hand-dated and initialled MH (neck/middle) and AS (bridge), and the eyelet solder all looks right. The pickup readings are strong and healthy at 5.98k on the neck, 5.2k in the middle and 6.3k at the bridge. Sonically, these transition-era grey-bottom Strat pickups tend to have all the sparkle, woodiness and dynamic attack of the best sixties examples, with that unmistakable top end and punchy mid.

The trem claw solder looks spot-on and appears original, with correct-looking flux that fluoresces properly under UV. Overall the electronics present very well, and the three matching CTS pots dating to early 1965 tie everything together exactly as they should, and the original three-way switch remains in place.

Hardware and plastics all appear correct. It retains the right single-line Kluson tuners, original tremolo block, correct backplate with all five springs intact, white pickup covers, knobs, and the correct white three-ply pickguard.

In the hand, the neck offers a nut width of 42.2mm, with a depth of 20.8mm at the first fret and 24.7mm at the twelfth, giving it a comfortable and substantial mid-sixties feel without being oversized.

Overall, this is a superbly preserved and highly desirable Fiesta Red Stratocaster from one of the most collectable periods in Fender history. A serious collector-grade custom colour example complete with original case, hang tags (showing matching serial number), polish cloth and allen key. Stunning!