Music

Fender Stratocaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1956), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 12490, two tone sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck, original tweed hard shell case. This is a "genuine relic" early Pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster, beautifully played-in over nearly seven decades but essentially unaltered. It dates to late 1956 and shows the results of the natural wear and ageing process, not the modern day "relic-ing" of hammers and sandpaper. It has a truly beautiful aged patina and vibe to spare, a wonderful example of this most iconic guitar's early incarnation. The body is dated 10-56 at the top edge of the trem cavity although the pencil work is a bit hard to read. It is made of alder, which replaced ash as the standard wood on sunburst Fenders by the middle of that year. The body finish is very thin lacquer with the subtly blended 2-color sunburst of the period. The neck date is a clear 10-56, penciled upside down in very small digits on the heel; we have seen a few others marked just like this from the same period. The neck contour leans to the "V" profile most associated with 1957, with less "meat" to the sides than an earlier '56 would generally have. The string tree on the headstock is the newer "butterfly" type over the classic "spaghetti" Fender logo decal. The early ABS plastic parts are all original, retaining their white gloss even with some visible weathering. Internally the wiring is all original with matched pots, the visible date is to the fifth week of 1956. All three pickups are fully original and sound fantastic, with a particularly great bridge/middle "twang" combination. This Stratocaster has come down through the years well played but largely unchanged except for an old refret, retaining its original character. Plugging it in reminds us why the world fell in love with the Strat to begin with and so many of them got played into the ground over the last 70 years! This one has decades of music already played on it and lots more remaining. Overall length is 38 1/4 in. (97.2 cm.), 12 1/2 in. (31.8 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.)., 7.39 lbs. This 68 year old Stratocaster is a "real relic" showing a lot of genuine play wear but still a fantastic instrument with a killer vibe and great sound. The all-original 2-tone body finish has an extensive collection of dings, dents and chips, most noticeably a worn-through arm wear spot on the top and some fairly serious belt-buckle wear to the back. The back of the neck has some general wear, as does the fingerboard but all finish remans original. The maple fingerboard was refretted (It looks like a long time ago) with appropriate-style wire; no '80s jumbos here! The board shows some small pulls and tool marks; the frets have some subsequent wear but still play well. The bone nut is a replacement as well. The headstock finish is in comparatively very nice shape and the original decal is very well preserved. All hardware is original externally and internally, including the pickups and wiring; none of the solder joints appear disturbed. There is some typical picking wear to the lower edges of the pickup covers but none are cracked or broken. The pickguard and trem backplate have some scuffing and scratching but no heavy wear, creaks or split corners. The bridge saddles have typical minor corrosion but nothing it heavily rusted and all the parts are adjustable as built. While showing signs of years of play and a probably unavoidable refret this '56 remains more original than many period Stratocasters, which were often heavily worn and then stripped, refinished, routed or otherwise modified through the '70s and 80s. Someone definitely played this guitar but left it as God and Leo intended down through the last nearly 70 years. We are thrilled to offer this super vibey maple neck Strat still residing in its original "knuckle buster" Tweed case with the "Koylon foam" tag intact under the cover. This is worn externally but fully solid and functional, though the latches no longer spring open they still close securely. Overall Very Good + Condition.

The Fender Stratocaster, debuted in 1954, stands as an iconic electric guitar renowned for its sleek design, versatile sound, and innovative features. With its contoured body, three single-coil pickups, and tremolo system, the Stratocaster has left an indelible mark on music history, spanning genres from rock and blues to pop and beyond.