Music

Fender Stratocaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1958), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 025083, three tone sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck, original tweed hard shell case. This is a beautiful example of an early three-tone sunburst Stratocaster in extremey fine condition. This superbly original Strat dates to the first quarter of 1958, several years after the model's introduction but a time when it was still the most futuristic fretted instrument on the market. JUST as this one was being assembled the Jazzmaster was in development; that model made its debut late in 1958 supplanting the Strat at the top of the line in the Fender catalog, but not in many player's hearts! The alder body sports the recently introduced richer 3-color sunburst lacquer finish which added a red layer to the previously more staid two-tone brown livery. It is dated 2-58 in the center pickup cavity; the great-feeling neck is pencil dated 3-58, some months after the 1956-7 "V" profile was superseded by a more subtle shaping, round-backed but still with the sides dressed away more than they would be in 1959. Both externally and "Under the hood" this Strat remains all original including a beautiful matched set of pots date coded to the 25th week of 1957. The pickups, wiring and solder joints remain original. All three pickups sound great, with the typical '58 shimmer and "quack" and the three-way switch has a very solid feel selecting the "in-between" tones easily. This guitar has apparently seen relatively little use but over the past 60+ years, avoiding the indignities that many old Fenders went through like refinishes, humbucker routs, jumbo refrets, and locking tremolos. It remains exactly as Leo and his crew intended, a versatile tone machine par excellence. It is simply a wonderful-feeling 7.23 Lb. guitar and a great reminder why the world fell in love with the Stratocaster in the first place. 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.)., 7.23 lbs. This beautifully preserved, fine-playing and sounding 65+ year old Stratocaster shows some fairly typical light wear but remains completely original with no alterations or repairs. The three-tone body finish shows very little fade with a strong blended red layer off the yellowish center. The untouched original lacquer has light checking and scattered small dings, scrapes, and dents. There is scratching into but not through the lacquer on the back upper horn area; maybe someone once wore overalls while playing it! The clear lacquer on the neck retains its original lighter color, not appreciably ambered or "smoked' appreciably with a few small dings and dents but no spots on the back worn through. There are a few relatively minor wear spots to the fingerboard in the first "Cowboy Chord" position; it looks like it was never played much past the 5th fret. The lower edge of the body end of the fingerboard has some very light strum wear through the thin lacquer. The headstock is quite clean with one deeper dink to the bottom edge; the original decal is extremely well preserved. The hardware and fittings are all original and complete including the Kluson tuners, pickups, switch, tone pots with "Chicklet" capacitor, single layer white pickguard, bridge, and saddles even the bridge cover, trem arm and back cover. The original white plastic pickup covers and knobs have less of a yellowed patina than many; this guitar was probably never played in a smoky environment as many were. There is very little corrosion on the saddles, screws and trem arm. Internally the masking tape has come a bit loose on the pickup leads, as far as we can see nothing has ever been disturbed under the pickguard. The solder joint on the volume pot is not as neat as the rest, but this is typical as it was done then the guitar was assembled, not at the bench when the guard itself was wired up. All three pickups are well balanced with a strong output and sound great, with some truly sublime "in between" Strat tones available from the easy-to-lodge original 3-way switch. The small-wore frets are original as well, showing light wear in the first positions and not much beyond. Based on the (relative lack of) fingerboard wear we would assume the guitar was simply not played that much beyond E, D, C, and G chords "back inna day". This is simply a beautiful, excellent-playing and sounding Stratocaster with a slightly less "glassy" tone than some '58s. It has a killer vibe, and resides in its relatively clean original tweed "knucklebuster" case. Overall Excellent 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.