This Fender Stratocaster captures the same fearless experimentation that made Hendrix turn amplifier feedback and distortion from accidents into art forms, creating sounds that still influence players decades later.
When Leo Fender and his team unveiled the Stratocaster in 1954, they weren't trying to create a legend - they were solving practical problems that working musicians faced every night. The result accidentally became one of the most influential electric guitars ever made, and Fender's American Original '50s Stratocaster captures that original magic while addressing modern playability needs.
Here's what made the original Stratocaster revolutionary: that contoured ash body wasn't just comfortable, it was acoustically superior to the flat slabs that dominated the market. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish lets the wood breathe naturally, developing its own tonal character over time while aging in that distinctively personal way that makes each guitar unique. You're not just buying an instrument - you're starting a decades-long relationship that gets better with age.
Those Pure Vintage '59 single-coil pickups tell the real story. These aren't generic vintage-style pickups - they're specifically voiced to reproduce the authentic sound and performance of that particular model year. The clarity and articulation that made Stratocasters perfect for everything from country twang to blues bending to early rock experimentation comes through in every note. That five-way switching gives you the versatility to cover massive musical ground without switching guitars.
The thick "Soft V" neck profile represents thoughtful evolution. Fender took the original V-shape that some players found too sharp and smoothed it just enough to make it comfortable for both rhythm and lead playing. Combined with the 9.5" radius fingerboard - slightly flatter than the vintage 7.25" radius - you get comfortable fretting without losing that authentic feel. Those vintage-tall frets make note bending effortless while maintaining period-correct aesthetics.
Every piece of hardware, from the six-point synchronized tremolo to the single-line Fender Deluxe tuning machines, maintains vintage accuracy while delivering modern reliability. This guitar connects you directly to rock history while serving contemporary musical needs.
FEATURES
Ash body with lacquer finish
Three Pure Vintage '59 single-coil Stratocaster pickups
Thick "Soft V"-shaped neck profile; 9.5"-radius fingerboard
Vintage-style hardware; six-point synchronized tremolo bridge
Includes vintage-style hardshell case
LACQUER FINISH
The nitrocellulose lacquer finish not only lets the body breathe with its true tonal character, it also ages and wears in a distinctively personal way.
PURE VINTAGE ‘59 PICKUPS
American Original instruments feature specially voiced pickups crafted to reproduce the authentic sound and performance of individual model years.
THICK "SOFT V" NECK SHAPE
The thick “Soft V”-shaped neck slightly smooths the sharpness of a “V” profile, rounding it out so it’s more comfortable for rhythm and lead playing.
VINTAGE-ACCURATE BODY AND NECK RADII
Original-era fans can rest assured every curve and line of the body and neck are accurate to the historic originals.
VINTAGE-CORRECT HARDWARE
From the bridge to the string tree and tuning machines, every piece of hardware is just like the original.
FINGERBOARD & FRETS
This 9.5”-radius fingerboard is slightly flatter than a vintage-style 7.25” radius, providing a comfortable fret-hand feel. Vintage-tall frets make it easier to bend notes without fretting out.
BODY
Body Material: Alder
Body Finish: Gloss Lacquer
Body Shape: Stratocaster
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: Soft "V"
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard Material: 1-Piece Maple
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Vintage Tall
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays: Black Dot
Truss Rod: Vintage-Style Butt Adjust
Truss Rod Nut: Vintage-Style Slotted
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Pure Vintage '59 Single-Coil Strat®
Middle Pickup: Pure Vintage '59 Single-Coil Strat®
Neck Pickup: Pure Vintage '59 Single-Coil Strat®
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge/Middle Pickup)
Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup Position 3. Middle Pickup Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup Position 5. Neck Pickup
Configuration: SSS
HARDWARE
Bridge: Pure Vintage 6-Saddle Synchronized Tremolo
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Pure Vintage Single Line "Fender Deluxe"
Pickguard: 1-Ply Eggshell
Control Knobs: Eggshell
Neck Plate: 4-Bolt