Here at True Vintage Guitar, we have a great appreciation for Stratocasters. They are the most versatile and best overall solid body electric guitars ever made, depending on who you ask. But if you ask me, I think the L Serial number Fender Stratocasters are peak. I'm especially fond of the examples made in Leo Fender's final year as the president of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, 1965. We recently had the privilege to acquire one of these examples, and it inspired us to show some much deserved appreciation for this brief period before CBS.
We love vintage Fender guitars made during the early and mid 1960s. You can contact us here if you're looking to sell one: Sell a Fender
If you're looking for help dating your Fender: Fender Serial Number Lookup
Let's get straight to the point. This is a 1965 Fender Stratocaster in its original sunburst finish. It remains 100% original from factory including, pickups, hardware, pots, electronics, and one of the cleanest examples we've ever seen. Other than typical faint scratches and a little neck wear, this example could be confused for a brand new guitar.
Here's why 1965 is cooler than you think. The 1965 Fender Stratocaster holds a special place in history as the final year before Leo Fender sold his company to CBS, marking the end of an era for the brand’s original craftsmanship. This was also the last year UNTIL the early 1980s that the Stratocaster featured the original size headstock, a defining characteristic of the pre-CBS models. Midway through 1964, Fender introduced the "transition" logo which was a bold, gold and black decal that bridged the gap between the infamous spaghetti logo and the later CBS-era branding. This makes the mid 1964 and 1965 examples INSTANTLY recognizable. With these details, the 1965 Fender Stratocaster represents the culmination of Fender’s golden age and the exclamation point at the end of a historic and innovative era.
If you're interested in selling your Stratocaster or any other Fender, Contact us here.
