Is the 1965 Fender Stratocaster the culmination of the Golden Age of Strats?

Here at True Vintage Guitar, we have a great appreciation for Stratocasters and the small differences between each year that yield a different experience for the player. Stratocasters are the most versatile and best overall solid body electric guitars ever made, depending on who you ask of course! 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

Need help dating your Stratocaster?: How to date a Stratocaster

This clean 1965 Stratocaster and why we love it

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. I can tell that this guitar was played in the early years of its life but has since been stored away unplayed for decades. 

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. 

Our favorite part of the 1965 Stratocaster

Our favorite aspect of the 1965 Stratocaster has to be the pickups. The pickups in a 1965 Stratocaster consist of grey flatwork with date and signature wound with plain enamel wire. Most pickups during this time period sound slightly brighter, more open, and have just a bit more cut than earlier black bobbin pickups. Both are great, don't get me wrong, but the in between positions on a '65 Strat are some of the best Stratocaster tones ever. The extra bit of output and cut from the mid '60s Strat pickup makes the in between tones sounds just slightly more vibrant and 3 dimensional.

Is the 1965 Stratocaster the best value in vintage Fender?

1965 Stratocasters are the least expensive Strats that could be considered "pre-CBS", but they're also the best value. Consider the additional cost the buy a 1959 Fender Stratocaster with slab fretboard or even the holy grail 1954 Stratocaster with pre-production features. Are they great guitars? Absolutely! But are the as much better than a '65 Strat as the price increase might indicate? In our experience, the '65 Strat is a better value for those looking to invest more in their own playing experience instead of in an asset that appreciates in value.

More about the value of a vintage Stratocaster: Fender Stratocaster Values

If you're interested in selling your Stratocaster or any other Fender, Contact us here.