1954 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Small headstock (normally with soft edges), two-tone sunburst finish, one piece maple neck with skunk stripe and 7.25" fingerboard radius, 4-bolt neck attachment with serial number (very early instruments have the serial number on the tremolo cover), "bakelite" pickup covers and control knobs, tremolo cover has round string holes, round string tree, 8-screw single layer white vinyl pickguard, "spaghetti"-style headstock logo decal, two-piece tremolo with adjustable saddles stamped with "Fender Pat Pending", Kluson tuners with no name on them. Notes: First year of the Fender Stratocaster. Expect some variation in contours due to hand finishing. Early models will have slightly different volume/control knobs called "tallboys" (taller and thinner than the subsequent "bakelite" knobs). The "bakelite" mentioned in connection with Stratocasters is not actually bakelite, rather an experimental thermo-plastic.
	Type: 1954 Stratocaster prototype
	Serial #: Not applicable
	Remarks: In February 2005, owner Jerry Madderra showed pictures of this 'old Stratocaster body' on the Fender Discussion Pages. He didn't quite know what it was, nor what to do with it. The weird thing was that it had a 3-spring tremolo cavity. It turned out to be an extremely unique prototype that also happened to have been pictured in the "Fender - The Sound Heard 'Round the World" book, a fact discovered by FDP user Richardb64! To read the thread, Click here. To view the page made by Electron (at the FDP) that proves that Jerry's guitar and the one in "Fender - The Sound Heard 'Round the World" are one and the same, click here.
Above photo credits: The owner, Jerry Madderra.
	Type: 1954 sunburst Stratocaster
	Serial #: 0387
	Remarks: I don't know about you, but this guitar looks beautiful, especially considering its age, and has beautiful wood grain.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1954 sunburst Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This is George Fullerton's 'special Stratocaster' as pictured in his book (see bibliography). It has beautiful wood grain, and a flamed sunburst headstock. Note the unusual configuration of the controls and the metal part of the pickguard. A fascinating instrument.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from George Fullerton's "Guitar Legends - The Evolution of the Guitar from Fender to G&L" (see bibliography).
	Type: 1954 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: According to various dates found on the neck heel and control cavity, this one is from around June 1954. Ash body, 2-tone sunburst.
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction
	Type: 1954 Stratocaster
	Serial #: 10xx
	Remarks: This is a Stratocaster from the first year of production, with a neck date of August 1954. Two piece ash body, maple neck, 2-tone sunburst finish. I have to say this one looks impossibly pristine.
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction
	Type: 1954 sunburst Stratocaster
	Serial #: 0463
	Remarks: A very rare Stratocaster, neck date 7/54. Seriously beautiful flamed wood.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1954 Stratocaster
	Serial #: 6579
	Remarks: None
1955 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Small headstock with sharper edges than the 1954 model, two-tone sunburst finish, one piece maple neck with skunk stripe, 4-bolt neck attachment with serial number (very early instruments have the serial number on the tremolo cover), "bakelite" pickup covers and control knobs, tremolo cover has oblong string holes, round string tree, 8-screw single layer white vinyl pickguard, "spaghetti"-style headstock logo decal, two-piece tremolo with adjustable saddles stamped with "Fender Pat Pending", Kluson tuners with no name on them.
	Type: 1955 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: None
		Type: 1955 Stratocaster
		Serial #: 6734
		Remarks: Neck date is 7-55, and the white finish was a factory refinish (late 50's or early 60's). Various other bits have been replaced, including the control knobs, frets (a refret), pickguard and Gotoh exact Kluson replica tuners.
Above photo credits: The owner, Claude V. Lucas
	Type: 1955 2-pickup Stratocaster
	Serial #: 7070
	Remarks: An extremely rare 2-pickup Stratocaster.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1955 blonde Stratocaster
	Serial #: 10268
	Remarks: A very rare Stratocaster on account of its unusual pickguard with the metal part and the strange controls configuration.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
1956 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Same as 1955 until changes start appearing in the summer of 1956: alder body instead of ash (except for the blonde finish that remains ash), rectangular string tree replaces the round tree, in October the neck profile becomes a "soft V", tuners now say "Kluson Deluxe".
		Type: 1956 Stratocaster
		Serial #: Unknown
		Remarks: None
Above photo credits: From the former Strat Collector site
1957 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: "Bakelite" pickup covers and knobs are replaced by vinyl (early '57 instruments may have a mix of bakelite and vinyl), neck profile becomes a more pronounced "V".
	Type: 1957 sunburst 'lefty' Stratocaster
	Serial #: 23881
	Remarks: Beautiful specimen of a southpaw sunburst Stratocaster. Looks really good despite its age (it was 40 years old when photographed).
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1957 gold Stratocaster
	Serial #: 17051
	Remarks: I guess it's all a matter of taste, but I think this very rare guitar is butt-ugly and kitch. Still, it's the one that went on the front and back cover of Yasuhiko Iwanade's excellent book so he must have thought otherwise. Gold hardware, gold colour.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1957 One-Of-A-Kind Lucite Stratocaster
	Serial #: 26860
	Remarks: This is the famous one-of-a-kind lucite (a kind of hard, transparent plastic) Stratocaster. It has quite some history. It was commissioned by Don Randall, for marketing purposes. It weighs 18 pounds. It was first displayed at the 1957 Summer NAMM. Originally it had gold-plated hardware, though this was all replaced by chrome in later years to keep the guitar looking new. After the CBS-sale the guitar was modified even more, including a CBS neck plate and serial number (now apparently 77958). Bill Carson had it is his collection for a long time, and then sold it to collector John Sprung (he of the Fender Amp book) who was trying to put it back in pre-CBS condition but sold it to a private collector. The picture was taken when the guitar already had chrome hardware, but it still has the pre-1959 8-screw pickguard. Read more... Note that there are companies that make see-through plastic guitars of all kinds (including Stratocasters). In general you can recognise these by dint of the regular wooden necks.Click here for an example of such a guitar.
Above photo credits: The picture was most horribly purloined off The Fender Europe site.
1958 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Two-tone sunburst becomes three-tone sunburst, adding the color red, neck profile becomes a "D".
	Type: 1958 blond Stratocaster
	Serial #: 028248
	Remarks: This is without a doubt the most beautiful blond Strat I've ever seen. The wood very subtly shows through. And its condition is most pristine. If only human blondes aged this well :-)
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1958 or 1959 Special Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: Buddy Merrill disliked the glare of his white scratchplate in the camera lens when performing with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra on TV. So he asked Leo Fender to make this special instrument with a dull aluminium scratchplate. Also notice the very unusual (some would say "botched" :-) sunburst finish.
Above photo credits: Supplied by Bob Hewitt.
1959-1960 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Rosewood fingerboards introduced at the Summer NAMM Show in July, 1959. They feature a rosewood "slab" fingerboard glued to a maple neck, a "mint green three-layer celluloid pickguard, 11 pickguard screws (variations exist in the early '59 rosewood slabboards), and the string tree now has a metal spacer at the bottom. Notes: Some 1959-1960s may appear to be two-tone sunburst due to the red having faded. Corrected in 1961. About rosewood slab boards: From their introduction at the summer NAMM Show in 1959 until mid-1962, the rosewood fingerboards were of a slab construction. The top of the maple neck was planed flat as was the corresponding bottom of the rosewood fingerboard. From 1962 the two surfaces were given a curvature, reducing the thickness of the fingerboad. Also note the lack of a date on the neck heel.
	Type: 1959 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This is a 1959 rosewood transitional 10-hole white pickguard model.
1961 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Headstock logo decal now has two patent numbers: 2,573,254 and 2,741,146.
	Type: 1961 'lefty' Stratocaster
	Serial #: 45408
	Remarks: A very nice and well-aged lefthand custom colour black Stratocaster with gold hardware.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
1962 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Headstock logo decal now has three numbers: 2,573,254, 2,741,146, and 2,960,900. Notes: From the spring of 1962, neck heels received a "stamped" date - no more dates in pencil. The first image (use 'read all' link) is a good example of a slab board. Note how the bottom of the rosewood fingerboard is straight across and not arched. Compare this to the non-slab fingerboards (use 'read all' link) shown in 1963.
	Type: 1962 Stratocaster
	Serial #: 70957
	Remarks: Early slab fretboard. Neck dated January 1962. Nut and bridge not original. If you look carefully below the bridge you will see a signature...it's B.B. King's. Well hey :-)
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction
	Type: 1962 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This is a 'hardtail' (no tremolo) model.
	Type: 1962 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This colour is Inca Silver.
	Type: 1962 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: The colour is Fiesta Red.
Above photo credits: Richard Zand-Vliet at Ric's Vintage Guitars.
1963 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Rosewood "slab-board" changed to curved, non-slab rosewood fingerboard (see images using the 'read all' link). Body contours less pronounced. Pickguard screw by the middle pickup moved half an inch toward the neck in around March.
	Type: 1963 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: Alder body, three-tone sunburst, rosewood neck, three-way switch.
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction
	Type: 1963 Stratocaster
	Serial #: L 05370
	Remarks: This guitar has an interesting history. It started life with a salmon-pink finish and was then allegedly owned by Jimi Hendrix. Musician and Hendrix historian Tony Brown bought it in the early 80's and refinished it white. Regardless whether the story is true and the dating correct, it's a beautiful white Strat :-)
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction
	Type: 1963 Stratocaster
	Serial #: 33633
	Remarks: Daphne blue custom colour with tortoise shell pickguard.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1963 Stratocaster
	Serial #: L 10425
	Remarks: This strat has a very weathered (It appears to be the original) see through blonde finish (like early teles) over a very nice ash body a maple neck, a gold anodized aluminum pickguard and 60's pickups. The neck has been refretted and refinished and the tuners have been replaced with Grover Kluson repros.
Above photo credits: Gracefully made available by Anubis Spire, with permission.
	Type: 1963 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This colour is Shoreline Gold.
	Type: 1963 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: Another Shoreline Gold model.
1964 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: Winter-summer of 1964, no changes. Fall of 1964: Headstock logo decal changes to "transition" logo - thicker gold script and four patent numbers: 2,573,254, 2,741,146, 2,960,900, and 3,143,028, pearl fingerboard dots replace clay, mint green pickguard replaced by white pickguard on some late 1964s, the name "Kluson Deluxe" on the tuners now takes up two lines as opposed to the previous "single line" name stamp, pickup bottoms are gray instead of black, and the metal spacer below the string tree becomes white plastic. Notes: When the transition specs appear the sunburst takes on a slightly different look, especially noticeable in the yellow.
	Type: 1964 Stratocaster
	Serial #: L 33676
	Remarks: This black Stratocaster has gold-plated hardware, factory jumbo frets, U-shaped neck, Kluson tuners. The dates on neck, etc. are around July 1964.
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction
	Type: 1964 Stratocaster
	Serial #: L 16578
	Remarks: This particular Stratocaster has the original tortoise-shell pickguard.
1965 STRATOCASTER CHARACTERISTICS Specs: For most of 1965, logo decal now has five numbers: 2,573,254, 2,741,146, 2,960,900, 3,143,028, and 2,817,261. Late 1965: See 1965 CBS Stratocaster. Notes: Optional maple fingerboard offered: two piece maple neck (unlike earlier single piece maple necks) and no skunk stripe. Late 1965 (possibly as late as December): Transition to large headstock.
	Type: 1965 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: Maple neck with ebony fingerboard.
Above photo credits: An Ebay auction
	Type: 1965 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This is faded Olympic White.
	Type: 1965 Stratocaster
	Serial #: L 57111
	Remarks: Olympic White custom color Stratocaster with tortoise shell pickguard and rosewood fretboard. Gold plated hardware.
Above photo credits: This picture was scanned from Yasuhiko Iwanade's "The Galaxy of Strats" (see bibliography for details on this amazing book).
	Type: 1965 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This is Firemist Gold.
	Type: 1965 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: This is a fine mint sunburst model.
	Type: 1965 Stratocaster
	Serial #: Unknown
	Remarks: None.

Please report dead links, possible copyright infringements or guitar-related info to the maintainer of these pages, Richard Karsmakers.