Brand: Fender
Instrument Categories: Electric, Guitars, REDUCED, Solidbody
Showing distinct signs of having been used as intended, this Fender Stratocaster Sunburst was built during 1958 in Fullerton, California.
Introduced in 1954 as the successor to the Telecaster, work on the Fender Stratocaster began in 1951. One of the key goals was to compete with other brands like Bigsby whose models were or could be equipped with vibrato tailpieces. Rather than retrofit a newly designed part, Fender chose to design an entirely new instrument with the vibrato unit as a core feature.
The design of the Fender Stratocaster is based on the extremely successful Telecaster, with a one-piece Maple neck, having a walnut strip on the back covering the rear-mounted truss rod, bolted to an Alder or Ash body. The electronic components mount from the front, making assembly quick and easy. For the Stratocaster, the new bridge system required a large route through the body and into the back for the bridge block and springs.
For the 1958 model year, both the neck profiles and finishes changed. The necks shifted to a rounded ‘D’ instead of the pronounced ‘V’ profile, and the 3-colour sunburst appeared, adding a red component. At this time, finishes were still entirely nitrocellulose lacquer.
This wonderful 1958 Fender Stratocaster has had some work done over the years due to the realities of performance. It has been refretted, the original 3-way pickup selector has been replaced with a 5-way switch, and a number of saddle height screws have been replaced, as has one of the control knobs. The pickguard may have been replaced some years ago. The tuners bridge and pickups are original. The finish is entirely original, showing
Sold with a brown, slightly later hard shell case. In mid-1959, Fender moved away from Tweed coverings on cases to a brown tolex.
- Model: Stratocaster
- Year: 1958
- Finish Sunburst
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 31410, built during 1958 in Fullerton CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 28/11/2023
- Consignment Item
- Including Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 1.656lbs 3.48kg
- Scale Length: 25.5in 647.7mm
- Nut Width: 1.665in 42.31mm
