Fender American Vintage 59 Stratocaster 3-Color Sunburst RW

General

The '59 Stratocaster is one of seven new models out of Fender's 2012 American Vintage series. This series comprises some of Fender's most coveted and influential guitars of the past sixty years. Every model is carefully hand-made according to the original specs and production method of the period, which in this case is 1959. The result is a high-quality American guitar with not just the looks but also the sound and feel of an original vintage guitar. The most important aspect is that you don't need to be a wealthy collector or take out a second mortgage to purchase a Fender American Vintage guitar. You will also receive an authentically styled brown case with replicate 'case candy' (accessories and paperwork) of that period.

Details of the American Vintage '59 Stratocaster

The late '59 Stratocaster was an important step in the development of the guitar that will later on be known as the legendary '62 Strat. It was the year that Fender switched the thick one-piece maple necks for more slender D-profile necks with a thick rosewood fretboard, providing the Strat with a fuller, warmer sound. The dark position markers in the fretboard were made of clay: also known as clay dots. Also, it was the first appearance of the multi-layered mint-green pickguards with edge bevels and ten-hole mounting (instead of eight) to counter warping. Other features of the Fender American Vintage '59 include a lightweight alder body with thin nitrocellulose Flash lacquer in a faded three-colour Sunburst but also the vintage-accurate tremolo bridge with 'Pat.Pend.' stamped steel saddles, single-line Fender deluxe machine heads and much, much more.

American Vintage series: more accurate than ever before

Along with the American Standard series, Fender decided to give the 2012 American Vintage series a massive update. It has been expanded with new, iconic '50s and '60s models that have a minute vintage accuracy. To get to this point, the guitar giant tracked down and studied specs and details of numerous original vintage guitars. Fender even brushed off the tools of the period to make the result as authentic as possible. Every model has been fitted with new pickups, especially wound after the specifications and sound of the vintage reference models. There's a good reason that these new models represent Fender's famed, 60-year long history in music.

• This guitar is also available in: Black, Faded Sonic Blue and 3-colour Sunburst with maple fretboard
• Please note: pictures 5 to 7 show the Faded Sonic Blue version and are for illustration purposes only. This is the 3-colour Sunburst version.