1959 was an important and highly evolutionary year for the Stratocaster because that's when slimmer necks, rosewood fingerboards and multi-ply laminated pickguards first appeared.
The American Vintage '59 Stratocaster presents two versions of that year's pivotal transitional model; one from early 1959 and one from later 1959. Both have the slim-profile D-shaped maple neck of that year, with the earlier version featuring a maple fingerboard and single-ply white pickguard with eight holes; the later version featuring a dark rosewood slab fingerboard and three-ply mint green pickguard with 10 holes and vintage-style edge bevels. Both also feature a lightweight alder body, aged plastic knobs and vintage-accurate pickups, bridge saddles, tuner spacing and more.
The American Vintage Series introduces an all-new lineup of original-era model year guitars that bring Fender history and heritage to authentic and exciting new life. With key features and pivotal design elements spanning the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, new American Vintage series instruments delve deep into Fender's roots-expertly preserving an innovative U.S. guitar-making legacy and vividly demonstrating like never before that Fender not only knows where it's going, but also remembers where it came from.
The American Vintage Series has long presented some of Fender's best-selling guitars (their early-'80s introduction, in fact, was one of the first signs that Fender was "back" as the CBS era ended). Today, Fender has boldly cleared the slate to make way for a fresh American Vintage series with new features, new specs and the most meticulous level of vintage accuracy yet. Rather than just replacing the previous models with different ones, they've completely and comprehensively re-imagined the entire vintage-reissue concept-restoring original tooling dies, voicing new pickups, reformulating vintage colors and more-based on actual vintage guitars they tracked down to make sure they had it right. Fender did the work, and it shows, because there's pure tonal magic in each new American Vintage instrument.
Includes case.
Own a piece of history. Order today.
SPECIFICATIONSAmerican Vintage '59 Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Series: American VintageBody Shape: Stratocaster
Body Material: Alder
Body Finish: New Fender Flash Coat Lacquer
Neck: Maple, "D" Shape
Neck Finish: New Fender Flash Coat Lacquer
Fingerboard: Slab Rosewood or Maple on (800) 3-Color Sunburst; Slab Rosewood on (806) Black, (872) Faded Sonic Blue
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" (18.41 cm)
Frets: 21, Vintage Style Frets
Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
Nut Width: 1.650 (42 mm)
String Nut: Bone
Truss Rod: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust
Pickups: New American Vintage '59 Strat Single-Coil Pickup (Bridge) New American Vintage '59 Strat Single-Coil Pickup (Middle) New American Vintage '59 Strat Single-Coil Pickup (Neck)
Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck) , Tone 2 (Middle and Bridge)
Hardware: Chrome
Tuning Keys: Single Line "Fender Deluxe" Vintage Style
Bridge: American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Control Knobs: New Aged White Strat
Pickguard: Single-Ply White on MN; 3-Ply Mint Green with Vintage Bevel on RW
Strings: Fender USA 250R NPS, (.010-.046 Gauges)
Incl. Accessories: Vintage '59 Strat Strap, Cable, and Cloth; Vintage 3-Position Switch, '50s Strat Information Kit, Bridge Cover, Owner's Manual, Saddle Height Wrench
Case/Gig Bag: New Deluxe Vintage Brown Case
Unique Features: Early-1959 model in faded Three-color Sunburst has slim-profile D-shaped maple neck and single-ply white pickguard with eight holes; Later 1959 model in faded Three-color Sunburst, Black and limited faded Sonic Blue has slim-profile D-shaped maple neck, dark rosewood slab fingerboard and three-ply mint green pickguard with 10 holes; All-new pickups wound to period-correct specs and sound; Vintage-accurate bridge saddles and tuner spacing
Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage
Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.
Gold Coverage Includes:
Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks Normal wear and tear Power surges Dust, internal heat and humidityOther plan features include:
For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks) For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax. Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold Plans are renewable on new gear*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details
Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.
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I have played my fair share of Strats and other guitars, I haven't ever played a real vintage 50's/60's start, so I am not comparing this strat to those. But this is what I can say, I went to the guitar shop, traded some stuff in for a Fender American Deluxe V-neck guitar, I got the guitar home and when I plugged in and turned up I realized that I did not like the N3 pickups at all. I went for the Deluxe in the first place because I liked the V neck a lot, and thought that the noiseless pickups would be nice, and they did sound good too in the store at lower volumes, but when I cranked em up at home there was no magic. I went back to exchange it and picked up the 59' Vintage Reissue in black After I got home and was able to plug in and turn up and I was blown away, I still almost can't believe it. This is the best playing strat I have ever played. I've played a lot of strats and most of em' it semms you really have to work em to get the tone, and they can be tough somtimes to really get the speed going, I own a 2011 American Strat, which is great, I recently sold a 97 american start that was alright, and I have had numerous other strats in the past, and I have demoed upwards of 100, but this one takes the cake, very juicy tones.The D shaped neck gets slightly thicker up the neck, I really dig the vintage style frets, the pickups in this are apparently a custom shop job to replicate the 59' pickups, and these are also some of the best I have heard for a stat. You can really hear the strings, the bass is super crisp and well as the midrange, the highs really sing out and this guitar has a ton of sustain. I have lollar blackface pickups in my other strat and these pickups are just as good but slightly different. The guitar is pretty quiet also. All in all, for anyone that has the means, I would highly recommend this guitar
Fender American Vintage '59 Stratocaster Electric Guitar 3-Color Sunburst Rosewood Fingerboard
.This beautiful Sonic Blue '59 AV Strat arrived (from another dealer - not musicians friend) with the nut-slots cut too high. This results in out of tune open chords. Rather than wait for the return process, I figured it was easy enough to set up myself but it was a lot of work. The nut slots had to be filed to the proper height and the neck required a shim. I've got the action reasonably low now but fret work will be necessary to get my preferred optimum very low level. I've had Mexi-Strats arrive with much better action and overall setup. Beyond that issue, this is a wonderful guitar. The tones are fantastic (I had the 3-position switch installed). The Sonic Blue is the most accurate reproduction of the color I've seen. It has the clay fret-board markers (or at least they are given the clay appearance). The case is a bit more narrow compared to modern G&G cases, again for period-correct accuracy. The original case candy is much fun.
Fender American Vintage '59 Stratocaster Electric Guitar 3-Color Sunburst Rosewood Fingerboard
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