For many collectors, 1964 was an absolute peak year for Fender Stratocasters. CBS took control of the firm in early 1965, and the original quality associated with the brand eventually began to deteriorate. In some cases, the CBS-era drift towards more mass production techniques already started creeping in in late 1964. While changes such as a new headstock logo and a switch from clay to pearloid inlay dots can be found in some late '64 instruments, early and mid-'64 Stratocasters remain extremely sought-after guitars. In some ways the '64 Strat can be seen as the culmination of the initial era of Fender design and production.

Years of Production: 1954 - present

Unique to this Year: One detail that does vary within '64 Strats is the headstock logo. Early '64 Strats feature a thinner "Spagetti" Fender logo, while later guitars feature a bolder "Transition" logo. Also by later 1964, clay inlay dots were replaced by ones made from Pearloid. 

Body Style: Solidbody 

Wood Composition: Alder body, Maple neck with veeneer Rosewood fingerboard

Design Elements: Bolt-on neck, dot inlays, 3 single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector

Finish Specifications: Sunburst was a standard finish for '60s Fenders. Rare and custom finishes can substantially increase the value. 

Notable Players:  Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix