When discussing the favorite instrument of guitarists, the Stratocaster often tops the list, and for good reason! Thanks to its playing comfort and immense versatility, the Strat can be used in any musical genre. This 1963 Stratocaster is a truly special piece, distinguished by its "Fiesta Red" refinish, a detail that gives this vintage guitar a unique story of its own.

The color is, of course, the first thing that catches the eye. While Fender finished most Stratocasters in "Sunburst" as a standard during the early 1960s, many guitarists were eager to stand out with a more striking finish. Consequently, this particular Stratocaster was refinished in "Fiesta Red", a color that gained immense popularity thanks to Hank Marvin of The Shadows.

During the period in which this Stratocaster was built, Fender was also experimenting with various specifications. By 1963, the model had been on the market for nine years, and the fretboard material had shifted from maple—the standard in the 1950s—to Brazilian rosewood. This instrument features a maple neck with a "veneer" (thin-profile) rosewood fretboard, inlaid with "clay" position markers; notably, the markers at the 12th fret still feature the "narrow spacing" characteristic of that era. The heel bears the stamp "2OCT63B," indicating a Stratocaster neck from October 1963 with a medium nut width. On the headstock, the original "spaghetti" logo has, unfortunately, partially worn away.

The three-ply mint-green pickguard which, as is typical for Stratocasters from the early 1960s, has shrunk slightly—houses three "Black Bottom" single-coil pickups, each with an output of around 6k ohms. Beneath the pickguard, there are two original Stackpole potentiometers dating from the 24th week of 1963, though the volume pot has been replaced. The original three-way pickup selector switch has also been swapped for a five-way switch. The guitar retains its original tremolo system, and the original Kluson "Single Line" tuners ensure reliable tuning stability. Additionally, the guitar has been refretted at some point, and the back of the neck has received an overspray over areas where the finish had worn away.

All of this makes this Stratocaster a magnificent vintage instrument, full of character and history!

This guitar has been carefully inspected for condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.