1982 Fender Fullerton American Vintage '62 Stratocaster 100% Original w/ Hangtags, Case

Up for sale, a 1982 Fender Fullerton-era American Vintage '62 Stratocaster in collector-grade, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with every hangtag and piece of case candy, as well as the original tweed hardshell case. The Fullerton factory era of Fender vintage reissue production was very brief, lasting only from 1982-84, when Fender was still manufacturing their guitars on the same machines that made the originals back in the '50s and '60s. These models marked the birth of the American Vintage line of instruments, and were the very first vintage reissue guitars ever offered by the Fender company (when in this case the model they were replicating was only 20 years old). While Fender would later move to a new factory in Corona, CA in 1985, the Fullerton-made guitars are highly prized for their rarity, tone, and connection to the origins of the Fender company.

Tonewoods include an alder body, maple neck, and slab rosewood fretboard, and the guitar's natural acoustic response has great clarity with treble sparkle and woody cut. Via the optional five-way pickup selector switch included with the guitar from the factory (original three-way switch also included), everything from snappy twang to "in-between" position quack to singing lead line girth is at the player's fingertips. This Strat weighs 7lbs 7oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 9-42 strings, spot-on intonation, and easy-playing action.

The maple neck is slender and fast-feeling, splitting the difference between a C-shape with slight shoulders and a soft V shape, measuring .800" deep at the 1st fret and .860" at the 12th. The slab rosewood fretboard has a 7 1/4" radius, retaining the original slender frets which have their full factory height and well-rounded crowns, showing just a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-4. The guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2" scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1.650" in width. On the headstock, the original waterslide Stratocaster decal is intact, and the Kluson-style tuning machines turn smoothly and hold pitch well. The pencil date on the neck heel is only partially (and faintly) visible, and the heel and pocket retain a couple additional factory markings.

All of the electronics work as they should, with the original trio of black bobbin pickups with staggered alnico pole pieces and cloth-covered leads. The harness is completely stock, with the optional five-way pickup selector included with this model from the factory (three-way also present in the case), a large Sprague tone cap, and CTS pots which date to the 26th week of '82. Hardware includes the four-bolt neck plate with early V-prefix serial number, jack plate, and the vibrato unit which is currently setup with three springs for easy actuation. All of the plastic parts are original as well including the gently yellowed pickup covers and knobs, and a three-ply parchment pickguard.

The three-tone Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer gloss finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, and cosmetic wear is limited to some small dings and finish scuffs on the body as a whole, largely on the back and lower bout on top, with one small area of light buckle rash at the bass-side edge of the belly carve. The ambered gloss lacquer finish on the neck profile is nigh-flawless.

The original tweed hardshell case is included, along with every single original hangtag and piece of case candy.