Fender American Vintage ’59 Stratocaster – Maple Fingerboard – 3-Color Sunburst

Model 0111602800 | Original Deluxe Vintage Brown Case | Complete Case Candy

A superb example of Fender’s American Vintage ’59 Stratocaster, finished in 3-Color Sunburst and featuring the less commonly encountered maple fingerboard.

This is Fender’s early-1959 specification: the transitional version of the ’59 Strat with its one-piece maple neck/fingerboard, classic 3-Color Sunburst finish, single-ply eight-hole white pickguard and period-correct vintage appointments. The maple-fingerboard ’59 was offered specifically in the Sunburst configuration, making it one of the more distinctive versions of Fender’s 2012–2017 American Vintage series.

These American Vintage instruments were conceived as exceptionally faithful production-line recreations of original-period Fenders. The ’59 combines an alder body with Fender’s thin Flash Coat lacquer finish, a 25.5" scale maple neck, 7.25" fingerboard radius, 21 vintage-style frets, bone nut, three American Vintage ’59 Stratocaster single-coil pickups and a vintage-style synchronized tremolo.

The guitar is currently fitted with a NO-MOD set of locking tuners, giving the convenience and stability of modern locking machines without requiring permanent alteration to the instrument. Original Fender vintage-style tuners are present in the case and included with the sale, so the guitar can readily be returned to its factory specification.

The guitar comes in its original Deluxe Vintage Brown hardshell case and retains EVERY piece of original case candy supplied with the guitar. This includes the original Fender paperwork and manuals, tags, ’50s Stratocaster information material, vintage 3-position switch, Fender strap, cable, polishing cloth, bridge cover, tremolo arm and setup accessories, together with the original tuners. The rear tremolo cover/backplate and its screws are also present. Please see the photographs, which show the accompanying material in detail.

Condition: Very Good. This is a played guitar rather than a case queen and has the cosmetic marks to show for it. There are various light scratches and scuffs together with several small finish dings/chips around the body, plus normal signs of age and use to the hardware and plastics. I have photographed these areas closely and under direct light so that their extent can be judged accurately. Nothing has been hidden or dressed up for the photographs.

The thin lacquer finish used on this generation of American Vintage instruments is part of their appeal and develops character much more readily than a heavy modern finish. Consequently, this example has acquired genuine player wear while still presenting extremely attractively overall. The Sunburst remains rich and vibrant and the maple neck gives it the unmistakable appearance of an early-1959 Strat.

For somebody looking for one of Fender’s most convincing non-Custom-Shop vintage reissues, this is an especially appealing package: the early-’59 maple-board specification, original case, complete factory case candy, all original tuners retained, and a completely reversible practical tuner upgrade.

Please study all photographs as they form part of the condition description. Additional photographs or information are happily provided on request.