Fender Strat Plus – Surf Green – E4 – Rosewood – Near Mint OHSC – Free Shipping

It’s always nice to pull one of your favorite vintage guitars out of storage that is still in tune after not touching it for 5 years. This guitar needs to be played more!

There are three reasons that you will be interested in this guitar.

1. A Collectible Collectible-One of the best non-custom shop Fender series ever made by the crew that went on to create the Custom shop in one of the most collectible finishes: Surf Green (Fender’s “Million Dollar Finish” noted for generating a million in sales each time they offer it). The Strat Plus was responsible (along with the Elite Strat ‘83) to helping Fender restore the luster that was lost during the CBS.

2. Extraordinary condition-I could only find two small imperfections on the headstock edge and near the high E string post. I have owneed over 40 Strat plus over the years and this is one of the finest I have ever own. All original parts. No stress cracks.

3. Legacy of Players that loved Lace Sensors and played the Strat Plus. Clapton, and Beck all were huge fans of the original Lace Sensor and Strat Plus. Clapton and Beck later included Laces in their signature guitars. Gold Lace Sensors are known for a smooth, clear, chimey Strat voice with lower noise, a slightly compressed feel, and a more refined character than traditional vintage single-coils.

This is truly a holy grail Strat Plus up there with Dusty Rose, Bahama Green, and Fiesta Red.

If you want to learn more about Strat Pluses , I encourage you to check out Xhefri Guitars DOT com —amazing archival history of one of Fender’s best creations.

Description

Up for sale is a Fender Strat Plus in Surf Green with a rosewood fingerboard, Gold Lace Sensor pickups, Sperzel locking tuners, Wilkinson roller nut, original hard shell case, and free shipping.

This is the kind of early Strat Plus that gets serious attention from collectors: an E4-serial launch-era example in one of Fender’s most sought-after custom colors, with the classic first-generation Plus feature set buyers want. Fender’s 1987 Strat Plus documentation and Strat Plus reference sources consistently tie the early model to Gold Lace Sensors, TBX electronics, Sperzel locking tuners, and the Fender/Wilkinson roller nut, and E4 serial examples are generally associated with the 1987–1988 start of Strat Plus production rather than 1984.  

This guitar presents at a Near Mint / Mint level overall, with only two very small marks on the headstock keeping it from a stronger across-the-board Mint claim. For an early Surf Green Strat Plus, that is a very attractive combination of condition, color, and era. Please review all photos carefully for the exact cosmetic condition and to confirm what is included.

What Makes This One Special

This example stands out for a few important reasons:
• Early E4 serial Strat Plus from the launch era
• Desirable Surf Green finish
• Rosewood fingerboard
• Correct Gold Lace Sensor pickup set
• Sperzel locking tuners
• Wilkinson roller nut
• Original hard shell case included
• Presents in Near Mint / Mint condition overall with only two small headstock marks  

E4 / Early Strat Plus History

The Strat Plus was Fender’s late-’80s premium evolution of the American Stratocaster, introduced in 1987 with modernized features aimed at better tuning stability, lower noise, and more refined performance. Fender’s period documentation shows the early Strat Plus using Fender-Lace Sensor pickups, TBX tone control, and the Fender/Wilkinson Nut, while Strat Plus historians note that the earliest production run carried E4 serial numbers despite being built in the 1987–1988 period. That makes E4 Strat Plus guitars especially appealing to buyers who want a true first-generation example from the beginning of the model line.  

Specifications
• Model: Fender Strat Plus
• Era: 1987–1988 launch-era E4 serial example
• Finish: Surf Green
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Pickups: 3 Gold Lace Sensor single-coils
• Tuners: Sperzel locking tuners
• Nut: Wilkinson roller nut
• Electronics: TBX tone control
• Includes: Original hard shell case  

Tone & Character

The early Strat Plus formula gives you classic Strat feel with a more refined late-’80s Fender feature set. Gold Lace Sensors are known for delivering clear, chimey Strat-style tone with much lower noise than traditional single-coils, while the Wilkinson/Sperzel hardware package gives the guitar the stable, performance-oriented personality that made the Plus series so successful. It is a great fit for clean studio work, pop and rock session playing, country, Americana, and players who want Strat clarity with less hum and stronger tuning stability.  

Condition

Near Mint

This guitar presents extremely well overall. The only notable cosmetic issues are two small marks on the headstock. Otherwise, it is an exceptionally clean example for an early Strat Plus in a highly desirable finish. Please review all photos carefully for the exact cosmetic condition and to confirm what is included.

Shipping & Seller Info
• Shipping: Free within the U.S.
• Packaging: Professionally padded and packed to ensure safe delivery
• Includes: Original hard shell case
• Seller Reputation: I maintain a 100% positive rating and will work hard to keep it that way