Fender Masterbuilt David Brown 1966 Stratocaster Olympic White/Journeyman

This '66 Stratocaster is the work of David Brown, and it’s a perfect example of what makes a Masterbuilt guitar special. The first thing you notice is feel - specifically, a neck that’s shaped just right, with rolled edges and flawless fretwork. It has the perfect mid-’60s taper, and like others we’ve seen from Dave, there’s a Lentz-like refinement in the way it plays and resonates (which, if you know us, is high praise as we're huge Lentz fans).

Unplugged, it’s snappy, loud, and impressively resonant. Plugged in, the Josefina-wound pickups deliver exactly what you want from a great Strat: clear, chimey highs, rich sparkle, and slightly compressed, clucky 2 & 4 positions that make rhythm work addictive. If you're the type who lives on the neck pickup, you're in for a treat. This position sounds phenomenal and delivers that classic glassy, slightly hollow, SRV-like tone with ease.

If you’ve ever been curious about single-luthier guitars but hesitant to step outside a big-name brand, this is the best of both worlds - custom-craftsmanship under the Fender banner. A lifetime-level Strat that delivers both pedigree and soul, and one we'd be more than happy to have in our personal collection.

• Specs//Body--2pc. Alder Body, Finish--Nitro lacquer, Color--Olympic White, Aging Level--Journeyman
• Hardware//Pickups--Custom Shop Josefina '66 Pickups, Controls--Volume/Tone/Tone/5-Way, Pickguard--3-Ply Parchment, Bridge--CS Vintage, Nut--Bone 1.65"
• Neck//Neck--Quarter Sawn Flame Maple, Fingerboard--Round laminated AAA Rosewood, Carve--'66 Oval C (.84-.974"), Radius--7 1/4" - 9 1/2" compound radius, Frets--6150 Medium Jumbo, Dots--MoP, Tuners--Fender vintage style
• Other//Weight--7lbs 14oz, Serial Number--R137966, Case--Original Hardshell w/CoA

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The Music Emporium has been a fixture of the Boston music community since 1968. We're a shop built by musicians - players, luthiers, photographers, and gear obsessives - and that shapes everything about how we do business.

Every instrument we ship is inspected and set up by our in-house guitar techs before it leaves the shop.

We're a Fender Showcase Dealer, Collings' largest dealer worldwide, and a Martin Custom Shop Expert Dealer. Our showroom is at 165 Massachusetts Ave in Lexington, MA.

Questions about any instrument are always welcome. We're happy to talk gear.