Bay Area Vintage Guitars is pleased to present this early CBS-era Fender Stratocaster in Olympic White — a genuine vintage Strat with an alder body, maple cap neck, and an honest story we want to tell upfront. The body and neck are all original, except for some prior routing work that was professionally reversed and cleaned up nicely.

The complete electronics have been replaced with a 2005 Fender Custom Shop loaded '65 pickguard — and we consider that an asset worth discussing, not just a footnote.

The 2005 Fender '65 Custom Shop pickguard is not a budget replacement. These are meticulously voiced reproductions developed by Fender's own master builders to replicate the specifications of original mid-1960s Strat pickups. The readings tell the story: Neck at 5.32K, Middle at 5.17K, Bridge at 5.13K. Nicely balanced across all three positions, with the kind of even, chimey response that makes every switch setting genuinely useful. This is a guitar that sounds right everywhere on the selector.

Plugged in, this Stratocaster delivers exactly what you'd want. The maple cap neck has a Medium C profile that plays fast and comfortably over long sessions, and the alder body rings with that full, balanced Strat resonance; warm in the low mids, clear on top, with excellent note separation. At 8.2 lbs, the guitar has solid mass that translates directly to sustain and a planted, authoritative feel that lighter vintage Strats sometimes lack. Olympic White on a maple neck is one of the most visually timeless combinations Fender ever produced. After 50-plus years, the finish has developed that warm cream-to-amber character that only time creates, and it looks stunning against the honey-toned maple board.

Serial number 382818 places this guitar in the early 1973 range (1972: 330,000–370,000 / 1973: 370,000–520,000) in the CBS-era F-series neck plate system. We are listing it as 1972–1973 to be fully accurate. This is a genuine early-70s American Stratocaster with all the build characteristics of the era: a large headstock, a three-bolt neck with micro-tilt, a bullet truss rod, and that distinctive full-feeling maple neck.

Condition: Very Good.

The Olympic White finish is in genuinely nice shape for a guitar of this age — more intact than you'd typically expect. The professional routing remediation is cleanly executed, and the finish touch-up in the cavities looks very nice. Frets are in very good condition with substantial playing life remaining. This is a player-ready vintage Strat with real visual appeal and an honest, transparent history.

Details:

• Year: 1972–1973 (Neck date: 72B; 1973 S/N 382818)
• Finish: Olympic White
• Body Material: Alder
• Neck Material: Maple
• Fretboard Material: Maple
• Neck Profile: Medium C
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Weight: 8.2 lbs
• Pickup Readings: Neck: 5.32K | Middle: 5.17K | Bridge: 5.13K
• Electronics: 2005 Fender '65 Custom Shop loaded pickguard (original electronics replaced)
• Modifications: Previous body routing professionally corrected and reversed; 2005 '65 Custom Shop loaded pickguard installed
• Frets: Very good, substantial life remaining
• Case: Newer Tweed Hardshell Case

Why Buy From Bay Area Vintage Guitars?

Bay Area Vintage Guitars specializes in authentic vintage and collectible guitars, amps, and gear with a focus on originality, accurate representation, and player-focused instruments. Every instrument we sell is carefully inspected and evaluated in detail.

We are players and collectors ourselves, and we understand how important trust and transparency are when purchasing vintage instruments online.

Shipping:

All guitars are professionally packed with extreme care and fully insured. We ship promptly and communicate throughout the process.

Please note that vintage instruments may require minor setup adjustments upon arrival due to changes in climate and humidity during shipping. This is completely normal and expected with vintage instruments.

International buyers are welcome. Please contact us prior to purchase for an accurate shipping quote.

If you have questions or would like additional detailed photos, feel free to reach out anytime.