Serial number #1099 is a well-known Fender Stratocaster, and this is why :

For years, a lot of people had been noticing this stunning looking Lake Placid Blue Strat, hanging on the wall behind Phil X at Fretted Americana USA while he was demoing with talent all those great axes. And so, upon many requests, he also made a few demos of the guitar, as well as a great Roxanne (The Police) cover, with his band the Drills (easily found on the web).

It has a very peculiar story too, which makes it very possibly the best playing and sounding alder-bodied Strat on the planet.

The guitar was born in 1954. The one-piece flamed maple neck was perfectly carved by genius luthier Tadeo Gomez in July of that year (signed TG 7-54). The 3 original pots are all stamped 304 429 (for Stackpole, September 1954).

It was purchased from the original owner in 1956 and played extensively by the 2nd owner, when he decided to have it refinished in 1963 in Lake Placid Blue at the Fender factory.

At the time, Fender didn't bother with details and found it easier (and probably cheaper) to swap the original battered ash body for a new alder one, without even letting the owner know. (He only discovered it decades later, when he decided to part away from his beloved guitar and brought it to Fretted Americana for expertise and sale.) So what we have here is an original 1963 Fender Stratocaster alder body with original Fullerton factory rare Lake Placid Blue metallic Custom Color finish (ie an L series era custom-colored body).

Fender also "refreshed" the plastic parts, frets, headstock logo and case, replacing them with 1963 counterparts.

All 1954 original hardware and electronics were conserved (including the tremolo springs, the "ashtray" bridge cover and the trem arm).

A few years ago, this wonderful guitar popped up in England, at a very reknown guitar dealer's and found its way across the channel to Brittany (France).

Today, we are very proud to offer it for sale on Reverb.

Fretted Americana (USA) and ATB Guitars (UK) already made a perfect job describing this wonderful instrument, so if you are seriously interested, it will be our pleasure to send all the info to you.

The guitar is in excellent general condition : the neck is pristine while the body shows the expected amount of wear, light dings and scratches for a 60+ year-old well-played instrument, but the Custom color has retained an amazing factory hue with no discoloration.

>> Pics of the elecs and inside of the guitar (and details, case..) are also available upon request.

Guitar comes with a rare 1963 Fender white tolex case with black leather ends (and dark orange plush interior) in excellent condition (although sporting an added nail and a glue touch-up..). This is a different case than the 1963 brown tolex case featured in the past, because the orange plush lining had become very harsh on one side and could have deteriorated the finish.

Also comes with original Fender vintage strap, jack cable and cloth.

--- Free worldwide shipping. Will ship triple-boxed and fully insured ---