1966 Fender Stratocaster

This early CBS-era Strat features the iconic "big" headstock and is all original complete with an original Fender "Body-Guard." In excellent condition overall, with body dings and a patina from age/use. The medium-C profile neck stamped "13DEC65B" is on the thinner side and feels comfortable to play with minimal effort. The original single-coil pickups sound GREAT producing a clear, bell-like tone with signature Fender midrange scoop and attack, complemented by warm acoustic resonance for a quintessential vintage Strat tone! Includes original hardshell case.

Check out the feature from our luthier Tyler in the ECG Newsletter:

"People often ask us our opinions on how to safely navigate the inevitable ups and downs of the vintage guitar market. While nothing in life is 100% sure, we always give them a similar answer: buy an iconic model that is original as possible and as clean as possible, and you will almost certainly make money. This particular Strat happens to be a perfect example of the kind of guitar we’re talking about. 

 This 1966 model is 100% original and about as clean as we’ve ever seen. This is likely due in part to the previous owners’ religious use of a “Body Guard.” This was a Fender invention of the 60s, a clear molded plastic shell that slid onto the back of the instrument to mitigate any rear end damage. Ironically, these musical prophylactics typically reacted poorly with the guitar’s finish, and caused much more harm than good. By some miracle, this Strat was able to avoid this fate, and remains virtually like-new. 1966 was a unique year of transition for the model, moving forward towards the 70s with features like the large headstock, but remaining thoroughly pre-CBS in terms tone and craftsmanship. This one even has a December ’65 neck date along with a number of earlier features that make this example even more special. Truly a museum-quality piece, I can’t imagine a finer example of a ’66 Strat being unearthed without the use of a time machine." - Tyler Geske, ECG Newsletter