1960 Fender Stratocaster- Features and Authentication
1960 Fender Stratocaster I purchased in Augusta, Maine
Do you have a Fender Stratocaster from the 1960s you’re interested in selling? Contact me
Last spring, I was thrilled to get in contact with the nephew of this original 1960 Fender Stratocaster in Maine. The amount of wear on it blew me away, and I knew I needed to have it in the shop. I was happy to make the 2.5 hour drive each way to Augusta, Maine in order to do the deal in person. This one came and went very quickly, but it’s too cool not to share!
The seller’s uncle bought it brand new as a teenager in 1960. He was in a wedding band and played it for many gigs over the years. So many gigs that eventually he wore through the top layer of the pickguard, and into the black layer!
1960 Fender Stratocaster Features
The 1960 Stratocaster has all of my favorite features on a vintage Strat. The slab board fretboard was introduced by Fender in 1959, and by mid 1962, they switched to using a veneer rosewood fretboard. The slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard on this example was beautiful and dark. I was amazed by how much play wear the fretboard had on it, the original owner must have had long fingernails!
The 1960 Fender Stratocaster also features a beautifully greened out mint 3 ply pickguard, slim early 60s neck profile, 3 single coil black bottom pickups, clay dot inlays, and a slab fretboard with a 7.25 inch radius. These features are some of the most desirable features for vintage Stratocasters. This one has a Canadian export case, which has seen better days but is still very cool to see.
1960 Stratocaster Authentication
This Stratocaster had some modifications over the years, making it a grade example of a player grade pre-CBS Strat. It had a 5-digit serial number, typical for vintage Fenders of this era. Read more about how to date a vintage Fender here.
I found that the body had been cracked at one point and glued. This job was done well, so the body luckily remains very solid. Despite this repair, all finish is original to the guitar. Since all of the finish had been worn off the back of the neck, it was very smooth and felt incredible to play. I found this guitar to be one of the best-playing and sounding vintage Stratocasters I have experienced.
When I took it apart, I was excited to find a neck date which read 5-60 marked in pencil. Not all 1960 Fender Stratocasters have neck dates on the heel, but some do. I also found that the guitar had been routed to accommodate two extra switches, one to turn on the neck pickup in the bridge position, and another that was no longer connected to the electronics. I was thrilled to find that other than the added switches, all electronic components were original to the guitar.
Pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster Buyer
I am always interested in buying Fender Stratocaster guitars made in the 1960s. Looking for where to sell a vintage Stratocaster? Just looking for an insurance appraisal? You have come to the right place. Contact me to sell or appraise your 1960s Fender Stratocaster.
You can reach me at:
Phone: 603-921-7449
Email: rainydayvintageguitars@gmail.com