Fender Stratocaster, Candy Apple Red (1964)

When you think "custom color Fender", chances are that Candy Apple Red pops up first. This pre-CBS 1964 Strat rocks it in a way we haven't quite seen before.

1964 Fender Stratocaster in original custom color Candy Apple Red just in on consignment!

If you're looking for a clean 60s Strat, we suggest you just move right along. If you're into the vibe of a played-in and perfectly worn Strat that practically plays itself, then keep reading.

This pre-CBS build features Fender's great Candy Apple Red finish, long considered the most popular and iconic red finish Leo offered. With its factory silver undercoat (which would change to gold the following year), it often ages with a slightly more pale and blushed look than what would follow into the latter half of the 60s. There's plenty of evidence of Fender's finish process on this one, and we love to see guitars like this that wear their age loud and proud. This guitar also shows some of the transitional features that were occurring later in the year, such as the newly introduced white 3-ply pickguard and a lone double line Kluson tuner mixed in with single line Klusons. The original pickups are of the grey bobbin variety, also introduced around the middle of the year, but more often found in these Fall and Winter builds. The neck pickup is dated 9-25-64 and signed by Mel, a Fender employee most associated with wiring and finally electronics assembly.

Still, it's true-to-form '64 in terms of tone and playability. It's remarkably resonant and punchy sounding acoustically, with prominent note definition up and down the neck. The pickups are bold and chimey, with a strong top end response to boot. The neck is perfectly worn in with rounded fingerboard edges and a recent pro refret.

We noticed reflowed solder on the neck pickup eyelets that suggest a repair/rewind to the coil, but the work looks older and clean at that. The guitar includes its original "no logo" black hardshell case as well.

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