Fender Stratocaster # L17163, Sunburst (1963)

$34,500.00
Payment Via Wire Transfer Or Check Required
Expedited Shipping Required
Contact For Purchase

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Product information

Supremely resonant and a broken in like an old baseball glove, this '63 Strat is exactly how we like to find them.

1963 Fender Stratocaster in original Sunburst finish just in!

This late '63 was built smack in the midst of some of the best production Stratocasters of the 1960s with some highly desirable features that make it a go-to for pro players and collectors alike. The slightly fuller neck carve that Fender was transitioning to feels so great in-hand, with a nice medium profile in the first position that has a full taper without being as dramatic as you'd typically find in the earlier part of the decade.

The chocolatey Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard was just refretted with Jescar 55090 fretwire, replacing the original frets that were quite worn out when we first acquired the guitar. Laurent also fashioned a new bone nut, and the guitar is setup wonderfully with incredibly smooth playability. There's a small old chip-out repair on the fingerboard just under the high E string between the nut and 1st fret, but it's virtually unnoticeable, blending in well with the grain lines of the Rosewood.

The original black bobbin pickups from this era are widely favored for having equal parts chime and clarity with some nice punch without being as aggressive sounding as some of their successors of the mid 60s. The neck and middle pickups retain their original winds, and with a very common short in the bridge pickup coil, we had it rewound by pickup wizard Ron Ellis which is sounding amazing! It seamlessly pairs with the other two pickups. The pickup was removed from its leads at the bobbin, keeping the wiring harness fully intact and undisturbed.

Supremely resonant and a broken in like an old baseball glove, this '63 Strat is exactly how we like to find them. Undoubtedly loved and played over the decades, but never abused. When you combine that with one some of the highest level refret work in the industry, you've got a vintage guitar that plays like a million bucks and still feels like a 60+ year old guitar in your hands.

Body
Style
Solidbody
Body
Alder
Finish
Nitrocellulose
Color
Sunburst

Hardware
Pickups
Original Black Bottom | 5.81k Neck / 5.95k Middle / 6.02k Bridge (Rewound by Ron Ellis)
Electronics
Original Stackpole | 304 6347 / Original 3-way Switch
Controls
Volume (x1) / Tone (x2)
Bridge
Original w/ Original Saddles & Aged Gotoh trem arm
Tuners
Original Kluson Single Line
Pickguard
Original Mint 3-ply

Neck
Neck
Maple | 2NOV63B Stamp
Carve
Medium/Full Oval C | .83"-1.00"
Fingerboard
Brazilian Rosewood Laminate
Radius
7.25"
Inlays
Clay Dots
Frets
Jecar 55090
Nut
Bone
Scale Length
25 1/2"

Other
Serial #
L17163
Weight
7lbs 7oz
Case
Vintage Fender HSC

Preserving The Past. Played Into The Future.

Whether you're chasing a tone, honoring the history, or building a collection, we seek out the finest vintage instruments and, when needed, perform tasteful restoration to ensure they’ll play beautifully for decades to come.

Pricing

We price vintage instruments using current market trends and our extensive in-house sales history, ensuring each piece is accurately valued and fairly positioned.

Glenn Nichols, Repairs & Restorations

Tasteful Restoration

When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.

Accurate Listings

Every vintage instrument we list is authenticated by our seasoned team and photographed in high detail, with clear, honest descriptions that show exactly what you’re buying - no surprises.

Shipping

With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.