1966 Fender Stratocaster – Original Sunburst Finish

An exceptional mid-’60s Stratocaster retaining its original three-tone Sunburst finish, grey-bottom pickups, electronics, wiring, plastics and hardware.

Originally sold in Italy, the guitar is in very good condition, with natural checking and honest playing wear. It has been professionally refretted, fitted with a vintage-correct bone nut and fully set up for excellent playability.

Key Specifications

• Solid alder body

• Original three-tone Sunburst nitrocellulose finish

• Maple neck with rosewood veneer fingerboard

• Medium C-shaped profile

• 7.25" fingerboard radius

• 21 frets with pearloid dot inlays

• Nut width: 1.610" / 41mm

• Neck depth: approximately .85" at the 1st fret / .89" at the 12th

• 25.5" scale length

• Large headstock with transition gold Fender decal

• Weight: 3.535kg / 7.793lb

Original Pickups and Electronics

The three original grey-bottom Fender single-coil pickups are dated 11-30-66.

Approximate resistance readings:

• Neck: 5.70kΩ

• Middle: 5.75kΩ

• Bridge: 5.80kΩ

The original Stackpole potentiometers carry the codes 250K 035-865 / AUD304-6608, dating them to the 8th week of 1966.

The pickups, potentiometers and wiring remain original. One solder joint on one potentiometer has been professionally refreshed and is clearly shown in the detailed photographs.

DMR Factory Finish Correction

A handwritten red “DMR” marking appears inside the pickup cavity. It documents a period colour and lacquer correction along the lower edge of the body’s back, understood to have been carried out at Fender before the guitar was sold.

The correction is visible only under blacklight and forms part of the guitar’s documented history. Photographs of the marking and corrected area are included.

Original Hardware and Plastics

The guitar retains its original:

• Three-ply white pickguard

• Volume and tone knobs

• Switch and tremolo tips

• Tremolo arm and springs

• Nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners

• Fender synchronized tremolo

• Patent-number-stamped steel saddles

• Three-position selector switch

Refret and Setup

The guitar was professionally refretted and fitted with a new vintage-correct bone nut by Enrico Crippa of Sound City Guitar Repair in Piacenza, Italy. The original nut is included.

The work was completed to a high professional standard, and the guitar has since received a complete inspection and setup.

Condition

The original finish displays normal checking, wear and signs of use consistent with its age. The headstock, hardware and plastics present very well, and the guitar remains highly resonant, responsive and comfortable to play.

Please examine all photographs carefully for a complete representation of its condition. Manufacturing date codes, blacklight images and detailed interior photographs are available upon request through Reverb.

Original Case and Accessories

Included is the original black Polverini hard-shell case with red interior. The case remains in very nice condition, although one latch is missing.

Also included:

• Original case key

• Vintage Darco Selec-Gauge strings

• Vintage black coiled cable

• Green woven strap

Manufacturing date codes and detailed interior photographs are available upon request by e-mail

Fandango Guitars · Lugano, Switzerland

🌎 Safe & Secure Worldwide Shipping

Every order is carefully packed for safe and secure delivery.

International orders: Local VAT, customs duties and import fees may apply. These charges are not included in the product price or standard shipping costs and remain the buyer’s responsibility.

USA: Orders valued up to US$2,500 are shipped through Swiss Post using Postal Delivered Duty Paid (PDDP). The applicable PDDP costs are added for US customers—please contact us before checkout for the correct final price.

For orders over US$2,500, PDDP is unavailable, and any applicable duties and fees will be charged directly to the customer by US Customs.