1966 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst

Exceptional Near-Mint 1966 Stratocaster

This 1966 Fender Stratocaster in original 3-tone Sunburst is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a mid-'60s Stratocaster. With only very light play wear on the back of the body, this guitar presents in near-mint condition and is, quite simply, one of the cleanest and nicest vintage Fender Stratocasters we have encountered.

The original nitrocellulose finish remains beautifully preserved, complemented by a one-piece maple neck with a medium C-shaped profile, a rosewood veneer fingerboard, pearloid dot inlays, Kluson tuners, large headstock with transition decal, F-series serial plate and original white three-ply pickguard.

The guitar retains its original grey-bottom Fender pickups, original electronics and original hardware, making this an exceptionally attractive instrument for both the serious collector and player.

Highlights

• 1966 Fender Stratocaster
• Original 3-tone Sunburst nitrocellulose finish
• Near-mint overall condition
• Only very light play wear on the back of the body
• One-piece maple neck with comfortable medium C profile
• Rosewood veneer fingerboard
• 21 frets with pearloid dot inlays
• Original grey-bottom Fender single-coil pickups
• Original three-ply white pickguard
• Original Kluson tuners
• Fender synchronized tremolo with original steel saddles
• Original Stackpole potentiometers
• Original Fender hard-shell case with orange plush interior
• Original owner's booklet with matching serial number
• Documented in Fender – The Golden Age 1946–1970, page 210

Original Grey-Bottom Pickups

The guitar features three original grey-bottom Fender single-coil pickups, dated December 22, 1966.

Pickup measurements:

• Neck: 6.16k
• Middle: 6.00k
• Bridge: 5.80k

The pickups retain the characteristic tone and response associated with this important period in Fender Stratocaster history.

Original Electronics

The guitar retains its original Stackpole potentiometers. The visible pot codes are:

250K 035-865 / AUD304-6608

The potentiometers are dated to the 8th week of 1966.

Neck & Playability

The one-piece maple neck has a comfortable medium C-shaped profile and a rosewood veneer fingerboard with 21 frets and pearloid dot inlays.

The frets remain in good condition and the guitar plays very well.

Neck specifications:

• 1-piece maple neck
• Medium C profile
• Rosewood veneer fingerboard
• 21 frets
• Pearloid dot inlays
• 7.25" radius
• Nut width: 1.610" / 4.10 cm
• Scale length: 25.5"
• Neck depth: approximately .89" at 1st fret / .91" at 12th fret

Condition & Modification

The guitar is in near-mint condition, with only very light play wear visible on the back of the body and light finish checking on the headstock.

There is one professionally repaired small strap-button hole at the neck heel. The repair is extremely discreet and is barely visible; please refer to the neck heel photographs.

Apart from this repair, the guitar presents exceptionally well for its age.

Original Fender Case & Documentation

The Stratocaster comes with its original Fender hard-shell case with orange plush interior.

Particularly interesting for collectors, the case bears the name of a former owner/musician, "Ray Charles."

Also included is the original owner's booklet with matching serial number.

This particular guitar is documented in the book Fender – The Golden Age 1946–1970, on page 210.

Specifications

Body

• Solid alder body
• Original 3-tone Sunburst finish

Neck

• 1-piece maple neck
• Medium C profile
• Rosewood veneer fingerboard
• 21 frets
• Pearloid dot inlays
• 7.25" radius

Electronics

• 3 × original grey-bottom Fender single-coil pickups
• Pickup date: 12-22-66
• Pickup readings: N 6.16k / M 6.00k / B 5.80k
• Original Stackpole potentiometers
• Pot codes dated to the 8th week of 1966

Hardware

• Original Kluson tuners
• Fender synchronized tremolo
• 6 original patent-number-stamped steel saddles

Miscellaneous

• Weight: 3.650 kg / 8.05 lbs
• Original Fender hard-shell case with orange plush interior
• Original owner's booklet with matching serial number

Professional Inspection & Setup

As with all guitars offered by us, this 1966 Fender Stratocaster is professionally inspected and set up to ensure excellent playability and performance.

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

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International Shipping

For orders shipped outside Switzerland, local VAT, customs duties, import taxes, or other fees may apply depending on the destination country.

These charges are determined by the local authorities and are not included in the product price or our standard shipping costs. Any such charges must be paid by the customer directly to the relevant customs authority or shipping service.

Because these costs can vary from country to country, we recommend checking your local import regulations before placing your order.

🇺🇸 USA Shipping

For US orders with a value of up to US$2,500, we ship with Postal Delivered Duty Paid (PDDP) through Swiss Post.

The applicable PDDP costs are added to the product price for US customers only. To receive the correct final price, please contact us before checkout, and we will calculate the additional costs for you.

With PDDP, we take care of the applicable import and administration costs in advance, so you won't receive an additional PDDP charge upon delivery.

For orders over US$2,500, PDDP does not apply. The applicable US customs duties and fees will be billed directly to the US customer by US Customs.