A True 1965 Stratocaster, Down to the Last Screw
1965 was a turning point for Fender and for the Stratocaster. The company had just been sold to CBS, and guitars rolling off the line that year sat right at the crossroads between the pre-CBS era everyone romanticizes and the changes that would define the next decade. This American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster captures that transition year with obsessive accuracy — the round-laminated rosewood fingerboard with larger pearl dot inlays, the iconic transition logo with bigger lettering, the eggshell white pickguard, and those gray-bottom pickups that replaced the earlier black-bottom design. It's a snapshot of a guitar caught between two eras, and it's fascinating.
Fender didn't cut corners on this reissue. They went back to original 1965 examples, measured everything, and built this guitar using period-correct materials and methods. The alder body is finished in gloss nitrocellulose lacquer in Candy Apple Red, a finish that lets the wood breathe and ages beautifully. The maple neck has a 1965 "C" profile that's round and comfortable without feeling chunky. And yes, the fretboard radius is 7.25" — just like the originals — which some players love and others need time to adjust to. If you're after vintage feel and tone, this is the real deal.
This guitar suits players who appreciate vintage Fender design and want the authentic sound of a mid-'60s Strat without hunting down an original. Whether you're chasing classic rock tones, blues, or just love the way a well-made Stratocaster feels in your hands, this one delivers.
Period-Accurate Neck and Fingerboard
The neck on this guitar is a 1965 "C" shape — round, comfortable, and true to the original specs. It's carved from maple and finished in gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, which feels smooth under your hand and develops character over time. The round-laminated rosewood fingerboard is a single piece of rosewood glued to the neck, just like they did it in 1965. You'll find 21 vintage-tall frets and a 7.25" radius, which is quite curved by modern standards but offers that authentic vintage playing experience.
The nut is bone, measuring 1.650" wide, and the scale length is the classic Stratocaster 25.5". Fender included a vintage-style butt-adjust truss rod, so adjustments happen at the heel of the neck. The white pearloid dot inlays are slightly larger than earlier Strats — another detail specific to 1965. Every measurement here is based on original examples, and it shows.
Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Pickups
The three Pure Vintage '65 gray-bottom single-coil Strat pickups are where this guitar really shines. In 1965, Fender switched from black fiber bobbins to gray ones, and the tonal character shifted slightly — these pickups deliver bright, articulate highs with a scooped midrange and dynamic response. They're built with cloth-covered wire, fiber bobbins, and alnico magnets, just like the originals.
You get a five-way pickup selector switch and the classic Stratocaster control layout: master volume, tone control for the neck pickup, and tone control for the middle pickup. The pickguard is 3-ply eggshell with 11 holes, and the control knobs and switch tip are vintage white plastic. It's all correct for 1965, and the tones you can dial in range from glassy and clean to warm and round depending on which pickup combination you choose.
Vintage Hardware and Build Quality
Fender manufactures much of the American Vintage II hardware on original 1950s and '60s-era factory machines, and the attention to detail is impressive. The Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge features bent steel saddles and delivers smooth vibrato with solid tuning stability. The tuning machines are Pure Vintage Single Line "Fender Deluxe" models with chrome and nickel-plated steel hardware throughout.
The alder body is lightweight and resonant, providing balanced tone across all frequencies. The four-bolt neck attachment and vintage-style neck plate complete the period-correct construction. This guitar is made in the USA and built to the same exacting standards as Fender's original 1965 models, from the transition logo on the headstock down to the saddle markings.
Product Features:
- Alder body with gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Candy Apple Red
- Maple neck with 1965 "C" profile and gloss nitro finish
- Round-laminated rosewood fingerboard with 7.25" radius
- 21 vintage-tall frets with white pearloid dot inlays
- Three Pure Vintage '65 gray-bottom single-coil Stratocaster pickups
- Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge with bent steel saddles
- Bone nut, 1.650" width
- 25.5" scale length
- Pure Vintage Single Line "Fender Deluxe" tuning machines
- 11-hole 3-ply eggshell pickguard with vintage white controls
- Chrome/nickel-plated steel hardware
- Transition-era headstock logo with larger lettering
Brand: Fender
Model: American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster
SKU: 0110280809
Condition: New
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