A Faithful Return to 1957
By 1957, the Stratocaster had hit its stride. Three years into production, Fender had refined the original '54 design into something remarkable—a guitar that balanced innovation with playability in ways players are still chasing today. The American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster brings that pivotal year back with an attention to detail that goes well beyond the typical reissue. This is the Strat that defined the template: a trio of Pure Vintage '57 single-coil pickups wound with cloth-covered wire and alnico magnets, a solid alder body finished in gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, and that distinctively chunky 1957 "V"-shaped maple neck that sits just right in your hand.
This isn't a modern Strat dressed up in vintage clothes. Built with period-accurate bodies, necks and hardware, premium finishes and meticulously voiced, year-specific pickups, each instrument captures the essence of authentic Fender craftsmanship and tone. The black finish over alder gives you balanced mids and a robust low end, while the 7.25" radius maple fingerboard and vintage-tall frets deliver the comfortable playing feel of a true mid-century instrument. If you've been searching for that chimey, articulate Strat sound without the fragility and price tag of an actual '57, this is it.
The Neck That Made History
Let's talk about that neck. Featuring a supremely comfortable "V"-shape neck with a 7.25" radius maple fingerboard, the American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster reproduces the quintessential tone and feel of the original. In vintage years, the shape and thickness of Fender guitar necks varied tremendously. The American Vintage II Series features authentic neck profiles from Fender's past. The 1957 "V" is soft and rounded—not the sharp baseball bat some players fear—and it encourages your thumb to sit naturally behind the neck for smooth chording and effortless bends.
The 7.25" fingerboard radius and 21 vintage tall frets offer a playing experience that feels authentic without being punishing. You'll feel the fretboard under your fingers, but the slightly taller fret height makes string bending easier than it would be on a true vintage instrument. The 25.5" scale length and 1.650" bone nut provide balanced string tension and crisp note articulation. One-piece maple construction with a gloss nitrocellulose finish completes the period-correct aesthetic and adds a touch of brightness to the overall voice.
Pure Vintage Tone
The sonic heart of this guitar is its pickup set. Specially voiced to reproduce the authentic sound and performance of individual model years, Pure Vintage pickups are constructed just like pickups from Fender's golden years. Materials include cloth-covered wire, fiber bobbins and alnico magnets. These aren't approximations—they're meticulous recreations of the exact pickup spec Fender was winding in 1957, delivering that classic Stratocaster chime with sparkling highs, articulate midrange, and just enough warmth to keep things musical.
The 5-way blade switch gives you all the classic Strat positions, from the glassy bridge pickup to the round, vocal neck tone, plus those iconic in-between "quack" tones in positions 2 and 4. The control layout is simple and effective: master volume, tone 1 for neck and middle pickups, and tone 2 for the bridge. There's no coil-splitting or modern wiring tricks here—just pure, unadulterated single-coil Stratocaster sound the way it was meant to be heard.
Hardware Built on Original Machines
From the bridge to the string tree and tuning machines, every piece of American Vintage II hardware is manufactured to look, sound and function just like it did on the originals. Much of the American Vintage II hardware is still manufactured on the original '50s and '60s era Fender factory machines. The Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo features a cold-rolled steel block and bent steel saddles, delivering smooth action and that unmistakable Strat shimmer when you dip the bar. Single-line "Fender Deluxe" tuning machines keep your tuning stable while adding vintage visual appeal.
Other appointments include a 1-ply parchment pickguard, black dot position inlays, aged white control knobs, and nickel/chrome hardware finish. Even small details like the 4-bolt neck attachment stay true to the original design. It all comes together in a guitar that weighs in around 7.5 to 8 lbs and ships in a vintage-style tweed hardshell case.
Product Features:
- Alder body with gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Black
- 1957 "V"-shaped one-piece maple neck with gloss nitrocellulose finish
- Maple fingerboard with 7.25" radius and 21 vintage tall frets
- Three Pure Vintage '57 single-coil Stratocaster pickups with cloth-covered wire and alnico magnets
- Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo with cold-rolled steel block and bent steel saddles
- Pure Vintage Single Line "Fender Deluxe" tuning machines
- 25.5" scale length with 1.650" bone nut
- 5-position blade switching with master volume and dual tone controls
- Period-accurate hardware manufactured on original 1950s-era Fender factory machines
- Includes vintage-style tweed hardshell case
Brand: Fender
Model: American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster
SKU: 0110232806
Condition: New
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