FENDER STRATOCASTER IMPORTANT DATES
- 1954
- The new Fender Stratocaster introduced, with 3 single coil pickups, offset contoured for comfort ash body, one piece maple neck and synchronized tremolo bridge.
- 1956
- Ash, the wood used for the Strats body is replaced by alder.
- 1957
- The bakelite used for the knobs and pickup covers is replaced with plastic.
- 1959
- Rosewood fretboard is introduced - a slab of rosewood with a flat bottom is glued to the flat top of the neck.
- 1962
- The rosewood fingerboard slab is replaced by a rosewood veneer.
- 1965
- Due to poor health Leo Fender sells his company to CBS for $13 million and is with most big companies they looked at figures and not the instruments, leading to the pre-CBS guitars being regarded more highly over the years.
- During the 1960s a dip in the popularity of the Fender Stratocaster is seen, possibly due to the popularity of the Gibson Les Paul brought on by the likes of Eric Clapton and the blues invasion.
- CBS era Stratocasters see the headstock increased with the big black logo added, as mainly seen being used (upside down) by Jimi Hendrix.
-
- 1971
- The much maligned 3 bolt neckplate replaces the standard four bolts used previously. The truss rod acces is also moved from the base of the neck to the "Bullet" at the headstock.
- Jimi Hendrex, Dave Gilmour and ironically Eric Clapton help Fender Stratocaster regain some popularity amongst players.
- 1974
- Staggard pickup polepieces are replaced by flush flat slugs.
- 1975
- Black pickguard, pickup covers & knobs are introduced.
- 1980
- The large CBS era headstock is dropped for the traditional smaller pre-CBS design.
- 1985
- CBS employee William Schultz initiates the employee buyout of the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company from CBS, it's renamed Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.
- The re-invented new company sees a large rise in the popularity of it's flagship guitar.
- 2004
- 50 years of production of the Fender Stratocaster is celebrated.
-
Learn more about the Fender Stratocaster
- Paint Your Own Guitar
- Our books teach you how to get professional results using nothing more than ordinary store-bought spray cans. Skeptical? Don't think it's possible to get a factory finish with spray cans? IT IS POSSIBLE. We wrote the book on it! Check us out!
Click Here For More Details »