Fender Stratocaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 110114, Candy Apple Red lacquer re- finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.

This "transition" early-CBS era Stratocaster has an older Custom-Color refinish on the body, well enough done that it apparently fooled at least one major dealer 20 years ago and with some natural wear to it since. Apart from the body finish it remains largely original showing typical features for 1966. The neck is stamped 13 APR 66B and features the new-for-'66 larger headstock with the gold "transition" logo. Supposedly the headstock was re-designed at some CBS' exec's behest to make the headstock and logo show better on TV, but that may be a Fender fable. The dots in the thin-lam rosewood fingerboard are pearloid, as they had been since early '65.

The neckplate carries a large "F" stamped under the serial number, added in late 1965 when the 100,000 number series commenced. The pickguard is made of white ABS plastic, mounted over the scrap aluminum shielding plate used since 1959. The pickups are a nicely matched grey-bobbin set clear dated 10-21-66 on all three. The masking tape on the leads and most of the internal solder joints are intact. The pots are also a matched set dated to the 35th week of 1966. All internal wiring is the original cloth-covered type; less than 2 years later, this would be replaced with thinned plastic-coated wire.

Other hardware is consistent with Pre-CBS instruments; steel stamped bridge saddles and trem block, and the Kluson tuners CBS would replace the next year with their own in-house "F" plate machines. The weight is typical for this period at 8.1 Lbs. While PRE-CBS has been a watchword for Fender afficionados for decades, this early-CBS Stratocaster is still a great-feeling and sounding guitar, a far cry from what the instrument would evolve into a few years down the line. This one has a super 1966-7 vibe, surviving the period when Pete Townshend and Jimi Hendrix were taking '60s Strats and sacrificing them for immortality!
 
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.)., 8.1 lbs.

This Strat has some stories behind it, but remains a great looking and playing example with a cool vibe. The body has an old refinish body in a pretty authentic Candy Apple Red, which is fairly convincing on first glance. When examined more closely the area under the neck shows signs of having been stripped and the undercoating is not convincing; it also does not blacklight correctly as Fender lacquer. There are also some odd discolored areas mostly on the back, along with some genuine relic wear and a few spots of pretty amateur touch up. The face is relatively clean with small dings and chips mostly on the edges; the inside of the lower cutaway horn has a deep scratch.

The neck finish remains all original; headstock shows some lacquer checking but the decal is well preserved. The back of the neck has wear down to the wood over some of its length, and feels great with that genuine "Worn-In Fender" feel. This guitar was sold and appraised by a prominent New York dealer in 2003 as all original, a copy of that receipt is included.

The instrument is fitted with almost all original parts; the trem arm is a repro, and the trem cavity has an aftermarket backplate. The pickups and all internal wiring remain original and perfectly matched, even the masking tape wrapped around the pickup leads is fully intact. Some solder joints were redone at the time of the refinish and the original 3-waty switch was recently re-installed in place of a later 5-way.

The wide-bevel white ABS pickguard and aluminum shielding plate are period correct but may not be original to this body. There is a split in the pickguard in the usual place above the neck pickup and an extra hole was drilled behind that spot (probably to hold it down) and later filled on the pickguard. There is no commensurate hole in the body but of course the refinish would have covered it if it was filled in. The shielding plate is likely from a 1963 or earlier Stratocaster as there is a screw hole in a different position closer to the neck pickup, with a piece of masking tape artfully covering it from below.

All other hardware on the guitar appears correct; the steel bridge saddles have some typical corrosion; the screws and springs are quite clean so we assume the height screws at least may have been partially or wholly replaced. The pickup covers, knobs, switch tip, tuners and jackplate all appear original. The neck was referetted some time back with wire somewhat larger than the original and offers a meaty surface for string bending, showing very little wear.

This Strat has survived some adventures over the decades but nothing that amounts to "reptile dentistry" (thanks Skip!) but has enough wear and mojo to be inviting to play without fear. It may no longer be "collectible" but looks really cool and rewards the player with the authentic sound of over a half-century ago; full, bright, and "Stratty" in the classic way without ever turning brittle or thin. Every position on the switch (which is the original 3-way but neatly holds the "in between" settings) offers a slice of classic Stratocaster goodness. The original black Tolex hardshell case has some wear but is fully functional. Overall Very Good + Condition.