1965 Fender Stratocaster Candy Apple Red
Maker
Fender
(American, founded 1946)
Date1965
ClassificationsMusic
Description1965 Fender Stratocaster, serial number 112577 , in Candy Apple Red (CAR). The guitar has an early 1965 neck dated "1-65," pots are dated "1376505" for the 5th week of 1965. The guitar has grey bottom pots that have been hand dated in pencil "4-2-65." The guitar returned to the Fender factory at some point between 1965 and the early 1970s as indicated by the number "22" that is impressed under the pickguard and under the paint. This was usually a code used to identify a customer when a guitar went back to the factory for some reason. The guitar was therefore refinished at the factory likely in the late-1960s, making it a factory finish.Fender introduced the Stratocaster model of guitars in 1954 after two years of design work by founder Leo Fender. The Stratocaster introduced several new design elements that have now become standard on electric guitars. Its double-cutaway body style was considered futuristic for the time, with an almost horn-like appearance. The guitar’s neck was more contoured than previous electric guitars, which provided better playability. Its use of three pickups also allowed for more tonal versatility compared to previous electric guitars that utilized one or two pickups. Lastly, its vibrato system – with integrated “tremolo bridge” – provided a simplified method for pitch changing.
Fender introduced Candy Apple Red as a custom color in 1963.
Stratocasters paved the way for the use of the electric guitar in popular music. Numerous famous guitarists have used Stratocasters, but the most notable among them are Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and John Mayer.
