Up for sale, a 1956 Fender Stratocaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order. Produced in mid-’56, this Stratocaster embodies everything that makes Fender’s Pre-CBS golden era a truly magical time for electric guitars, and specifically for a pioneering, space-age instrument like the Strat. Players have been conditioned for decades to expect a certain chime, quack, and twang from a Strat, via the various tiers of reissues over the past 30 years, not to mention the iterations that the core model has experienced over the course of the instrument’s 60+ year run. Yet a genuine Stratocaster from early in the model’s lifetime easily exceeds one’s expectations for Strat tone in every capacity. When you strum a chord on this guitar, the entire body vibrates with a liveliness, warmth, and authority that has to be felt to be believed, and this provides the foundation for a very special instrument. Building upon the resonance of the alder body, the pickups have a warmth and chewy midrange that exists alongside the tonal qualities one expects from a Strat, without detracting from the sparkle and twang that is essential to a Strat sound. ” The modern five-way switch offers a snappy quack in the “in between settings, and things get fuller and warmer as you toggle towards the neck position, without ever losing clarity. Weighing in at 7lbs 4oz, this Strat is a lively and lightweight example. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, this Stratocaster has comfortable action and is currently strung with roundwound 10-46 strings. The maple neck has a full and round shape which is just starting to suggest the V necks seen in 57, yet fills out to a very full and round C in the higher registers of the fretboard with generous shoulder. The profile exhibits palm wear down to the maple mostly behind frets 3-7, continuing primarily along the treble side edge of the profile all the way up the neck. The neck profile measures. 923 deep at the 1st fret, filling out to. 956 at the 12th fret. The guitar has been cleanly refretted with vintage-spec 6230 fretwire, and the frets currently show just a touch of wear on the crowns of frets 1-3, with virtually no wear further up the neck. The truss rod is responsive, the neck is straight, and the truss rod nut is flush with the neck heel. On the headstock, the original Kluson Deluxe single line tuning machines are intact, turn smoothly, and hold pitch as they should, with only light surface patina. The “Fender Stratocaster” decal is original, with clean lettering and no patent numbers. The “Offset Contour Body” decal is present too. The electronics consist of three CTS pots dating as late as 1982, along with a trio of older yet not original pickups that match vintage spec with cloth covered wire, staggered alnico magnets, and black bobbins. The switch tip is a newer replacement of a similar shade of aged white. The single-ply white pickguard is a modern, vintage-spec version, while the tremolo cover is original. The vibrato on the instrument is entirely original, with the stock arm, patent pending saddles that show plenty of surface rust and patina, and screws that still turn smoothly and adjust as they should. This vibrato is currently setup with three springs for a steady and smooth action when actuating the unit. Beneath the trem claw, the original grease pencil 6-56 body date is still very clear, while the neck is dated 4-11-56. The chrome jack cup, strap buttons, and early 121xx serial number neck plate with stock 2 screws are also original and in good shape. Cosmetically, this instrument is quite stunning in terms of the honest wear and soulful appeal of a lovingly played vintage Fender. The original two-tone sunburst nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, and the original lacquer has settled into the grain of the body, with prominent checking across the top and forearm wear through the finish. There are various small finish nicks, scratches, and scuffs around the edges of the body and back of the instrument, while the top remains quite clean. The back of the guitar shows heavy buckle rash. If you’re after a Stratocaster that will deliver a palette of tones that sparingly few instruments can achieve, with vintage appeal and great playability, you could hardly do better than this example from’56. A modern Fender tweed hardshell case is included. Check out our shop “Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, ” and please let us know if we can answer any questions! International orders will be declared as merchandise, and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please. The item “1956 Fender Stratocaster Vintage Pre-CBS Electric Guitar Sunburst with Case” is in sale since Thursday, October 24, 2019. This item is in the category “Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Electric Guitars”. The seller is “mmguitarbar” and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Body Color: Two-Tone Sunburst
- String Configuration: 6 String
- Model: Stratocaster
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Right-/ Left-Handed: Right-Handed
- Product Line: Fender Stratocaster
- Model Year: 1956
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Body Material: Alder
- Brand: Fender
- Body Type: Solid