The Fender Stratocaster was first introduced in the spring of 1954. Not only did the Stratocaster soon became Fender's best selling model, it may well be the best selling guitar of all time. Sales for Fender Stratocasters drastically increased after Rock music became popular around 1958. The 1956 Fender Stratocaster is one of the most sought after of the collectable vintages.

Even the name, Stratocaster, was a strategic move by Fender as it was intended to evoke images of new jet-aircraft technology (such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress), and to express Fender's modernistic design philosophy. In designing the Stratocaster's body, a significant area of the back of the guitar, and the area where the strumming arm rests, were beveled to accommodate the player's chest and arm. The upper bouts featured two cutaways, for easier access to the higher frets.

This vintage and 100%, all original, '56 Fender Strat was first appraised in 2000 and to my knowledge (and the appraisers) it was the only time this guitar was opened up. This '56 Fender Strat has had positively no modifications of any sort. Paint, finish, body, neck and all electronic parts are intact and unmodified. According to the appraiser's notes in 2000, "Appears to be 100% original as to parts, electronics etc." "Nobody has monkeyed with it."

So what is this '56 Fender Strat worth? The scan at the right is taken from the 2008 Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide. You will note this model is valued at between 51,000.00 and 68,000.00.

From a January of 2008 appraisal of this guitar from Gruhn Guitar of Nashville come these notes; We certify that the guitar described below is a Fender Stratocaster made in the year 1956. Description: We have been provided the following information: “Neck date XA 5-56, serial number 09101. No modifications. Comes with original case.” From the photos provided, this guitar appears to be in excellent original condition and conforms to the standard specifications of the model for 1956, with solid ash body, three single-coil pickups, three knobs, one pickup selector switch, tremolo bridge with metal bridge cover, single-ply white pickguard, white plastic cover on back cavity, one-piece maple neck/fingerboard, “spaghetti” style peghead logo decal, “single-line” Kluson Deluxe tuners, and tweed hard case. This guitar shows relatively light body wear and moderate fingerboard wear. Stratocasters from this era are highly sought by players and collectors. Current market value: $55,000 (fifty-five thousand dollars)

Also included with the sale of this 1956 Fender Stratocaster was its original Fender tweed hardshell case pictured below. All latches worked great and the case was incredibly solid. The vintage Fender magazines pictured with the case in the photos were also included and, as previously mentioned, the 1980s manuals also went with the sale.

Story and numerous photos continue below ↓

The term "pre-CBS" refers to the ownership of CBS which took the Fender company over in 1965. It signaled an end to true craftsmanship at Fender as CBS soon employed faster and less expensive methods of producing Fender guitars.

This all-original electric guitar had not been played since 1983 and had been preserved in a temperature controlled and smoke free environment. We were the third owners of her and possess the sales receipt for both our buy and the second owners purchase from the original owner. The second owner had this Strat for less that one month.

And now a whole group of photos that guitar collectors, players and dealers have asked us to provide. These photos of the penciled dates on the neck and body cavity plus the pot numbers, which can be dated to the 5th week of 1956, prove indisputably the originality and Excellent condition of this 1956 Fender Stratocaster.

Remember once you have clicked on the thumbnail images below, CLICK AGAIN on the enlarged image to view the photo at its maximum size.

Still more photos of our 1956 Strat. The outdoor photos of the sides and front were all taken Easter Sunday 2008 under natural lighting. The photos above of the inside snapped the preceeding week. Remember once you have clicked on the thumbnail images below, CLICK AGAIN on the enlarged image to view the photo at its maximum size.