Early L series, green guard 1965 Fender Stratocaster in custom colour Lake Placid Blue anyone?

This was sold by Norman's Rare Guitars to its long standing owner in May 1979 and included is the original receipt and the Customs receipt at Heathrow Airport when he brought this back with him! Included is the trem arm, strap and bridge cover.

As with many historic events, the transition of the Fender brand over to CBS was not like flipping a switch and even though the pre-CBS instruments are held in high regard, post 1965 instruments still hold a lot of that Leo magic. 

This guitar certainly looks the part. The factory lake placid blue finish has seen some action over the years with wear mainly around the edges. Someone has attempted to disguise them with pen. There is no other significant wear.  There are no signs that any modifications have been carried out aside from an extra string tree neatly added. 

The neck has worn comfortably. The fretboard is in excellent shape with the new period correct size frets.

The plastics as you’d expect have faded a little but there is not too much wear. 

The grey bottom pickups are still present with the original windings and read as April 1965. The pots are all correct, reading week 14 of 1965

The guitar comes with its correct Black Tolex case.

Many of those classic Strat tones live in these mid-60’s guitars. These guitars really deliver a fantastic tone that hasn’t yet drifted too far towards the thinner end of the spectrum and still retains some of the fullness of the earlier incarnation Fender single coils.

These mid 60's Strats have so much to offer, this one is a prime example from that transition era. It is also original factory black and is pretty rare and somewhat desirable...!