Description
Description & Specifications
1957 Fender Stratocaster – Gold – Gold Hardware
We present an exceptional and all original 1957 Fender Stratocaster in its original Gold finish with Gold hardware. Made in Fullerton, California.
History
This is without a doubt one of the rarest Fender Stratocasters in existence. There is no official record of how many Gold Strats were made, but we know that a small batch was produced, and only a handful have ever surfaced. This is the only example currently known to be available to the public. This incredible pre-CBS custom-color Stratocaster has been in a private collection and stored away since the late 1980s—making this the first time it has been publicly offered.
Condition
Overall, it’s in great condition with some nicks, dings, and other cosmetic wear. Because the guitar has been stored in its case without air circulation since the late 1980s, the Gold plating on both the lacquer finish and the hardware has oxidized over time. It is common that the Gold plating oxidises in this way and something we have seen seen happening to other Fender guitars. It’s a natural process that creates a slightly rougher texture in certain areas of the lacquer, especially on hardware parts such as the neck plate, bridge cover, and saddles, which have also developed rust. This patina contributes to the incredible atmosphere and MOJO of this historic Fender guitar. In a few areas on the body, you can see the Desert Sand undercoat.
It features an ash body, which is rare, as Fender switched to alder body wood in 1957—except for Blonde finishes. The guitar sports a beautiful flamed maple neck with a “V” profile and lovely playwear along the edges. The headstock is as clean as it gets. The original frets and nut are in good shape; they have likely been dressed and leveled at some point, but there is still plenty of life left. The six original Gold one-line Kluson tuners turn smoothly and function perfectly. Every single Gold screw on this guitar is factory stock, and it of course features the Gold truss rod nut.
Originality
This stunning and historic ’57 Strat is 100% original, with no breaks or repairs. It appears just as it did when it left the Fullerton factory in 1957. It even comes with the original Gold bridge cover and tremolo arm—everything is there. A true collector’s dream. The three original black-bottom single-coil pickups are well-balanced and sound fantastic.
It features a mixture of polystyrene (bakelite) and plastic parts, which is common for mid-1957 Fender instruments. 1957 was a transitional year for Fender, moving from polystyrene to plastic, so it’s typical to see a blend of both materials. The original white 1-ply pickguard is fully intact and crack-free. The string holes in the plastic tremolo back plate have been slightly enlarged to make string changes easier without needing to remove the back plate.
The pickups and electronics/wiring remain untouched and fully intact, with no broken solder joints and no re-wound pickups. All original and correct.
It comes with the original Fender tweed hardshell case. The latches and handle are intact and work as intended.
In addition to us at Guitar Hunter, some of the world’s most respected vintage experts have inspected, verified, and documented this guitar, leaving no doubt that this is a 100% all-original 1957 Fender Stratocaster in its original Gold finish with factory Gold hardware. An untouched example.
