1964 Fender Stratocaster – Sunburst

1964 Fender Stratocaster – Sunburst

We present an all original and 100% complete 1964 Fender Stratocaster in its original Sunburst finish. Made in Fullerton, California. We bought it directly from the original owner here in Denmark.

History

100% original 1964 Fender Stratocaster from the original owner in Denmark.

Some stories are not just about guitars. They are about people, dreams, youth, and an entire lifetime built around an instrument.

Arne Frølich was the rhythm guitarist in the Funen-based beat band The Flamingo Swingers — a band with style right from the beginning. Their stage outfits were always sharp, and the band’s tour vehicle was nothing less than an old Ford Pilot fire truck, which they bought together as a group. You can almost picture it: Denmark in the 1960s. Beat music, dance halls, weekends on the road, and young musicians with big dreams.

The band existed from 1962 to 1971, and in 1964, the then only 17-year-old Arne fell in love with a Fender Stratocaster at Margaard Musikhus on Vestergade in Odense. The guitar cost 3,500 DKK — a fortune for a young musician, even though he played every weekend and earned around 400 DKK per weekend.

The only problem was that you could not simply arrange a payment plan when you were under 18 years old.
And Arne’s father, a local wholesaler in the cheese trade, absolutely refused to hear any talk of his son buying a guitar on installment payments.

But the love for a Stratocaster can make people do things they otherwise never would have done.

So Arne and the local music dealer secretly made a deal — a payment plan without his father’s knowledge. At home, everyone simply believed the guitar had been paid for with his weekend gigs. Maybe not entirely by the book… but sometimes there are stories more important than the rules.

Arne got his Stratocaster — and he kept it.

Throughout all the years, the guitar has been cared for unbelievably well, and when I was contacted by Arne’s son a little over a month ago, my interest was naturally immediate.

Arne, his wife, and son stopped by the shop with the guitar.
What was perhaps supposed to be a quick meeting turned into nearly three hours of stories, photographs, memories, and reflections from a time that is unfortunately slowly disappearing. And honestly, even before I had the guitar in my hands, I was already in love with the story behind it.

You could immediately feel just how much this particular guitar has meant to Arne and his family throughout an entire lifetime. These are the kinds of moments that remind you why vintage guitars are so much more than just wood and electronics.

Some may wonder why there is only one string on the guitar in the photos. The explanation is simple: I went through the guitar together with Arne and the family, and from the very first turn of the screws, I could feel it — this guitar had never been taken apart before.

And sure enough.

The guitar appears completely untouched. No modifications. No resoldering. No replaced parts. Pickups, solder joints, and electronics are exactly as they were when the guitar left the Fender factory in 1964. It even comes complete with the original Fender non-logo case, correct for the period, along with the tremolo arm, bridge cover, and original strap. And yes… the Sunburst finish is exactly as beautiful in real life as you hope it will be.

But stories like this are exactly why we love this so much.
Because in reality, we only own these instruments for a period of time. At some point, they move on and begin a new chapter with a new owner who will hopefully care for them just as well and carry the story forward once again.

Condition

This ’64 pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster is remarkably example, with a resonant body and neck. This Fender Stratocaster is without a doubt a collector’s dream — a true one-owner guitar. It is without question one of the best ’64 Sunburst example we have had in a very long time.

It’s in excellent condition with nicks, dings and cosmetic wear (most on the back). It features a beautiful dark rosewood fingerboard with clay dots and one-line Kluson tuners, which are in perfect working order. The 3-tone Sunburst finish looks gorgeous and vibrant with nearly no fading. The headstock is as clean as it gets, including the “spagetti logo.” The back of the tinted neck is great with few play wear spots. Overall, this is simply a stunning pre-CBS Stratocaster that delivers on every level. The original frets and nut are in great condition as well.

Originality

This incredible ’64 Fender Stratocaster is 100% original throughout — just as it left the Fullerton factory back in late 1964. It even comes with the original bridge cover, tremolo arm, and strap. The weight is fantastic, and the black-bottom pickups are perfectly balanced with great tone and soul.

The pickups and electronics/wiring remain untouched and intact, with no broken solder joints and no rewound pickups. All original and correct.

Complete with its original Fender non-logo hardshell case. The latches and handle are in perfect working order.

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We are more than happy to provide further photos upon request. Simply contact us by email or phone for details, including close-up and internal photos of the instrument.