Fender American Vintage 1965 Stratocaster Round-Lam RW Shoreline Gold

1965: The Pivotal Year of the Stratocaster in Rock History

With the American Vintage II Stratocaster '65, Fender highlights a period when the Stratocaster established itself as a benchmark on the rock scene. It features the typical aesthetic and ergonomic markers of 1965: large-letter "Transition" logo, 3-ply pickguard with 11 holes, and a round-lam rosewood fingerboard with larger pearloid inlays. The result: a guitar designed to deliver the Fender "pre-CBS/mid-sixties" character with high-end craftsmanship and finishes.

Who Is It For, and What Styles?

This Strat is primarily aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists seeking an authentic vintage feel (7.25" radius, Vintage Tall frets, traditional vibrato). It excels in sixties rock, blues, surf, pop, and funk, offering great pick dynamics and very expressive volume response. It's also an ideal platform for "glassy" tones in positions 2 and 4, and sharper leads on the bridge pickup.

Tonality

The combination of an alder body and a maple neck delivers the classic Strat signature: balance, precise attack, and clear mids. The round-lam rosewood fingerboard provides a softer feel under the fingers and a slightly warmer high end while retaining the typical snap. The three Pure Vintage '65 "Gray Bottom" single-coils emphasize clarity, definition, and the Fender "chime," with very musical intermediate positions. The Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo and stamped steel saddles contribute to sustain and bite, while offering the smooth, singing vibrato expected from a 1965-inspired Strat.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

The guitar comes with a Vintage-Style Black Case (Orange Interior). It is strung with Fender USA 250R Nickel Plated Steel .010-.046 strings: you can keep this gauge (.010-.046) to maintain the original balance between tension, attack, and vibrato stability.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	SSS	Scalloped	Double
Category	ST	Body	Alder
Left handed	No	Bridge / tailpiece	Tremolo
Strings	Steel	Electronics	Passive
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Yellow
Fingerboard	Rosewood	Finishing	Glossy
Nbrs of frets	21	Hardware	Chromed

Shape	Stratocaster	Truss Rod	Vintage-Style Butt Adjust
Wood	alder	Pickguard	3-ply Eggshell
Finish	glossy nitrocellulose lacquer	Knobs	Vintage White Plastic
Scale length	25.5" / 647.7 mm	Bridge	Pure Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with stamped steel saddles
Material	maple	Tuners	Pure Vintage Single Line "Fender Deluxe"
Construction	4-bolt	Pickup configuration	SSS
Profile	1965 "C" (C Shape)	Pickup type	Pure Vintage
Headstock	Stratocaster	Neck pickup	Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Strat
Inlays	White Pearloid Dot (7 mm)	Middle pickup	Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Strat
Number of frets	21	Bridge pickup	Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Strat
Fret size	Vintage Tall	Selector switch	5 positions (1 bridge, 2 bridge + middle, 3 middle, 4 middle + neck, 5 neck)
Radius	7.25" / 184.1 mm (Vintage)	Controls	Master Volume, Tone 1 (neck pickup), Tone 2 (bridge/middle pickups)
Nut	bone	Case	Vintage-Style Black (Orange Interior)
Nut width	1.650" / 42 mm	Country of origin	United States