The Best Year for the Strat? – True Vintage Guitar

After owning a Stratocaster from every pre-CBS year, the ones that stick out to me as being the best are the two I’ve had that were made in 1957. 1957 seems to be the year that Fender had the Stratocaster model refined to the point that the moved on to the next guitar model. The market value of the Strats from 1957 fairly high as a result of the demand by players for the best examples of guitars from that year.

I’m always on the hunt for the best examples of Stratocasters made in 1957. I’m especially looking for clean guitars and any in the special colors listed below. You can contact me here: Sell a Fender.

How much did a Stratocaster cost in 1957?

Fender’s price list from 1957 is the best place to find out how much a Stratocaster cost in 1957: $249.50 for a hardtail, $274.50 for a Stratocaster with Synchronized Tremolo, and as much as $330 for the Stratocaster in Blond finish with 14 Carat Gold Plated hardware! Fender offered three different versions of the Stratocaster in 1957 with three different prices. The most interesting update for this price list is the addition of the asterisk next to the Stratocaster model name. The footnote explains that the asterisk indicates that this model is “Available in custom DuPont Ducco finishes – 5% additional cost.” 1957 is the first year that this footnote is added to the price list, but the official custom color chart wasn’t available until 1961. 

To find out how much is a 1957 Stratocaster worth today, you can reach out to me here: How much is a Stratocaster worth?.

 

How many Stratocasters were made in 1957?

Production numbers for Fender guitars made in the 1950s and 1960s have eluded guitar collectors for decades now. Since Fender was privately owned, the were not required to publicize how many guitars they made during a given year. Guitar collector rumors state that Leo thought that publicizing how many guitars the made would be a liability to him, so he kept that information hidden. Even today, the production totals have not publicly surfaced. The best answer to how many Stratocasters were made in 1957 is: we don’t know. 

Have a 1957 Stratocaster? Get in touch: Sell a Fender.

What makes a 1957 Stratocaster special?

The primary feature that guitar players and collectors value a 1957 Stratocaster is the neck profile, but there are other features specific to that year which make it desirable. Most 1957 Stratocaster have a V shaped neck profile, which differs significantly from the more common C shaped profile. The sides of the back of the neck taper in a flat shape toward the center which makes the V shape when viewing a cross section of the neck. 

It’s interesting that most of the 1957 Stratocasters shipped with a red lined tween case with a white tag that reads, “U. S. Koylon Foam Cushioning…” like the picture below. Do you have a Stratocaster with the Koylon tag in the case? Get in touch: Sell a Fender.

Other features of 1957 Stratocasters which make them special are the light weight wood, thin but sturdy finishes, and custom features like anodized aluminum. The two ’57 Stratocasters I’ve had were both stunning examples that I miss very much. The Sunburst 1957 Stratocaster had premium figured wood for the neck and was such a great player. The other example I’ve owned was in a custom red Ducco finish with a gold anodized aluminum pickguard. You can check them out here:

1957 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst I purchased this guitar outside of Columbus, Ohio a few years ago. It’s a really great example that had an amazing figured Maple neck.

1957 Fender Stratocaster Red with gold pickguard I purchased this red 1957 Stratocaster in Albuquerque, New Mexico earlier this year. It’s a stunningly rare promotional guitar given to Fender endorser and friend of Leo, Roy Lanham. The original red custom color finish, gold anodized aluminum pickguard, and wide neck width make it among very few examples with such features. 

1957 Stratocasters with custom color finish and gold pickguard

Fender began using a gold anodized aluminum material for pickguards beginning in 1956 on student models like the Musicmaster and Duo Sonic. On special occasions however, Fender would make a Stratocaster model with the aluminum pickguard. One example is the Roy Lanham 1957 Stratocaster mentioned above, another is the Pee Wee Crayton Red Stratocasters, but the one that interests me the most is the one made for Fender endorser Charlie Aldrich. This is the metallic blue with gold pickguard Stratocaster that he appears with in the Zodiac Club scene of the film Bell, Book, and Candle. 

I would very much like to find the custom blue with gold pickguard 1957 Stratocaster that Charlie Aldrich is playing in this scene of Bell, Book, and Candle. Have you seen it? Get in touch: Contact me.

Considering selling a 1957 Stratocaster?

If you own a 1957 Stratocaster and are considering selling it, get in touch here: Sell a Fender. We think that Stratocasters from 1957 are some of the finest ever made. I’d love to have a shot at yours, or I may be able to connect you with the right collector.