1957 Fender Stratocaster
The 1957 Stratocaster — so iconic that it's the basis for Fender's most celebrated reissue series. One-piece maple neck, transitional sunburst finish, three single-coils at their finest. The definitive pre-CBS Strat year.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Alder (two-piece) |
| Neck Wood | Maple (one-piece) |
| Fingerboard | Maple (integral) |
| Scale Length | 25.500" |
| Frets | 21 |
| Pickup Config | SSS |
| Bridge | Synchronized tremolo |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe single-line |
| Nut Width | 1.65" |
| Finish Options | Two-tone Sunburst (transitioning to three-tone), Custom colors |
| Est. Production | 2,700 |
Pickups & Electronics
Three single-coil pickups. Some transitional examples with two-tone vs three-tone sunburst.
What Changed in 1957
The transition from two-tone to three-tone sunburst. The '57 Strat has become the most reproduced Fender vintage model, indicating its status. These guitars represent the Strat at full maturity before the rosewood fingerboard era.
Notable Examples
Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'Number One' is often described as being assembled from mid-1950s Strat components. The '57 Strat is referenced constantly in guitar culture.
Collector's Notes
Custom colors from 1957 are extremely rare and astronomically valuable. Two-tone vs three-tone sunburst transition — check for consistency of original finish. The '57 Strat is heavily faked and modified — expert verification critical above $30K.