1961 Fender Stratocaster
The 1961 Strat — slab board, three-tone sunburst or custom colors, refined pre-CBS construction. These are the guitars that Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan would later make into legends.
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 |
| Fingerboard | Brazilian Rosewood (slab board) |
| Scale Length | 25.500" |
| Frets | 21 |
| Pickup Config | SSS |
| Bridge | Synchronized tremolo |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe single-line |
| Finish Options | Three-tone Sunburst, Custom colors (Olympic White, Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue) |
| Est. Production | 5,500 |
Pickups & Electronics
Three single-coil pickups. Three-way switch — players discovered the 'in-between' positions (between neck/middle and middle/bridge) by wedging the switch.
What Changed in 1961
Late slab-board era — some of the finest pre-CBS Strats. Custom colors were becoming more widely available. The Strat's design had reached a refined peak before CBS purchased Fender in 1965.
Collector's Notes
Custom colors command massive premiums — Olympic White (cream-aged), Fiesta Red, and Lake Placid Blue are the most sought-after. Original slab board must be present. Check for replaced pickguard (the white plastic yellows and is often replaced).