1965 Fender Candy Apple Red Stratocaster

Officially available in Fender’s catalogue from 1963, Candy Apple Red quickly became one of the company’s most popular colours. In fact, it’s said that if you scratch the surface of a 60s Candy Apple Red Strat (hypothetically speaking, we’re not advising you to do so!), you’re likely to find a Sunburst finish underneath, as many guitars seem to have been resprayed this colour at the request of customers. After all, it was the 1960s and it seemed that everyone wanted a red Strat! Part of the allure of this custom colour was the fact that it was metallic, the finish being achieved by using a silver undercoat that was subsequently over sprayed with translucent red. A novelty, no doubt, in the decade that saw the Stratocaster’s rise in popularity.

The other thing of interest here – certainly to the collector’s market – is the transition logo on the headstock. With the sale of Fender to CBS in 1965, the new management decided to consolidate the logo, as they considered that there had been a confusing array of different designs up until that point. So, graphic designer Robert Perine came up with that slightly larger, and considerably more legible, gold-outlined-in-black logo that was to sit atop headstocks until it was changed once again to the more familiar black ‘70s’ type that was in use until the early 1980s.

Our sample here is in remarkably good condition for its age with very few battle scars in evidence. The nitro finish may have aged like it always does and some of the sparkle from the Candy Apple might have dulled, but we’re betting that it sounds as good as ever!

With thanks to the New Kings Road Guitar Emporium (www.newkingsroadguitars.co.uk) for allowing us access to this stunning guitar.