Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster

Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster®

1965 was a year of seismic change in music — the British Invasion was in full swing, Dylan had just gone electric, and the Stratocaster was right in the middle of all of it, transitioning into the instrument that would define rock for decades to come. The American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster captures that exact moment with period-accurate precision, from the transition-era logo and larger pearl dot inlays to the legendary gray-bottom pickups that give this guitar a tone unlike any other year’s Strat.

Key Features

• Body: Alder finished in gloss nitrocellulose lacquer — period-correct and tonally superior for its natural aging properties
• Neck: Maple with authentic 1965 “C” profile
• Fretboard: Round-laminated rosewood with larger pearl dot inlays — a hallmark detail of the mid-’60s transition era
• Pickups: Pure Vintage ’65 gray-bottom single-coil Strat® pickups — meticulously voiced to capture the unique, slightly warmer character of that specific year
• Tremolo: Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo with bent steel saddles for authentic ’60s feel and tone
• Details: 11-hole 3-ply white pickguard, iconic CBS transition logo with larger lettering — all period-correct to 1965
• Finish Options: Sonic Blue, Candy Apple Red — two of the most iconic Fender colors of the era

Why Buy from Dietze Music

The gray-bottom pickups alone make this one of the most distinctive-sounding Stratocasters in the entire American Vintage II lineup, and we’d love for you to hear that difference firsthand in Lincoln, Omaha, or Bellevue, NE. Stop by any of our locations or call us at (800) 357-1535 — our staff can walk you through what makes the 1965 model unique among the American Vintage II series and help you choose between two of Fender’s most beloved classic colors.

Ideal For

The serious player or collector who appreciates the nuance of year-specific Fender tone and wants an authentic mid-’60s Stratocaster experience — and anyone who has ever dreamed of owning a Sonic Blue or Candy Apple Red Strat straight from the golden era.