1954-58 Fender Stratocaster

The  Fender Stratocaster was introduced in 1954.  This 1st Generation Stratocaster featured a fretted 1pc maple neck, 2 color sunburst-finish double-cutaway body (some rare color finishes), three knobs and three-way selector, eight-screw pickguard, and a regular bridge (hardtail) or vibrato bridge.  In 1954, all production Stratocasters were 2 tone sunburst Ash bodies, with a Thick Deep (0.92” / 1.00”) V profile 1pc "Skunk stripe" Maple Neck with a Walnut "plug", Bakelite knobs and covers.  As the year that started it all, Stratocasters from 1954 are extremely collectible and prized instruments currently selling for $50,000-$250,000.

The 1957 Fender Stratocaster is considered one of the true classic Stratocasters and switched from Ash to Alder as their primary body wood mid 1956, so ‘57 is the first year with all Adler strats (excluding those with a blonde finish).   There was a gradual switch from bakelite to plastic pickup covers and control knobs, so some variation and mix between the exist within '57 Strats.  '57 Strats were mostly "2-tone" sunburst, with Blonde and Black available as custom finishes.

The 2nd Generation Stratocaster introduced in 1959 with noteworthy changes including the switch from "2-tone" to "3-tone" sunburst, now included red tones along with the black and yellow, the switch from the thicker V-shaped neck profile to a thinner profile Neck (0.91” / 0.99”), and the switch from Maple to Slab Rosewood fingerboard mid-year

 

Eric Clapton's 1956/57 Fender "Blackie" Stratocaster sold by Christies in 2004 for $959,500

 

Mary Kaye's 1956 Fender "Mary Kaye" Stratocaster  SN #09391 sold by Juliens 11/21/24 for $227,500

1954 Fender Stratocaster David Gilmour “Serial #0001” sold 6/19/19 by Christies for $1,815,000

 

1955 Fender Stratocaster Jerry Garcia "Alligator" SN 7310 - sold by Bonhams 2019 to Andy Logan for $524,000

• 2022 Fender Jerry Garcia Alligator Strat® Relic®, 1-Piece Rift Sawn Maple Neck, Aged Natural  MSRP $20,000

 

Eric Clapton's 'Blackie' Stratocaster Reissue

1956/57 Fender Stratocaster Eric Clapton "Blackie" sold by Christies in 2004 for $959,500

 

1956-59 Fender "Mary Kaye" Stratocaster  - The original/1st “Mary Kaye” SN 09391- sold by Juliens 11/21/24 for $227,500

 

Buddy Guy's Fender Custom Shop '56 Stratocaster - One of Buddy’s favorite guitars that Buddy currently plays as his main performance guitar                                       
                

• BUILD Ash body with bolt-on one-piece maple neck, 21 frets
• HARDWARE Kluson single-line tuners, vibrato bridge
• ELECTRICS 3x single-coil pickups, 1x volume, 2x tone, 3-way switch
• FINISH Nitrocellulose
• SCALE LENGTH 647mm/25.5”
• NECK WIDTH 41.7mm at nut, 50.9mm at 12th fret
• NECK DEPTH 0.866” (22mm) at first fret, 0.95” (24mm) at 12th fret
• STRING SPACING 34.4mm at nut, 55.5mm at bridge
• WEIGHT 3.61kg/7.96lb

The M5 Guitar is a 1994 Fender '54 Stratocaster Reissue MIJ Fujigen ExTrad SN S002944, 40th Anniversary Limited Edition 1 of only 25 made. One of the internets leading sourcing of Stratocaster information, FUZZFACED, features the actual  Mach Five Guitar as their example of a 40th Anniversary '54 Stratocaster !!

As a Limited Edition for Japanese domestic market with only 25 made, this model was the most expensive Strat the Japanese ever made  at the time with features including:

• Commemorative neck plate engraved with "Fender 40th ANNIVERSARY STRATOCASTER 1994"
• Japanese version Mary Kaye with Aged White blonde finish and gold hardware (US Version in 2 Color Sunburst)
• Body Material: Lightweight Ash in Aged White Blonde ONLY
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Body Shape: Stratocaster
• Neck Material: Selected Maple
• Neck Finish: Oil Finish
• Neck Shape: "V" Type  (0.975" @12th)
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Material: Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 7.25” (184 mm)
• Number of Frets: 21 Vintage Style
• Nut Width: 1.650" (42mm)
• Position Inlays: Black dots, Wide Spacing
• Truss Rod: Vintage Style
• Skunk Stripe & Walnut Plug
• Made in Japan decal
• Serial Number: Back of the neck
• Small headstock Spaghetti logo
• Other Decals, front: "STRATOCASTER", "WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO", "ORIGINAL Contour Body"
• Other Decals, back: Custom Edition Logo
• Pickups: Di Marzio Blue Velvet (Mid RWRP), Hand-Built, Loose Winding, Alnico Staggered Poles
• Controls: 3-Way Switch, Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck), Tone 2. (Mid)
• Bridge: S8F Vintage Style, Steel Block
• Saddles: Vintage Style, "FENDER"/"FENDER" same directions
• Tuning Machines: Vintage Style
• String Tree: Button
• Hardware: Gold Plated
• Pickguard: 1-Ply Aluminum White, 8 Hole
• Plastics: White

Original MSRP was 150,000 yen or ~USD1500 in 1994, the most expensive guitar ever produced in Japan at the time.  Adjusted for inflation this equates to ~$3200 in 2025.

 

The History of the Fender Stratocaster: The 1950s - Fender

THE Stratocaster Database - FUZZFACED

1954 Fender Stratocaster - The Strat Collector

1956 Fender "Mary Kaye" Stratocaster

1957 Fender Stratocaster- The Strat Collector

 

 

 

Buddy Guy "Damn Right, I've Got the Blues" 

 

The History of the Fender Stratocaster: The 1950s - Fender

THE Stratocaster Database - FUZZFACED

1954 Fender Stratocaster - The Strat Collector

1956 Fender "Mary Kaye" Stratocaster

1957 Fender Stratocaster- The Strat Collector

Pre-CBS Fender Stratocasters: everything you need to know | Guitar World

The Fender Stratocaster: A Short History

Fender Japan: A Short History