I have a 59 Custom Shop Strat that i'm in love with. Not vintage, but I feel lucky to have it. Jumbo Frets, Olympic White, 59C Flamed Neck, & John Cruz pickups

One of your best videos. Beautiful guitars. Farmer’s hard tail Strat is just incredible . Nice teaser at the end

I love my mid '59 hard tail Strat. Very light, loud, great tone, the 9 hole guard, and everything else about it. It's a keeper for life!!

What a fabulous video❕ Thank you so much. The 59 is the Holy Grail of guitars 🎸 for me. I keep learning so much from everyone’s videos. It was great to see Matthew talking about his 59. I was dazzled by the others as well. I’ll never be able to afford one but I was lucky 🍀 enough to get a new Custom Shop 59 Reissue at a tremendous saving. I’ve never played a vintage 59 so I can say I am very pleased with my guitar because I don’t have the real thing to compare it to. I hope no one looks down on me for not having a vintage 59. I’ll never be able to afford one and my reissue works for me 🩷. 👋 I hope everyone enjoys their guitars. 👍☮️🌞🎸🎵🩵

That intro really reminded me why I love Fender and the Stratocaster, my first elektric guitar was a strat, I play them every day, they're just inspiring. I really enjoyed that video, keep that content goin' man!

When I built my Warmoth parts caster that's the look I went with. White with the mint pickguard is, imo, the best looking of the custom colors

Great video! I love those early Fenders... I am into G&L Legacy and Asat guitars now. I love them. I ordered my first G&L build 30 years ago. A Asat classic.. Last year i ordered a custom Legacy Special. And last> 3 days ago i ordered a custom Asat Special.. Thanks for sharing the video. 👋

My very first guitar was a 1954 Stratocaster my dad gave to me for Christmas of 1963. It lit up my world. Those first frets were driven in from the side, IIRC. These days, I am happy to have an American Original '50s in white blonde. The neck on that is nice and chunky and the guitar is the most resonant of any Fender I have ever played, and I've been playing 59 years.

Cool that Matt also was in that video!

Beautiful 59's... I'm a huge fan myself. I just picked up a 59 that someone had destroyed the finish many years ago by painting it green... I did a burst refinish to it, and love it. Everything else was original including 304-5946 pots, and trem cavity date of 11/59... I'm ready for my next project...

Superb! I also prefer the "Slabs". I own a 54' (50 years) , a 58' (48 years) and a 62' Slab. Hands down on the playability of the Slabs. Further, they have less treble than the maple necks. A better balanced guitar due to the rosewood fingerboard. My opinion. But then , Jeff (Who Else!) preferred them. Further, I know the orginals are not cheap , but they are far superior to the reissues. I also own two reissues and they do not sound anywhere as a good as the real thing.

Damn, I wish you still had that tele too. Absolutely beautiful. Great reviews.

I'm sure some people will be like why do you need two 59 strats and yeah probably there's is no real need for two. That is untill you play them and you start to find the little nuances in each guitar that little journey each guitar takes you on each time you play. I don't think you can put a price on that emotionally anyway

WoW thanks Nik that was awesome really enjoyed that!!!👍🏼👍🏼

I was looking at that 59 reifin and was heartbroken when it sold. Glad it ended up with you!

The 59 is my year. I’m saving like crazy to get one. This video was epic. Thank you so much for getting it together. I really loved 💕 seeing those original 59 guitars. I don’t like the dirty look of the maple fretboards so the introduction of the rosewood fretboard in 59 kinda’ tipped me over and was the decider for vintage Strats as far as I’m concerned. I think the Stratocaster is really a work of art because of the terrific design curves and the guitar’s visual elements. It’s a thing of beauty and a joy 🥰 forever. And it sounds absolutely fabulous. 👍☮️🌞🎸🎵❤️

The first two books were already on my list but that third one really looks like something I need!

Great vid, in love with yours and Matts 59’s! You have a great tone too, cheers. 👍🏻

Absolutely brilliant thank you

Awesome video. Can you believe my luck that my first vintage strat was a 59? The sound is incredible and so different from other strats. Glad someone else noticed it

15K!!! LETS GO!!!!

My 1959 strat dated 6/59 in pencil came with a single ply pickguard. Rosewood fretboard. Bought un a pawn shop un 1965 forma $120.

Solid acquisition. Stoked for you, dude!

Great work, appreciate the effort

Isn’t Mike Mcreedys strat a 60? I love the look of that white strat. Perfect combination of the rosewood on white with that mint green guard. Beautiful

Fantastic video Nik and friends, thanks for sharing. I've never had my hands on a '59 Strat (closest would be a '60 hardtail Strat I played at a used shop many years back) but my '59 LP Jnr has a magic that makes it one of my favourite guitars.

I had a 59' Blonde with gold hardware "Mary Kaye" in the late 80's. Never should have sold that one... Mine had a date of 9/59' in trem route which I read that it was the first month of the rosewood necks. Nice vid!

I have a mim 1959 replica Thanks for the info

THE SUSPENSE! AAHHHHH! Awesome video Nik. Love how you got all the boys involved. Must say it's my dream to have a '59 strat. I'll never be able to afford one, but it would be very amazing just to hold and play one before I can't play anymore. As always, love the content. Jam on bro. 😎

Great post Nik. The best things are from 59 (me). Would love a 59 strat hard tail.

The 59 slab boards a what dreams are made ..

Love your videos Nik! I have discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and I might have seen all of them in this period of time. Unfortunately it is very difficult to see guitars like those in Europe, and even more difficult in Spain. I am a huge SRV fan and that's how I arrived here, I own a 2010 deluxe strat because of him and also because of Frusciante. If a sunburst 62 knocks my door .... I'd probably go for it. Cheers from southern Spain!

Beautiful guitars for sure!!

Thank you. Amazing stories. Keep it up, Brother.

Great video Nik.. Beautiful ‘59 Strats I have gear envy 😊

You've really improved the lighting in this video Nik. Was that deliberate or was the sun shining 😂 love the channel mate as a fender guy a Stevie and jimi fan this feels like home

Man I love your new 59. To me, there's something about that olympic white with that yellowy/mint green pickguard that I adore! I don't even care that it's a refin, that thing ia a beauty!

I truly believe that Stevie Ray Vaughan was simply calling his '63 Strat w/a '62 neck a '59 because of the pickups that proved so worthy of him more so than the previous owner Christopher Cross!

Always loved your channel man! Keep it up!

G’day Soss! That was an amazing intro sir! You just cannot emulate the sound of a vintage guitar! Truly beautiful mate! All the best mate to you, your family and friends and followers! 👍🇦🇺

Thanx Nik

Awesome video and fantastic information! I also love 1959 Fenders, and own a 1959 Champ (all original; payed $200 for it as a Freshman in college 20+ years ago). I have wanted a 1959 Stratocaster for a long time, and am on the lookout for a left-handed one. Guess I’m stuck with my 1989 lefty American Standard Stratocaster until I can find and afford a ‘59.

This might be a strange comment but the wear on the bottom horn & near the output jack is beautiful on Nik's 59 burst!

There was a prototype strat before and it was the same but only had a narrow hole in the back that only held 3 springs

Happy for you brother. Thats a sharp guitar.

Tessmer is a good dude

Awesome video, mate.

What a beauty

AMAZING VIDEO!! The ‘59 is my dream guitar!!! I would love to hear your thoughts on the ‘59 AVRI’s or custom shop ‘59’s etc in comparison for those like myself who are unable to make such a purchase. Thank you and very much appreciated as always. Your info is like gold to me 🙏🏼

Finally been waiting for this content....hey nik another great book(s) you may like ( probably already have them ) is "strat in the attic" there is to volumes just guitar hunting stories

What a video dude! Cool stuff. Peace!

Great video. New subscriber 👍

Great video , I love your channel 🔥🔥

you deserve way more subs than you’re given, thanks man amazing videos

Nik, this is my favorite channel on youtube! So raw, honest and pure! Congrats on the new lady bro!

😳 Beautiful, but man, around $35,000 is steeeeeep. Nice video

So please clarify, once the slab rw board strats started in production, were there no one piece maple necks being made? When did the maple caps begin? In 59? Roughly what was the percentage of rw to maple fretboards from 59 to 65? Thx in advance, beautiful guitars, thx for sharing!

Amazing video !👌🏻. I think it’s your time for a 59 335/345!

Awesome

The difference between Slab VS Veneer is like I am here. The other guy isn’t

Nik, who puts outs good single coil pickups for the fenders? thanks

Not sure y’all will get this - I got verification from Lindy Fralin that my pickups are definitely vintage. When I bought them 15 years ago I was told they were 1959s - Mr. Fralin said that that it would be practically impossible to state exactly they were 59s. Do y’all have any ideas that can help me better date my pups? I’m in dire need of money and would like to sell them. Thanks🙏🙏🙏

yep , people are always yacking about the gibson 59 lp burst but fender made some fine guitars that year to , btw , check out the esquire that you're friend mathew has just bought , man , that thing sounds wicked .

Dude can you answer a vintage Strat question for me: I have a Strat repro made by a luthier named Chihoe Hahn. He makes great guitars by hand. Anyway this Strat is alder, a 3 tone sunburst (although the red is extremely subtle, you can miss it), with a slab rosewood fingerboard. It also has a single ply pickguard, with the 50s style number of screws. My question is - did Fender ever makes guitars with those specs? cheers!

I wish my 1960 was a 59

Hey Nik have you seen the Fender Custom Shop Mike McCready Strat for sale on Reverb? It was recreated by a Masterbuilder who took apart his Strat. It was revealed to be a 1960 not a 59 during the process.

Leo had so many brilliant ideas. I cringe when I see guys pull off the bent steel saddles. It was only changed by Fender marketing from complaints by customers that they would dig into your hand.Yes the guys in the suits who don't play as usual think they knew better. The myth is that solid steel saddles and ones with more mass give you more tone and sustain. WRONG! First the sustain from the wood is at worst the same but it has a very complex and rich tone.BUT ...the really big one is even today with gourmet bridges NOTHING give you the tone or sustain of the original steel saddles. It is simple. Bent steel saddles flex under the downward pressure of the strings and dig in thus locking in the saddle to the bridge. They just do not move. With any other saddle when you strum vigorous or bend a note or use finger vibrato all other saddles slide/move. It interrupts and even stops the vibration killing you sustain and tone. The irony is they are the least expensive saddles to make. So guys who thing they are upgrading by changing them are in fact downgrading them.Some guys think if they just buy a higher grade of steel it will be even better. NO! They depend on being able to flex just a bit to clamp down and a higher grade of steel just kills that.

Which tuners did you install as a replacement to the originals? Gotoh?

The year I was born.

You should play a custom shop 59 and tell us less fortunate if they are close enough to buy lol 😂

"59s are just great man, it's that year it's right before 60, it's still in the 50s" 👌🏽. He's not wrong.

I just bought a 1966 Strat…..has the transitional headstock, but it’s the smaller one. Does anyone else know how many smaller headstock 66 s made it out of the factory.

Saw somewhere you had said you set guitar action quite high, how high? I’ve been setting my strats higher with more relief and it seems easier to play and the percussion chuks sound better.

What are the closest modern day pickups the the originals in your opinion?

You have and advice on noisy springs on a strat? I can hear mine when I use the whammy bar.

Very cool and interessting video! Just subscribed to your channel! (I own a 59‘ myself although a reissue 😂) Would die to know how much you guys payed for those guitars. 😁

Cant wait to check that out after work. Question , how loud is it when you get your Jimmy/SRV clean breaking up tone? Like 105db? Cheers love the videos

I feel like Strats are like cars. There were some years were manufacturers really focus on the product and nailed it at the end the with result.

I used to hate Stratocasters. Lol Because I'm stupid. I'm still stupid but not about Strats!

Let me know if you do one of these for 61's :)

also , congrats with the new 59 strat !

i hope you’re able to own a real 54’ strat one day

Wanna borrow it to me ? 😂

Interesting video, i just played my old strat recently, don't think it's collectible but it sure does sound good kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gZ5mo9Ggzs22paM.html