VINTAGE FENDER 25TH ANNIVERSARY STRATOCASTER 1979 W/CASE & COA

In 1979, Fender celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Stratocaster (introduced in 1954) with the first “anniversary” instrument, and the first Fender instrument to be issued in a pre-determined and numbered, limited quantity.

The first 500 or so instruments produced were finished in Pearl White. However, due to the instability of the finish and the checking that resulted, many were recalled and re-finished in Porsche Silver (though Fender refers to it as “25th Anniversary Stratocaster Silver”), the color that was used in the rest of the production run.

The 1979 Anniversary Stratocaster is significant for a number of reasons. It represents both a look behind and a look ahead for Fender. Features of note include: reversion to the four bolt neck plate; abandonment of the “bullet” truss rod adjustment in favor of the truss rod adjustment at the body end of the neck; and, the first use of “locking tuners” in a Fender guitar (Sperzel)

This one has had an interesting history as the Sample account guitar for a Fender Sales rep.  It has the heavy checking and flaking that was a consistant issue with the early Pearl White guitars. 

This also has the original Stickers on the pickguard and original COA, cloth, strap, cable and hardshell case.