Fender 2023 Masterbuilt Stephen Stern '65 Hardtail Strat NOS

Get for £7,585 (+P&P) by paying via Bank Transfer (U.K. only). Email ed@smokestackguitars.co.uk and follow instructions in "Bank Transfer" section below - we will respond to you ASAP.

Have a guitar to trade-in? We can accept trade-ins of top condition instruments for part-exchange, please get in touch via the above email address for a valuation.

Fender 2023 Custom Shop Masterbuilt Stephen Stern '65 Stratocaster Hardtail NOS in Fiesta Red w/Genuine Vintage Hardtail Strat Bridge (Debossed Logo) Newly Plated, AAA Rosewood Round-Lam Fretboard, '65 Strat "C" Neck Profile & Custom Shop '65 Strat Single-Coil Pickups + Build Photographs

Serial: R129097

Extremely Rare - One of, if not "the" last Stephen Stern Fender

Stephen Stern Masterbuilt Strat from 2023! - Only 3.09kg/6.81lbs!

This Strat is highly likely the last Fender Masterbuilt crafted by the highly revered Gretsch (and formerly Fender) Custom Shop Senior Master Builder Stephen Stern before his unannounced retirement in 2023.

See below for more details.

TL;DR:

Every Fender aficionado needs a Hardtail Strat in their life...and we think this could be just about the coolest modern Hardtail ever, as well as being historically significant! With exceptional resonance and an unbelievably light 3.09kg weight, you will not be able to put this Stern masterpiece down!

Preface

This Strat is highly likely "the" last Fender Masterbuilt crafted by the highly revered Gretsch (and formerly Fender) Custom Shop Senior Master Builder Stephen Stern before his unannounced retirement in the first half of 2023.

It is one of his last ever Masterbuilt guitars (from Gretsch or Fender Custom Shops). It was completed on 18/05/2023, just 6 days before his retirement on 24/05/2023 - on that date, he finished his final production guitar, a Custom Shop Gretsch G6099. Stephen penned a letter with the G6099 stating this and his retirement date from Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

Fender has confirmed this special Hardtail Strat by Stephen is "1 of 1", but has been unable to provide any further details regarding the chronology of Stephen's final build line-up. However, based on publicly available information, we do not suspect Stephen produced any other Fenders in 2023. We also think it is extremely unlikely that another Masterbuilt Fender was produced by Stephen within the six days between completing this build and his final Gretsch Custom Shop G6099.

In an effort of full transparency, we are selling this as "one of" his very last Fenders, whilst we suspect, in all likelihood (but cannot 100% confirm) it to be the final one. We have tried reaching out directly to Stephen Stern, but have so far been unable to receive a comment. If you have any questions about the guitar, please get in contact. We'd be happy to discuss further details!

Overview

This Fender 2023 Masterbuilt Stephen Stern '65 Hardtail Strat in Fiesta Red is one spicy little stunner!

Yes, you read that right, a Fender Masterbuilt by Stephen Stern in 2023 - it is not hyperbole to say that this is one of the most exciting Fenders that we've had to date!

Stephen Stern is a name immediately recognisable to Fender and Gretsch aficionados. Originally hired by John Page, back in 1993, Stephen rapidly became a Fender Master Builder and then Senior Master Builder. Highly revered as a meticulous craftsman and often celebrated for his outstanding archtop luthiery, Stephen naturally found his way to Gretsch, where he became the founder of their Custom Shop.

After moving to Gretsch and creating the Custom Shop (in a corner of Fender's Corona factory) in 2004, Stephen sporadically returned to craft a limited amount of Fender Masterbuilts over the subsequent years.

With a date on the certificate of 18/05/2023, what we have here is not only one of the very last guitars (from either brand) that Stephen produced before retirement, but there is a high chance it could even be thefinal guitar he made for Fender. In either case, it is one of his final guitars.

Since retirement, his Masterbuilt Gretsch and Fender guitars are becoming increasingly collectible. Do not miss out on your chance to own one of Fender's finest, crafted by one of their most outstanding luthiers of all time! 

One of our favourite features of this guitar is the genuine vintage Fender Hardtail brass bridge. The original owner who ordered the guitar sourced and supplied this bridge to Stephen during the build process. Stephen had it chrome-plated, and it looks incredible! The debossed Fender logo is not something you see often on a hardtail bridge (this one we believe is circa 1980s), and it adds a really unique touch to the overall aesthetics.

Other classy appointments include the Brown Tortoiseshell Pickguard, AAA Rosewood Round-Lam Fretboard and a triptych of Custom Shop '65 Strat Single Coil pickups. 

This guitar has come to us from a customer well-known to us at Smokestack. It is in excellent condition throughout and has had only extremely limited play since new, as evidenced by the immaculate frets.

Please be aware that when the guitar left Fender and arrived at the UK dealer, it sustained a minor paint chip on the edge of the neck pocket (on the treble-side cutaway). We had some colour-matched nitrocellulose paint made and had it professionally touched in. Due to the nature and location of this chip, the repair isn't completely disguised, but you now have to actively look for it to notice. Please see the highlighted final photo. Apart from this, the guitars shows only the most minor signs of any playwear.

Please see the Floor Traveler in the gallery for full specifications, or get in touch for more information!

The weight of this Strat is a physics-defying 3.09kg (6.81lbs). Please see the photos for all the included case candy. The Custom Shop hardshell case is in excellent condition.

Shipping information is available below. This Stephen Stern '65 Strat is feature-packed - if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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See our other instruments for a stunning selection of the unique, boutique, elusive & off-beat!