Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster Electric Guitar - 3-tone Sunburst Reviews
In the heyday of early-’60s surf rock, Fender and several guitarists were on a quest to uncover the perfect Strat sound. Everything from the newly manufactured Alnico III single-coil pickup down to the nitro gloss finish was manipulated with the goal of distilling Stratocaster tone like no other. With the American Vintage II Strat, Fender has now brought back the quintessential 1961 model with unparalleled authenticity. Built with alder and maple, and rosewood tonewoods and featuring an exclusive trio of single-coil Strat pickups, the ’61 Strat is a perfect emulation of a beloved axe classic. Considering it retains the same “C” neck profile and familiar fretboard access, holding an American Vintage II guitar feels akin to wielding an instrument rife with legendary 20th-century tone.
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Highest Rated Reviews
The Vintage ii ‘61 Strat could not be better….
I have been waiting for this 61 sunburst model to come back in stock for some time now. As luck had it, I was able to get a demo model without any noticeable imperfections. Everything about this guitar is amazing, from the hard case, to the finish, to the tuning stability, and of course the pickups. The bluesy tone of the neck pickup is exactly what I have been looking for, and the bridge pickup doesn't sound as shrill as other vintage pickups have been reported to be. I play it through a MXR 10 band EQ, into a '68 Custom Fender Vibrolux Reissue and can get just the right mid boost that I'm looking for with this setup. I am very pleased with this most recent take on the '61 Stratocaster, as well as Sweetwater and their excellent customer service.
Fantastic guitar for the price
When I saw fender introduce this lineup I was so excited to get one in my collection. I was bummed to see they weren't widely available however I was able to score a demo model. I own other strats and strat type guitars like a PRS silver sky. The American vintage ii 61 strat is such a solid guitar. It doesn't have the modern features which I don't mind, however if your like me and wanted a vintage style guitar you can go wrong with this!
This is the Guitar of my dreams !
I saw this guitar on Rhett Shull's U-Tube channel , and I thought it was the best guitar to ever play. I am a huge Rory Gallagher fan. I believe that his was 1961 with the C neck and 7.25 neck radius. I have built pawn shop parts casters and nothing I ever had was better than the exact neck and body. I am 62 years old, blind now but a Strat is all I can play. I broke my shoulder and arm on my left hand and I have large hands and trying to play anything else my hand goes numb. I can pick a C neck, 7.25 strat and it becomes an extension of my arm, Sir David Gilmore, Rory. It is magic in my hands and heart. Thank you for making this. I may never own one, but it will forever be my unicorn.
I could never afford this guitar in my teens and 20s
If I were asked to lay down a track there was a '57-'61 Stratocaster in the studio. I would lay down the track , collect my money and move along. These guitars are so wonderful. I have always had long fingers and any neck thinner just felt wrong. At 61 years old I shattered my shoulder and arm in that region and these specifications are amazingly all that I can play. My Epiphone LesPaul Special I, the P90s sound great but the thin neck causes numbness and I immediately have to wake my hand back up. Unfortunately my Epiphone 12 string acoustic does the same thing. I picked up a classic Strat and immediately I was back. A C or U neck , 7.25 radius and used. Many people must love these too. My wife just shook her head no with a tear and suggested that maybe I could sell my 1965 Ford FE powered that would be running SS if I could see to drive, but my 40 year old son takes me for a blast and once you have heard a proper FE idling with that cam and at 7000 shifting… He and I built if from a rusty hulk to be a very nasty car that will take you lunch money and most of it was pulled from various junk piles and we made a lot of it. You can't sell it. But nothing in my hands feels better than the Vintage Reissue I I Stratocaster in classic burst , ball bat neck and 7.25 radius. Absolutely nothing. If I could buy it I would, but we are on pensions. What wasn't stolen in the 90s was frozen in unholy terrible rates. The company files Chapter 7 gives themselves a $ Million golden parachute. I love this guitar, and would be buried with it if I had one. So, get them while you can! There is no guitar made that is more versatile, and tonally perfect. Sir David Gilmour is still playing one of the same ilk. And ""Comfortably Numb" 2nd solo still pulls my soul out from the original to now live at Pompei, Royal Albert, and Gdansk. Buy One!
