1963 Fender Stratocaster Pre-CBS

Name: 1963 Fender Stratocaster Pre-CBS
Brand: Fender

fictures, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In January 1965, CBS bought Fender for $13 million. Quality declined almost immediately. That makes 1963 the sweet spot - the last full year of what collectors call the "pre-CBS" era, when Leo Fender's team was still building guitars by hand with nitrocellulose lacquer, clay dot markers, and spaghetti-logo headstocks. A 1963 Stratocaster in a rare custom color can now sell for $100,000 to $150,000+ - more than the annual revenue some Fender dealers did in 1963.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1963 Fender Stratocaster (Pre-CBS)
Year	1963
Category	Musical Instruments - Electric Guitar
Manufacturer	Fender Musical Instruments
Condition Range
Refretted, Some Modifications	$15,000 – $30,000
Original, Normal Play Wear	$30,000 – $60,000
All-Original, Excellent	$60,000 – $100,000
Rare Custom Colors	$100,000 – $150,000+
Rarity	Uncommon (several thousand made, but all-original examples are increasingly rare)

The Story

The Stratocaster debuted in 1954 as one of the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitars. Leo Fender and his team refined it continuously over the next decade - tweaking pickups, adjusting neck profiles, improving the tremolo system. By 1963, the Strat had reached maturity. Everything worked.

Then CBS came knocking. The corporate giant saw the booming guitar market and wanted in. Fender's founder, exhausted from running the company and dealing with health issues, sold. The checks cleared in January 1965. Almost immediately, CBS started making changes: cheaper materials, thicker finishes, less hand work. The guitars still said "Fender" on them. They just didn't feel like Fenders anymore.

The phrase "pre-CBS" became shorthand across the entire vintage guitar world - not just Fender - for authentic, uncompromised craftsmanship. And the 1963 Stratocaster, as the last complete year of that era, sits at the top.

How to Identify It

Key Features of a 1963 Stratocaster

Neck: Rosewood fingerboard. 1963 is a transition year - some have "slab board" rosewood (thicker, earlier) and some have "veneer board" (thinner, later). Slab boards are slightly more desirable
Fret markers: Clay dots (not pearloid)
Headstock logo: "Spaghetti" style Fender decal
Pickguard: Three-ply mint green (may have aged to a different shade)
Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer - ages, checks, and yellows beautifully
Pickups: Three single-coil pickups with cloth-wrapped wire
Serial number: On neck plate, L-series for 1963-65
Pot dates: Potentiometers should have date codes matching 1962-1963

Custom Colors

Most 1963 Stratocasters were sunburst. But Fender offered custom colors - Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White, Sonic Blue, Surf Green, and others - for an upcharge. Custom color Strats are significantly rarer and command dramatic premiums.

Verification

Check serial number on the neck plate (L-series)
Pot dates visible on the back of potentiometers (accessible by removing the pickguard)
Neck date stamp in the neck pocket (visible by removing the neck)
Body routing patterns specific to the era

Value by Condition

Condition	Description	Value
Player Grade	Refretted, some replaced parts, played hard	$15,000 – $30,000
Good Original	Normal play wear, original finish, most original parts	$30,000 – $50,000
Very Good	All original, light wear	$50,000 – $60,000
Excellent	All original, minimal wear	$60,000 – $100,000
Custom Color, Excellent	Rare factory color, all original	$100,000 – $150,000+

What drives the spread: Originality is paramount. Every modification reduces value. A refret (replacing the frets) knocks off 20-30%. A refinish (new paint) can cut value in half. Replaced pickups, changed tuners, or non-original electronics all matter. The market rewards patience in finding unmodified examples.

"Player grade" still has value. A 1963 Strat that's been refretted and refinished is still a 1963 Strat. At $15,000 to $30,000, it's a working instrument with the feel and sound of the real thing.

Authentication & Fakes

Serial numbers and pot dates must align. L-series serial on the neck plate, 1962-1963 pot dates
Body finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer (not polyester). Nitro ages with checking patterns and yellowing. Polyester stays glossy forever
Original pickups: Cloth-wrapped wire, specific DC resistance readings (~5.5-6.5k ohms per pickup)
Neck date stamp visible in the neck pocket when the neck is removed
Consult specialists: True Vintage Guitar, Edgewater Guitars, Gruhn Guitars, and similar dealers specialize in pre-CBS authentication
"Partscasters" - guitars assembled from parts of different years/models - are common. Every component should date to 1963

Where to Sell

Specialist vintage guitar dealers - True Vintage Guitar, Edgewater Guitars, Norman's Rare Guitars, Gruhn Guitars
Heritage Auctions - Growing vintage guitar auction department
Christie's / Bonhams - For exceptional examples with provenance
Reverb.com - Active online marketplace for vintage guitars
Guitar shows - Arlington Guitar Show, Nashville guitar shows

Not sure about your vintage Fender? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is a 1963 Fender Stratocaster worth?

$15,000 to $150,000+ depending on condition, originality, and color. Sunburst, all-original: $40,000 to $80,000. Custom colors can exceed $100,000.

What does "pre-CBS" mean?

It refers to Fender guitars made before CBS Corporation purchased Fender in January 1965. Pre-CBS guitars are considered the gold standard for vintage Fender quality.

My Strat has been refretted - is it still valuable?

Yes. A refretted 1963 Strat is still worth $15,000 to $30,000. Originality affects value, but a pre-CBS Stratocaster is always a significant guitar.

How important is the color?

Very. Sunburst was standard and most common. Custom colors (Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue, etc.) were rare and command 2-3x the price of a comparable sunburst.