The American Vintage Series
The American Vintage Stratocaster line represented Fender’s commitment to refining its heritage models for modern players while honoring the company’s legacy. The first major update came in 1998, when the American Vintage ’57 and ’62 Stratocasters debuted. Built in Fender’s new Corona facility, these guitars featured more accurate vintage details, including nitro finishes, correct headstock shapes, rolled fingerboard edges, period-correct neck profiles, and newly designed “Original ’57/’62” pickups based on pre-CBS examples. A ’70s model was later added in 2006.
In 2012, Fender launched the second series under the “Pure Vintage Project.” Led by Mike Lewis and George Blanda, the team meticulously studied original instruments across the U.S., re-creating tooling, finishes, and components with unprecedented accuracy. New models included the ’56, ’59, and ’65 Stratocasters, each with period-correct pickups, hardware, and finishes. Marketed under the motto “Historic Benchmark, American Originals,” the series became a definitive statement of Fender’s craftsmanship and historical authenticity.