The Fender American Vintage II series presents a remarkably accurate take on the revolutionary designs that altered the course of musical history. Built with period-accurate bodies, necks and hardware, premium finishes and meticulously voiced, year-specific pickups, each instrument captures the essence of authentic Fender craftsmanship and tone.During the late '50s and early '60s, the popularity of Fender musical instruments flourished, and although the Fender assortment had expanded to include many great new instruments, the Stratocaster reigned supreme. By 1961, the Stratocaster had taken on a more refined aesthetic, with a 3-Color Sunburst reformulated with a more vibrant red and bolder black edge, topped with a 3-ply pickguard accenting the Strat's signature curves.Featuring a premium alder body, a trio of Pure Vintage 1961 Stratocaster pickups and a medium C-Shaped maple neck mated with a 7.25-inch radius slab rosewood fingerboard, the American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster reproduces the quintessential tone and feel of the original. Other appointments include a vintage-accurate synchronized tremolo with cold rolled steel block and bent steel saddles, single-line Fender Deluxe tuners and 3-ply pickguard.The instruments in the American Vintage II series are direct descendants of the original Fenders: designed for players with a fine appreciation for vintage Fender tone and feel and built with unmatched quality, down to the last screw. These are Fender electrics in their purest form: Fender American Vintage II, the stuff of legends.Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer FinishNitrocellulose lacquer, as used on '50s and '60s Fender instruments, is a premium finish that reveals the instrument's true tonal character.Alder BodyAlder has a well-balanced tone with beefy mids and a robust low-end.7.25-inch Radius Slab-rosewood FingerboardThe 7.25-inch-radius fingerboard provides the comfortable playing feel of a vintage instrument, while vintage-tall frets make it easier to bend notes without fretting out.1961 C-shape NeckIn vintage years, the shape and thickness of Fender guitar necks varied tremendously. The American Vintage II Series features authentic neck profiles from Fender's past.Pure Vintage '61 Stratocaster PickupsSpecially voiced to reproduce the authentic sound and performance of individual model years, Pure Vintage pickups are constructed just like pickups from Fender's golden years. Materials include cloth-covered wire, fiber bobbins and alnico magnets.Vintage-style HardwareFrom the bridge to the string tree and tuning machines, every piece of American Vintage II hardware is manufactured to look, sound and function just like it did on the originals. Much of the American Vintage II hardware is still manufactured on the original '50s and '60s era Fender factory machines.