Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster, Candy Apple Red Electric Guitar

Quick Product Summary

The Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster in Candy Apple Red is built for players who want an authentically vintage-focused Strat rather than a modern guitar simply dressed in retro styling.

Made in the USA, it recreates a fascinating transitional period in Stratocaster history with an alder body, gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, 1965 “C” maple neck, 7.25-inch round-laminated rosewood fingerboard and 21 vintage-tall frets.

Three Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Stratocaster single-coil pickups deliver the clear, expressive SSS character at the heart of the design, while period-inspired hardware includes a Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo, bent steel saddles and single-line Fender Deluxe tuning machines.

Finished in rich Candy Apple Red and supplied with a vintage-style black hard case with orange interior, this is a serious choice for players who value authentic mid-'60s Fender specifications, traditional playing feel and American-made construction.

At A Glance

Feature	Detail
Brand	Fender
Model	American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster
Model Number	0110280809
Series	American Vintage II
Finish	Candy Apple Red
Body	Alder
Finish Type	Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck	Maple, 1965 “C”
Fingerboard	Round-Laminated Rosewood
Radius	7.25"
Pickups	3 x Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coils
Frets	21 Vintage Tall
Included	Vintage-Style Black Hard Case with Orange Interior
Main Appeal	Period-focused recreation of a 1965 Stratocaster
Best For	Vintage Fender enthusiasts, blues, rock, soul, pop and traditional Strat players

What's Included?

• Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster in Candy Apple Red

• Vintage-style black hard case with orange interior

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Every new guitar sold through Fair Deal Music is checked before leaving us, with attention given to the instrument's electronics, controls, hardware and general playing condition.

With a vintage-focused guitar such as the American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster, the traditional neck radius, tremolo design and vintage-style hardware make a good setup particularly important.

As with any wooden instrument, setup can shift slightly during delivery as the guitar responds to changes in temperature and humidity. If you need advice on action, neck relief, tremolo setup, string gauge or general maintenance, our experienced team is happy to help.

Why Choose The Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster?

Authentic 1965-Inspired Specification

The American Vintage II range is designed around specific historical Fender eras rather than a general vintage aesthetic.

This model focuses on 1965, combining the correct style of round-laminated rosewood fingerboard, transition-era visual details, vintage hardware and year-specific pickup voicing into a deliberately traditional Stratocaster platform.

Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Pickups

Three Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Strat pickups form the tonal centre of the guitar.

They are built around period-inspired materials and construction principles to deliver the clarity, attack and expressive response associated with mid-1960s Stratocaster sounds.

Round-Laminated Rosewood Fingerboard

The round-laminated rosewood fingerboard is an important period detail.

Rather than using the thicker slab-style rosewood board found on earlier Stratocasters, Fender recreates the curved laminated construction associated with this stage of the model's development.

7.25-Inch Vintage Radius

A 7.25" fingerboard radius gives the neck a noticeably more curved feel than the 9.5", 12" or compound radii found on many modern guitars.

For players who enjoy vintage Fender ergonomics, particularly traditional chord work, blues phrasing and classic rhythm playing, this is a major part of the instrument's appeal.

Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish

The alder body and maple neck use gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, reinforcing the vintage-focused construction.

Nitro finishes are strongly associated with Fender's historic instruments and also allow the appearance of the guitar to develop naturally through years of use.

Vintage-Style Tremolo And Tuners

The Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo uses bent steel saddles and a period-inspired design, while the single-line Fender Deluxe tuning machines complete the mid-'60s specification.

These are not merely cosmetic additions; they help preserve the traditional feel and adjustment style expected from a vintage-style Stratocaster.

Key Features

• American Vintage II Series

• Made in USA

• Candy Apple Red finish

• Alder Stratocaster body

• Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer body finish

• Maple neck

• Authentic 1965 “C” neck profile

• Round-laminated rosewood fingerboard

• 7.25" fingerboard radius

• 21 vintage-tall frets

• Larger white pearloid dot position markers

• 25.5" scale length

• Bone nut

• Three Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Strat pickups

• Traditional SSS pickup configuration

• Five-position blade selector

• Master Volume

• Two Tone controls

• Pure Vintage synchronized tremolo

• Bent steel saddles

• Pure Vintage single-line Fender Deluxe tuners

• Three-ply eggshell pickguard

• Vintage-style neck plate

• Chrome and nickel-plated steel hardware

• Vintage-style hard case included

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster vs American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster

The American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster represents an earlier stage in Strat history, using a maple fingerboard, “V”-style neck and Pure Vintage '57 pickups.

The 1965 model is the better choice if you favour rosewood under the fingers, a rounded 1965 “C” profile and the slightly later visual and pickup character of a mid-'60s Strat.

Choose the '57 if a one-piece maple-style feel and 1950s Fender aesthetic are more important.

American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster vs American Professional II Stratocaster

The American Professional II Stratocaster is designed as a contemporary working Fender, with modern ergonomics, V-Mod II pickups and a more modern tremolo and neck specification.

The American Vintage II goes in almost the opposite direction. Its 7.25" radius, 21 frets, vintage hardware, nitro finish and year-specific pickups are aimed at players who actively want traditional Fender feel.

Choose the Professional II for modern versatility; choose the American Vintage II for historical authenticity.

American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster vs Player II Stratocaster

The Player II Stratocaster offers modern Fender playability at a considerably more accessible level, with a 9.5" radius, 22 medium-jumbo frets and Player Series Alnico V pickups.

The American Vintage II is aimed at a different buyer. Its USA construction, nitro finish, year-specific pickup set and period-correct hardware make it the stronger option when vintage specification is the reason you are buying the guitar.

American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster vs Modern SSS Stratocaster

A modern SSS Strat will normally give you flatter fingerboard geometry, larger frets and hardware designed around contemporary setup preferences.

The 1965 model intentionally avoids those changes. Choose it when you want the feel, response and control layout of a vintage-style Stratocaster, not simply the appearance of one.

Who Is The American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster For?

This guitar is particularly well suited to players who know they enjoy traditional Fender specifications.

It is an excellent option for:

• Vintage Stratocaster enthusiasts

• Experienced Fender players

• Guitarists who prefer 7.25" fingerboard radii

• Players who enjoy rosewood-board Stratocasters

• Blues guitarists

• Classic rock players

• Soul and R&B musicians

• Traditional pop guitarists

• Studio musicians looking for vintage-inspired Strat sounds

• Collectors wanting a period-focused production Fender

• Players considering vintage Fender instruments but wanting a new guitar

• Guitarists who specifically value nitrocellulose lacquer finishes

Looking for advice on choosing between an American Vintage II, American Professional II or Player II Stratocaster?Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Suitable Genres And Playing Styles

The American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster is naturally suited to music where traditional single-coil articulation and dynamic playing response matter.

The neck pickup is an obvious choice for blues, expressive lead work and warmer clean sounds, while the bridge provides the sharper attack required for rock and more aggressive rhythm playing.

The intermediate pickup combinations work especially well for soul, funk, R&B, pop and clean rhythm work, providing the distinctive textured Stratocaster sounds that sit naturally around vocals and other instruments.

Its vintage radius and fret specification will particularly appeal to guitarists whose technique centres on traditional chord work, controlled bends, melodic phrasing and dynamic rhythm playing.

What Makes A 1965 Stratocaster Different?

1965 sits at an interesting point in Fender history.

By this stage, the Stratocaster had moved away from the maple-fingerboard specification associated with its earliest years and was using a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard.

This model also recreates recognisable mid-'60s details including the larger pearl-style position dots, transition-era Fender logo treatment and gray-bottom style pickups.

For modern buyers, those features matter because the American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster is not simply labelled “vintage”. It recreates a particular period with a specific neck shape, fingerboard construction, hardware style and electronics package.

Story & Context

The Fender Stratocaster first appeared in 1954, but the instrument continued to evolve throughout the following decade.

By 1965, the Strat had already moved through several important design changes. Rosewood fingerboards had replaced the all-maple appearance of the earliest models, and the thinner round-laminated rosewood construction had become part of Fender production.

The period also saw changes in logos, position markers, pickup construction and other small details that now help enthusiasts distinguish one era of vintage Fender production from another.

The American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster is designed around that transitional moment. Rather than combining features from several decades, Fender uses the 1965 specification as its reference point, giving players a way to experience the style of a mid-'60s Stratocaster without entering the vintage guitar market.

Compatibility & Recommended Pairings

The American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster uses conventional passive electronics, making it easy to integrate into virtually any traditional guitar rig.

It pairs particularly well with:

• Fender valve amplifiers

• Vintage-style combo amps

• Clean and edge-of-breakup amplifiers

• Overdrive pedals

• Fuzz pedals

• Treble boosters

• Compressor pedals

• Wah pedals

• Delay and reverb

• Vintage-style modulation

• Modern pedalboards

• Audio interfaces

• Guitar modellers and profilers

For a particularly traditional setup, pair it with a clean-to-medium-powered valve amplifier and use pedals to add gain, modulation and ambience as required.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Detail
Brand	Fender
Model	American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster
Model Number	0110280809
Series	American Vintage II
Orientation	Right-Handed
Colour	Candy Apple Red
Body Shape	Stratocaster
Body Material	Alder
Body Finish	Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Shape	1965 “C”
Neck Construction	4-Bolt
Neck Finish	Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Fingerboard Material	Round-Laminated Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius	7.25" / 184.1 mm
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Number Of Frets	21
Fret Size	Vintage Tall
Position Inlays	White Pearloid Dot, 7 mm
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1.650" / 42 mm
Bridge Pickup	Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup	Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup	Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Strat
Pickup Configuration	SSS
Controls	Master Volume, Tone 1 Neck, Tone 2 Bridge/Middle
Switching	5-Position Blade
Bridge	Pure Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles
Tuning Machines	Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe
Hardware Finish	Chrome / Nickel-Plated Steel
Pickguard	3-Ply Eggshell
Control Knobs	Vintage White Plastic
Switch Tip	Vintage White
Neck Plate	4-Bolt Vintage-Style
Strap Buttons	Vintage-Style
Factory Strings	Fender USA 250R Nickel Plated Steel .010–.046
Truss Rod	Vintage-Style Butt Adjust
Case	Vintage-Style Black Hard Case with Orange Interior

Power Requirements

The Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster uses passive single-coil electronics and requires no battery or external power supply.

Connect it to your amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or audio interface using a standard ¼-inch instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster in Candy Apple Red is for players who genuinely want a vintage Fender experience rather than simply vintage-inspired looks.

Its standout combination is the 1965 “C” neck, 7.25" round-laminated rosewood fingerboard and Pure Vintage '65 Gray-Bottom pickups. Together, they give the guitar a very different personality from a contemporary Player or American Professional Strat.

Best suited for: Experienced players, vintage Fender enthusiasts, blues and classic rock guitarists, collectors and musicians who prefer traditional Stratocaster feel.

Customers usually upgrade from: Player and Player II Stratocasters, American Professional models, vintage-inspired Squier instruments and other modern Strat-style guitars.

Most commonly paired with: Fender-style valve amplifiers, overdrive, fuzz, compression, delay and spring-style reverb.

Our tip: Buy this model because you actively want its vintage geometry. The 7.25" radius and 21-fret neck are an important part of its character, not specifications intended to imitate a modern Strat.

Showroom feedback: This is the sort of Strat that immediately makes sense to someone who likes older Fender necks. The nitro finish, curved rosewood board and vintage hardware give it a much more traditional experience than Fender's modern professional ranges.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps guitarists choose instruments based on what will genuinely suit their playing, sound and budget. Whether you're choosing your first American-made Fender, moving towards a more vintage specification or comparing American Vintage II models, we're happy to help you make the right choice.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• A trusted independent UK music retailer with decades of experience

• A large Birmingham showroom

• Extensive experience with new, pre-owned and vintage Fender guitars

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fender American Vintage II 1965 Stratocaster made in the USA?

Yes. The American Vintage II range is Fender's USA-made vintage-focused production series.

What does round-laminated rosewood mean?

Rather than using a thick flat-bottomed slab of rosewood, the fingerboard is shaped as a thinner curved laminate over the maple neck. This construction reflects the style used by Fender during the mid-1960s.

Is a 7.25-inch fingerboard radius difficult to play?

Not necessarily. It simply feels more curved than a modern 9.5" or 12" fingerboard. Many players particularly enjoy it for chord work and traditional Fender playing styles.

What are vintage-tall frets?

Vintage-tall frets combine a relatively traditional narrow fret width with additional height. They help retain a period-inspired feel while giving the player enough fret height for expressive bending and vibrato.

Are the Pure Vintage '65 pickups noiseless?

No. They are traditional Stratocaster single-coil pickups and therefore retain the characteristics, including potential single-coil hum, associated with vintage-style pickup construction.

Is this guitar suitable for modern rock?

Yes, provided you enjoy the vintage neck geometry. The pickups work very well with overdrive, distortion and fuzz, but the guitar deliberately feels more traditional than a contemporary high-performance instrument.

What is the difference between this and the American Professional II Stratocaster?

The American Professional II is designed around modern professional playability. This American Vintage II uses a more historically focused 7.25" radius, 21 frets, nitro finish, vintage hardware and year-specific pickups.

Does the bridge pickup have its own tone control?

Fender's control layout on this model gives Tone 1 to the neck pickup and Tone 2 to the bridge and middle pickups, allowing the bridge sound to be softened directly from the guitar.

Is Candy Apple Red historically appropriate for a 1960s Fender?

Candy Apple Red became one of Fender's recognisable custom colours during the 1960s, making it particularly appropriate for a mid-'60s-inspired Stratocaster.

Should I choose the 1957 or 1965 American Vintage II Stratocaster?

Choose the 1957 if you prefer maple fingerboards, a “V”-style neck and a stronger 1950s aesthetic.

Choose the 1965 if you want a rosewood fingerboard, 1965 “C” profile and the appearance and pickup specification associated with Fender's mid-'60s period.