Fender · Stratocaster · 1965–1971 (large headstock, four-bolt neck)
CBS bought Fender in January 1965, and the Strat changed one piece at a time over the next six years. The headstock grew at the end of 1965 to match the Jazzmaster and Jaguar, the gold transition logo took over, pearl dots replaced clay ones and Indian rosewood replaced Brazilian. Fender's own F tuners replaced Klusons in 1967, and from 1968 the finish was thick polyester under a black logo with STRATOCASTER in big letters, which CBS wanted readable on TV once Jimi Hendrix had made the guitar famous again. The line most collectors draw comes in 1971, when the three-bolt neck with Micro-Tilt and the bullet truss rod arrived, so a four-bolt 1965–1971 Strat is a different buy from a 1970s one. The 1965–1966 guitars are close cousins of the last pre-CBS ones, and the 1968–1970 ones have the look Hendrix made famous. Player-grade CBS Strats have usually had parts changed, so judge each one by its neck stamp, pot codes and decal, and price in whatever isn't original.
From late 1965 the neck plate carries a six-digit serial with a big script F, and the neck heel carries an ink stamp with a model code, month, year and a neck-width letter. The headstock decal narrows it further, with the gold transition logo into 1967 and the black logo with large STRATOCASTER lettering from about 1968.
Replaced pickups, saddles, tuners and switches are common on player-grade CBS Strats, and necks and bodies get swapped between years. Reproduction transition decals exist, so a pre-1968 logo on a later neck or a refinished headstock needs a close look.
Buying guide
For a player, we'd buy a 1969 or 1970 four-bolt Strat with the look Hendrix made famous, asking $10,450–14,799 delivered, against $18,800–30,075 for most of the about 19 listed, which are mostly 1965–67 guitars. The 1965–66 Strats titled original or all original ask $23,013–32,095 delivered, the 1965 fitted with an Ilitch hum-cancelling system asks $20,076, and custom colors sit at the top, up to $85,350 for a 1966 Sonic Blue. A 1965 without pre-CBS in the title may be a late-1965 CBS guitar, so check the headstock size and whether the neck plate has an L serial or a big F, and on any of them ask for the heel stamp, the pot backs and a close photo of the decal, since reproduction transition decals exist. Skip the 1971 from a zero-feedback seller, and check the neck plate on any 1971, because three bolts mean the later Micro-Tilt guitar.
$10,449.99est. delivered
The lowest delivered CBS-era Strat here, a 1970 sunburst from a US dealer that comes with a soft case only. Ask for the heel stamp and the pot backs, and ask the seller to ship it in a hard case inside a box.
Vintage 1970 Fender Stratocaster 3-Tone Sunburst With Soft Case
$23,012.81est. delivered
Titled original and exceptionally fine, a 1966 sunburst from a 100% US seller, inside the band and open to offers. Ask for the heel stamp, the pot codes and a close photo of the transition decal to back up the claim.
ORIGINAL 1966 FENDER STRATOCASTER, SUNBURST FINISH, EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CONDITION
$10,960.52delivered
A 1969 with free shipping from Japan, the big-headstock, black-logo look at the bottom of the market. The title makes no originality claim, so ask what's been replaced and price it in, and you may owe import duty.
Fender 1969 Stratocaster Used Electric Guitar 1969
$30,106.39est. delivered
A 1966 in Candy Apple Red titled all original, about $55,000 under the Sonic Blue 1966 here. Custom colors are where refinishes hide, so ask for photos under the guard and in the cavities.
Fender 1966 Stratocaster All Original "Candy Apple Red Metallic"
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$10,449.99est. delivered
$9,999.99 + $450.00 shipping
Buy It Now$9,999.99
Good buy
Titled 1970, with a soft case. In the US.
Seller: truetonemusiconline
99.5% positive
Used$23,012.81est. delivered
$22,950.00 + $62.81 shipping
Buy It Now$22,950.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled original, exceptionally fine condition. In the US.
Seller: teacher7021
100% positive
Used$10,960.52delivered
$10,960.52 · free shipping
Buy It Now$10,960.52
Good buy
Titled 1969, no other claims. Ships from Japan.
Seller: eastislandcrew
100% positive
Used$30,106.39est. delivered
$30,000.00 + $106.39 shipping
Buy It Now$30,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled all original, Candy Apple Red. In the US.
Seller: devildriver-2012
100% positive
Used$20,075.74est. delivered
$19,999.98 + $75.76 shipping
Buy It Now$19,999.98
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Fitted with an Ilitch hum-cancelling system, a modification. With a hard case. In the US.
Seller: donsales4u
100% positive
Used$32,095.00est. delivered
$31,995.00 + $100.00 shipping
Buy It Now$31,995.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled all original, with a Dec '64 neck and OHSC. In the US.
Seller: subwayguitars_berkeley
99.3% positive
Used$85,350.00est. delivered
$85,000.00 + $350.00 shipping
Buy It Now$85,000.00
Priced high
Titled Sonic Blue finish, the top ask here. In the US.
Seller: swinbad
100% positive
Used$13,000.00+ shipping
$13,000.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$13,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller, shipping not stated. Pay only through eBay checkout.
Seller: oldschool6363
No feedback yet
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