The Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster electric guitar captures the bold CBS-era look, feel and sound that helped define Fender instruments in the early 1970s. Its ash body wears a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, giving the guitar a premium vintage foundation with strong visual character. Three Pure Vintage '73 Single-Coil Strat pickups deliver the articulate attack, clear top end and dynamic response associated with this period of Stratocaster tone. The large headstock, bullet-style truss rod and 3-bolt neck construction complete the unmistakable 1973 profile. As part of the American Vintage II series, this Stratocaster brings period-accurate design, vintage-style hardware and classic Fender craftsmanship together in a build made for players who value authentic tone and feel.
Ash Body With Early-'70s Stratocaster Style
By 1973, the Stratocaster had taken on a larger and more assertive visual identity. This American Vintage II model uses an ash body with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, giving the guitar the bright, defined character associated with this early-'70s specification. A 3-ply parchment pickguard, aged white control knobs and nickel/chrome hardware support the period-correct appearance without losing the familiar curves and comfort that made the Stratocaster a standard for working players.
Pure Vintage '73 Stratocaster Pickups
Three Pure Vintage '73 Single-Coil Strat pickups give this guitar a clear, cutting Stratocaster voice with the response players associate with early-'70s Fender tone. The bridge pickup provides focused attack for rhythm parts and sharper leads, while the middle and neck pickups add the glassier, rounder textures needed for funk, rock, fusion and clean melodic work. A 5-way blade switch gives players access to the full range of classic Stratocaster pickup combinations.
"C"-Shape Maple Neck and CBS-Era Details
The maple neck features a "C"-shape profile, gloss polyurethane finish and 25.5" scale length for a period-correct early-'70s Fender feel. A 7.25" radius maple fingerboard, 21 vintage tall frets and white pearloid dot inlays give the guitar a traditional playing surface with era-specific visual detail. The large headstock, dual string trees, bullet-style truss rod and 3-bolt neck plate with Micro-Tilt mechanism reinforce the CBS-era identity that makes the 1973 Stratocaster immediately recognizable.
Synchronized Tremolo and Fender F Stamped Tuners
An American Vintage synchronized tremolo gives the 1973 Stratocaster familiar pitch movement, classic string feel and the mechanical response tied to vintage Fender tremolo systems. Pure Vintage Fender F stamped tuning machines add another period-specific appointment, while the included chrome bridge cover completes the hardware package. Master volume, two tone controls and a 5-way blade switch keep the guitar practical and familiar while covering the essential Stratocaster tonal range.
An Early-'70s Stratocaster Built for Vintage Players
The American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster captures the bold styling, articulate response and unmistakable character that defined Fender's early-'70s era. Its ash body, Pure Vintage '73 pickups, maple fingerboard, CBS-era appointments and vintage-style tremolo deliver the clarity, snap and dynamic feel that helped shape countless recordings across rock, funk, fusion and beyond. Whether you're drawn to its striking large-headstock aesthetics, expressive single-coil tones or historically accurate construction, the Fender American Vintage II 1973 Stratocaster offers an authentic recreation of a distinctive chapter in Strat history.