A BRIEF HISTORY OF 1959 FENDER STRATOCASTERS - MY FAVORITE PRE CBS YEAR!

I would like to give a big thanks to everybody who contributed to this video!
1959 was such a pivotal year for Fender and most guitar manufacturers and it shows that the company was always trying to be innovative
1959 Stratocasters are my absolute favorite and they are unique, And hopefully this video will give you some insight as to why!
Oh ..... and don’t miss the sneak peek at the end
check this book out!
www.amazon.com/Fender-Martin-...
follow Tessmer for dates, tunes and merch!
www.erictessmer.com
Matt's youtube and links!
/ @matthewscottmusic
Contact:
[e-mail]
PEACE EVERYONE!

[@secretdaisy6484]

What a fabulous video❕ Thank you so much. The 59 is the Holy Grail of guitars 🎸 for me. I keep learning so much from everyone’s videos. It was great to see Matthew talking about his 59. I was dazzled by the others as well. I’ll never be able to afford one but I was lucky 🍀 enough to get a new Custom Shop 59 Reissue at a tremendous saving. I’ve never played a vintage 59 so I can say I am very pleased with my guitar because I don’t have the real thing to compare it to. I hope no one looks down on me for not having a vintage 59. I’ll never be able to afford one and my reissue works for me 🩷. 👋 I hope everyone enjoys their guitars. 👍☮️🌞🎸🎵🩵

[@jw112mail]

I have a 59 Custom Shop Strat that i'm in love with. Not vintage, but I feel lucky to have it. Jumbo Frets, Olympic White, 59C Flamed Neck, & John Cruz pickups

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

As long as it inspires you, go with it!

[@matthewf1979]

I have a black 59 Journeyman with a single ply pickgaurd. killer guitars out of the custom shop!

[@chadking3194]

One of your best videos. Beautiful guitars. Farmer’s hard tail Strat is just incredible . Nice teaser at the end

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thanks! Stay tuned

[@3dthenotme877]

Farmers hardtail is a dream!! The stories that guitar can tell!!

[@johnherbold6102]

I love my mid '59 hard tail Strat. Very light, loud, great tone, the 9 hole guard, and everything else about it. It's a keeper for life!!

[@Vern859]

Great video! I love those early Fenders... I am into G&L Legacy and Asat guitars now. I love them. I ordered my first G&L build 30 years ago. A Asat classic.. Last year i ordered a custom Legacy Special. And last> 3 days ago i ordered a custom Asat Special.. Thanks for sharing the video. 👋

[@marclafferty6416]

Isn’t Mike Mcreedys strat a 60? I love the look of that white strat. Perfect combination of the rosewood on white with that mint green guard. Beautiful

[@darrenc8776]

I'm sure some people will be like why do you need two 59 strats and yeah probably there's is no real need for two. That is untill you play them and you start to find the little nuances in each guitar that little journey each guitar takes you on each time you play. I don't think you can put a price on that emotionally anyway

[@richardturner5463]

Great vid, in love with yours and Matts 59’s! You have a great tone too, cheers. 👍🏻

[@MrJsteele44]

Awesome video. Can you believe my luck that my first vintage strat was a 59? The sound is incredible and so different from other strats. Glad someone else noticed it

[@lionkaisler3738]

That intro really reminded me why I love Fender and the Stratocaster, my first elektric guitar was a strat, I play them every day, they're just inspiring. I really enjoyed that video, keep that content goin' man!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thanks so much!

[@joerob3081]

When I built my Warmoth parts caster that's the look I went with. White with the mint pickguard is, imo, the best looking of the custom colors

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

U bet!

[@denAlexVA]

Superb! I also prefer the "Slabs". I own a 54' (50 years) , a 58' (48 years) and a 62' Slab. Hands down on the playability of the Slabs. Further, they have less treble than the maple necks. A better balanced guitar due to the rosewood fingerboard. My opinion. But then , Jeff (Who Else!) preferred them. Further, I know the orginals are not cheap , but they are far superior to the reissues. I also own two reissues and they do not sound anywhere as a good as the real thing.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

100%!!!

[@secretdaisy6484]

The 59 is my year. I’m saving like crazy to get one. This video was epic. Thank you so much for getting it together. I really loved 💕 seeing those original 59 guitars. I don’t like the dirty look of the maple fretboards so the introduction of the rosewood fretboard in 59 kinda’ tipped me over and was the decider for vintage Strats as far as I’m concerned. I think the Stratocaster is really a work of art because of the terrific design curves and the guitar’s visual elements. It’s a thing of beauty and a joy 🥰 forever. And it sounds absolutely fabulous. 👍☮️🌞🎸🎵❤️

[@j.b.l.tones33]

THE SUSPENSE! AAHHHHH! Awesome video Nik. Love how you got all the boys involved. Must say it's my dream to have a '59 strat. I'll never be able to afford one, but it would be very amazing just to hold and play one before I can't play anymore. As always, love the content. Jam on bro. 😎

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you my friend. Stay tuned!

[@nlabombarda]

Solid acquisition. Stoked for you, dude!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you!

[@Manlopsan2]

Love your videos Nik! I have discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago and I might have seen all of them in this period of time. Unfortunately it is very difficult to see guitars like those in Europe, and even more difficult in Spain. I am a huge SRV fan and that's how I arrived here, I own a 2010 deluxe strat because of him and also because of Frusciante. If a sunburst 62 knocks my door .... I'd probably go for it. Cheers from southern Spain!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Love john! Stay tuned. Something special coming

[@Tonetwisters]

My very first guitar was a 1954 Stratocaster my dad gave to me for Christmas of 1963. It lit up my world. Those first frets were driven in from the side, IIRC. These days, I am happy to have an American Original '50s in white blonde. The neck on that is nice and chunky and the guitar is the most resonant of any Fender I have ever played, and I've been playing 59 years.

[@michaelshearer3559]

Damn, I wish you still had that tele too. Absolutely beautiful. Great reviews.

[@BRADCOOKMUSIC]

Great video Nik.. Beautiful ‘59 Strats I have gear envy 😊

[@markwright9352]

WoW thanks Nik that was awesome really enjoyed that!!!👍🏼👍🏼

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you. Im glad!

[@ryangunwitch-black]

The first two books were already on my list but that third one really looks like something I need!

[@duanewelsh5611]

Great post Nik. The best things are from 59 (me). Would love a 59 strat hard tail.

[@WillyKidd]

Fantastic video Nik and friends, thanks for sharing. I've never had my hands on a '59 Strat (closest would be a '60 hardtail Strat I played at a used shop many years back) but my '59 LP Jnr has a magic that makes it one of my favourite guitars.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

They do. And yours does for sure!

[@michaelgreer4790]

Thank you. Amazing stories. Keep it up, Brother.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Will do. Thank you!

[@AudiomoMusic]

Great work, appreciate the effort

[@billerickson8871]

Beautiful 59's... I'm a huge fan myself. I just picked up a 59 that someone had destroyed the finish many years ago by painting it green... I did a burst refinish to it, and love it. Everything else was original including 304-5946 pots, and trem cavity date of 11/59... I'm ready for my next project...

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Ahh just like mine! Any pics?

[@billerickson8871]

@@theriffwniksevigny5473 looks like there isn’t a way to send pictures from here… 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@acidspitstormchild4695]

I was looking at that 59 reifin and was heartbroken when it sold. Glad it ended up with you!

[@sowiloi]

Always loved your channel man! Keep it up!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you!

[@dustyfakebook]

Awesome video and fantastic information! I also love 1959 Fenders, and own a 1959 Champ (all original; payed $200 for it as a Freshman in college 20+ years ago). I have wanted a 1959 Stratocaster for a long time, and am on the lookout for a left-handed one. Guess I’m stuck with my 1989 lefty American Standard Stratocaster until I can find and afford a ‘59.

[@shanebrbich5698]

G’day Soss! That was an amazing intro sir! You just cannot emulate the sound of a vintage guitar! Truly beautiful mate! All the best mate to you, your family and friends and followers! 👍🇦🇺

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Man. Thank you for always bringing positivity to the videos!

[@shanebrbich5698]

@@theriffwniksevigny5473 You are so welcome! ... I started the comment just after your intro and just finished your video! Awesome awesome awesome! 👍🇦🇺

[@jaywyche416]

I have a mim 1959 replica Thanks for the info

[@alvarofalcon7136]

My 1959 strat dated 6/59 in pencil came with a single ply pickguard. Rosewood fretboard. Bought un a pawn shop un 1965 forma $120.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Ive always wanted a single ply rw 59!

[@darrenc8776]

You've really improved the lighting in this video Nik. Was that deliberate or was the sun shining 😂 love the channel mate as a fender guy a Stevie and jimi fan this feels like home

[@charlessherman6805]

you deserve way more subs than you’re given, thanks man amazing videos

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Hey. I am happy to be here

[@TiagoFrancomusic]

Beautiful guitars for sure!!

[@lionkaisler3738]

Cool that Matt also was in that video!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Yessir!

[@thedonrizzguitar]

AMAZING VIDEO!! The ‘59 is my dream guitar!!! I would love to hear your thoughts on the ‘59 AVRI’s or custom shop ‘59’s etc in comparison for those like myself who are unable to make such a purchase. Thank you and very much appreciated as always. Your info is like gold to me 🙏🏼

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Maybe something to think about in he future!

[@5150show]

Absolutely brilliant thank you

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you so much!

[@lawrencechristiansen9857]

I had a 59' Blonde with gold hardware "Mary Kaye" in the late 80's. Never should have sold that one... Mine had a date of 9/59' in trem route which I read that it was the first month of the rosewood necks. Nice vid!

[@davidwile1277]

Finally been waiting for this content....hey nik another great book(s) you may like ( probably already have them ) is "strat in the attic" there is to volumes just guitar hunting stories

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

I have em. Great stories!

[@garygraves2853]

This might be a strange comment but the wear on the bottom horn & near the output jack is beautiful on Nik's 59 burst!

[@jeffshockey9456]

There was a prototype strat before and it was the same but only had a narrow hole in the back that only held 3 springs

[@jackmilligan550]

Man I love your new 59. To me, there's something about that olympic white with that yellowy/mint green pickguard that I adore! I don't even care that it's a refin, that thing ia a beauty!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

I agree!

[@tracymcelhenie3988]

The 59 slab boards a what dreams are made ..

[@josephpearce777]

Happy for you brother. Thats a sharp guitar.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you. I am grateful

[@JonathanHornik]

Great video , I love your channel 🔥🔥

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thanks man!

[@JONNIE_ROCKER]

Thanx Nik

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

No, thank you!

[@OniDasAlagoas]

Awesome video, mate.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you!

[@b.rodclark7349]

I truly believe that Stevie Ray Vaughan was simply calling his '63 Strat w/a '62 neck a '59 because of the pickups that proved so worthy of him more so than the previous owner Christopher Cross!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Possibly! Thanks for watching!

[@James_RC]

Great video Nik - been waiting to see your new '59 - wow a killer guitar! What's the possibility of removing the refin or are you happy with white? Man that red '59 Tele looked insane. And the maple board '59 too. Thanks to all your contributors for a fantastic watch.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

White is really cool and done very well!

[@Gaslight.Guitar]

What a video dude! Cool stuff. Peace!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Thank you!

[@iangray7904]

Great video. New subscriber 👍

[@austinharrison2453]

15K!!! LETS GO!!!!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Yeah!!

[@thankyoukanyeverycool7798]

Very cool and interessting video! Just subscribed to your channel! (I own a 59‘ myself although a reissue 😂) Would die to know how much you guys payed for those guitars. 😁

[@seangrexa4707]

So please clarify, once the slab rw board strats started in production, were there no one piece maple necks being made? When did the maple caps begin? In 59? Roughly what was the percentage of rw to maple fretboards from 59 to 65? Thx in advance, beautiful guitars, thx for sharing!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

They could be special ordered as a maple cap

[@paulwalter7294]

What a beauty

[@shanedogg4263]

Hey Nik have you seen the Fender Custom Shop Mike McCready Strat for sale on Reverb? It was recreated by a Masterbuilder who took apart his Strat. It was revealed to be a 1960 not a 59 during the process.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

I saw that. Its a weird thing with late 59. The pots were left over from 59 and put into 1960 guitar

[@johnlexus1]

Cant wait to check that out after work. Question , how loud is it when you get your Jimmy/SRV clean breaking up tone? Like 105db? Cheers love the videos

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

No idea. But its still manageable. Not too crazy!

[@gotzonmujika9900]

Amazing video !👌🏻. I think it’s your time for a 59 335/345!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Someday!

[@efsglass]

Nik, this is my favorite channel on youtube! So raw, honest and pure! Congrats on the new lady bro!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

That means alot. But there are so many great channels. I just try my best. I thank you for the kind words!

[@paulwalter7294]

Awesome

[@jdk6584]

You have and advice on noisy springs on a strat? I can hear mine when I use the whammy bar.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Make sure there is enough tension on them! Also make sure its not a “ping” sound coming from the nut area

[@antoonhermans8953]

yep , people are always yacking about the gibson 59 lp burst but fender made some fine guitars that year to , btw , check out the esquire that you're friend mathew has just bought , man , that thing sounds wicked .

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Yes. Great guitar!

[@jimcastillo8950]

Nik, who puts outs good single coil pickups for the fenders? thanks

[@CNCTEMATIC]

Dude can you answer a vintage Strat question for me: I have a Strat repro made by a luthier named Chihoe Hahn. He makes great guitars by hand. Anyway this Strat is alder, a 3 tone sunburst (although the red is extremely subtle, you can miss it), with a slab rosewood fingerboard. It also has a single ply pickguard, with the 50s style number of screws. My question is - did Fender ever makes guitars with those specs? cheers!

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Yes. Some of the early 59 had rosewood boards and single ply guard

[@CNCTEMATIC]

The Riff w Nik Sevigny Cool that’s good to know. Found lots of information on rosewood starting in 59 and single ply ending same year, but never whether there was a crossover. And never seen a picture of one 🙏

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Leo had so many brilliant ideas. I cringe when I see guys pull off the bent steel saddles. It was only changed by Fender marketing from complaints by customers that they would dig into your hand.Yes the guys in the suits who don't play as usual think they knew better. The myth is that solid steel saddles and ones with more mass give you more tone and sustain. WRONG! First the sustain from the wood is at worst the same but it has a very complex and rich tone.BUT ...the really big one is even today with gourmet bridges NOTHING give you the tone or sustain of the original steel saddles. It is simple. Bent steel saddles flex under the downward pressure of the strings and dig in thus locking in the saddle to the bridge. They just do not move. With any other saddle when you strum vigorous or bend a note or use finger vibrato all other saddles slide/move. It interrupts and even stops the vibration killing you sustain and tone. The irony is they are the least expensive saddles to make. So guys who thing they are upgrading by changing them are in fact downgrading them.Some guys think if they just buy a higher grade of steel it will be even better. NO! They depend on being able to flex just a bit to clamp down and a higher grade of steel just kills that.

[@AP-ui7oi]

Tessmer is a good dude

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

A1 since day 1

[@whatabouttheearth]

😳 Beautiful, but man, around $35,000 is steeeeeep. Nice video

[@breathtimebreath4934]

Not sure y’all will get this - I got verification from Lindy Fralin that my pickups are definitely vintage. When I bought them 15 years ago I was told they were 1959s - Mr. Fralin said that that it would be practically impossible to state exactly they were 59s. Do y’all have any ideas that can help me better date my pups? I’m in dire need of money and would like to sell them. Thanks🙏🙏🙏

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Hes right. Polarity can help put it from 54-62 ish i guess. Color Of the wire and they wrap method. But its hard to nail a year

[@breathtimebreath4934]

@@theriffwniksevigny5473 thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@andrewarevalo8838]

Saw somewhere you had said you set guitar action quite high, how high? I’ve been setting my strats higher with more relief and it seems easier to play and the percussion chuks sound better.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

100%

[@dudicoco]

Which tuners did you install as a replacement to the originals? Gotoh?

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Some aged klusons

[@jamesbell804]

What are the closest modern day pickups the the originals in your opinion?

[@nationalduo4945]

I just bought a 1966 Strat…..has the transitional headstock, but it’s the smaller one. Does anyone else know how many smaller headstock 66 s made it out of the factory.

[@blakewilkerson9695]

You should play a custom shop 59 and tell us less fortunate if they are close enough to buy lol 😂

[@davidwile1277]

I wish my 1960 was a 59

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Early 60 is great as well, hell, they all are haha

[@davidwile1277]

@@theriffwniksevigny5473 would you sell that 1957 strat? I've been looking on reverb for one ...I doubt you would but thought I'd ask..I'm willing to pay the money

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

@@davidwile1277 send me an email. Would love to see your 1960!

[@malcolmadams2105]

The difference between Slab VS Veneer is like I am here. The other guy isn’t

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

I think so

[@baironfuentes8761]

I feel like Strats are like cars. There were some years were manufacturers really focus on the product and nailed it at the end the with result.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

True. Innovation!

[@dmarker21]

Let me know if you do one of these for 61's :)

[@Gibson45er]

The year I was born.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I used to hate Stratocasters. Lol Because I'm stupid. I'm still stupid but not about Strats!

[@chr15tree]

"59s are just great man, it's that year it's right before 60, it's still in the 50s" 👌🏽. He's not wrong.

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Facts

[@antoonhermans8953]

also , congrats with the new 59 strat !

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

I thank you!

[@paulwalter7294]

Wanna borrow it to me ? 😂

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

Not Yet

[@daltonlove204]

i hope you’re able to own a real 54’ strat one day

[@theriffwniksevigny5473]

I like the 57 to be honest. 54 are great. Ive played a few. Im happy to have what i have. 100%

[@albertoalfaro8382]

shit i hope i can own an actual strat one day, although im grateful for my squire.

[@aaronblubber2437]

@@albertoalfaro8382 I hope you get one too!!!

[@candymintz]

Interesting video, i just played my old strat recently, don't think it's collectible but it sure does sound good kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWmZoaGlnsyFq9E