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Late-1960s Fender Stratocaster Value Guide: 1967, 1968 and 1969
On Reverb, 1968 sunburst Stratocasters have mostly sold for about $8,500 to $15,000 since 2022, and original 1969 sunbursts for about $9,500 to $11,500. Clean, all-original 1967s have brought more. Edgewater Guitars, based near Cleveland, Ohio, buys late-1960s Strats nationwide. Call or text (440) 219-3607 or text us photos.
What is a 1967, 1968 or 1969 Stratocaster worth?
Reverb keeps one combined price guide for every Stratocaster made from 1966 to 1971. In October 2026 it estimated the used value at $6,014 to $13,313, based on 187 orders. That blend hides real differences between the years, so we sorted the guide's recorded sales by the year in each listing. The years are as the sellers stated them, and the figures are retail sold prices, not offers.
Year | Recent Reverb sold prices | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
1967 | Only three sales recorded. Two all-original sunbursts in Excellent condition sold for $19,300 and $20,500 in 2023 | Nitro finish, logo style, original tuners and pickups |
1968 | Seven sales from 2022 to 2026, $8,500 to $15,000, median about $11,000 (all sunburst) | Finish changeover year; originality and condition |
1969 | Seventeen sales from 2022 to 2026, $4,550 to $16,200, median about $10,000. Most Very Good sunbursts sold for $9,500 to $11,500 | Original custom colors at the top: Candy Apple Red examples sold for $15,000 and $16,200 |
Refinished, 1966 to 1971 | Reverb's refinished guide: $6,600, $8,500 and $9,286 for Very Good examples (2025 to 2026) | Quality of the refinish and what else is original |
Edgewater's offer lands about 20% under those sold prices, and less for a refinished or modified guitar. For an original 1969 sunburst in Very Good condition that would sell for around $10,000, that means an offer near $8,000. A guitar with a replaced neck, routed body or swapped pickups is priced on what is left original.
What changed after CBS bought Fender
CBS bought Fender in January 1965, so every Stratocaster in this guide is a CBS-era guitar. The big visible change came at the end of 1965, when the headstock was enlarged. A 1966 Strat already has the large headstock and the large "F" neck plate but keeps the earlier gold transition logo; it has its own guide on this site. The years covered here added the changes below, one at a time rather than all at once, which is why the exact year matters to a buyer.
1967, 1968 and 1969, year by year
1967
The large headstock and four-bolt "F" neck plate carry over. The gold transition logo was used until about mid-1967, when Fender adopted a black logo with bigger lettering and a much larger "STRATOCASTER" decal; some references date that change to 1968, so a 1967 can carry either logo. Kluson tuners were standard until late 1967, when tuners with "F"-stamped covers replaced them. The body finish is still nitrocellulose lacquer. The standard fingerboard is round-laminated (veneer) rosewood with dot inlays, and an optional maple-cap fingerboard, a separate maple board glued to the neck, was back on the order sheet.
1968
The black logo and large decal are normal by now, and the "F" tuners are standard. 1968 is the finish changeover: Fender moved from nitrocellulose to polyester finishes that year, gradually rather than on one date, so a 1968 can have either. Rosewood veneer and maple-cap boards both continue. Pickups are the grey-bottom type with plain enamel wire that Fender had used since 1964.
1969
Most 1969 Strats have the polyester finish. The notable change is the neck: in 1969 Fender went back to a one-piece maple neck, with a walnut "skunk stripe" on the back and a walnut plug on the headstock face, for maple-fingerboard Strats. Rosewood-board Strats stayed on the veneer board. Vintage Guitar magazine reports that Fender began trimming its custom color chart in 1969, dropping six colors including Fiesta Red, Dakota Red and Foam Green, so a 1969 in one of those colors deserves a close look at the finish.
How to date a late-1960s Strat
The serial number on the neck plate is a starting point, not an answer. Fender's own chart says the 100,000s to 200,000s span 1966 to 1967, the 200,000s cover 1968, and the 200,000s to 300,000s cover 1969 to 1970, and Fender notes there is a lot of overlap between numbers and years. Reverb's dating guide narrows it to roughly 200,000 to 210,000 for 1967, 210,000 to 250,000 for 1968 and 250,000 to 280,000 for 1969, with the same warning about overlap.
Clue | Where to find it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
Neck plate serial | Large "F" neck plate, four screws, six digits | A rough year range only; ranges overlap |
Neck date | Stamped on the butt end of the neck heel (remove the neck) | When the neck was made, the best single clue |
Pot codes | On the potentiometers under the pickguard: CTS pots start with 137, Stackpole with 304, followed by the year and week | When the pots were made; Fender bought parts in bulk, so pots are often a year or more older than the guitar |
Logo and tuners | Headstock face | Gold transition logo and Kluson tuners point early; black logo and "F" tuners point late 1967 onward |
Neck construction | Back of the neck and headstock face | A skunk stripe and walnut headstock plug on a maple-board Strat point to 1969 or later |
The neck date and the pot codes together usually settle the year. Our Stratocaster dating guide walks through each clue, and the Stratocaster serial number lookup gives the range for your plate.
Original or not: what we check
Finish. An original finish, even a worn one, is worth far more than a refinish. Look under the pickguard and in the neck pocket for a second color, overspray or sanding marks.
Neck. The neck should match the era: large headstock, the right logo for the date, and a neck date that fits the pot codes. A replacement neck is the biggest single value hit after a refinish.
Neck plate. Every 1967 to 1969 Strat has a four-bolt plate. Fender's three-bolt neck attachment did not arrive until 1971.
Pickups and wiring. Grey-bottom pickups with their original solder joints. Rewound or replaced pickups lower the offer.
Pickguard and plastics. A white three-ply plastic pickguard, the type Fender switched to in 1965.
Tuners and frets. Changed tuners leave extra screw holes. A refret is normal on a guitar that has been played for 55 years and costs far less value than a refinish.
Case. The original case adds to the price, and so do paperwork and the case candy.
What to photograph for a free estimate
The front and back of the guitar, the headstock face, the neck plate, and, if you are comfortable removing them, the neck heel stamp and the pots under the pickguard. Those photos are usually enough to date the guitar and spot a refinish. Send them through our free estimate form, or see how we buy on our sell your Fender page. For the next decade of Strats, see our 1970s Stratocaster value guide.
What customers say
"Gavin drove all the way to Parma and paid top dollar for my 1965 Stratocaster, I couldn't be happier ..." Brennen Nemeth, Google review
"I sold them a 60 year old fender and they were honest and forthcoming with everything about the guitar. They made me a fair offer." Mike Rogers, Google review
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 1968 Fender Stratocaster worth?
1968 sunburst Strats sold on Reverb for about $8,500 to $15,000 from 2022 to 2026, with a median near $11,000. Condition and originality decide where yours falls. Edgewater's offer lands about 20% under those retail sales, and less for a refinish or replaced parts.
How much is a 1969 Fender Stratocaster worth?
Most original 1969 sunbursts in Very Good condition sold on Reverb for about $9,500 to $11,500 from 2022 to 2026. Original custom colors in top condition sold higher, with Candy Apple Red examples at $15,000 and $16,200. Refinished examples from 1966 to 1971 sold for about $6,600 to $9,300.
Is a 1967 Stratocaster pre-CBS?
No. CBS bought Fender in January 1965, so a 1967 Stratocaster is a CBS-era guitar. 1964 was the last full year before CBS. Late-1960s Strats are still sought after, and an original 1967 with a nitro finish is one of the more valuable CBS-era Strats.
How do I tell a 1967 from a 1968 or 1969 Strat?
Start with the neck date on the neck heel and the pot codes, then check the details. A gold transition logo and Kluson tuners point to 1967. A one-piece maple neck with a skunk stripe points to 1969 or later. The serial number alone is not reliable, because Fender's ranges overlap.
Does a refinish hurt the value of a late-1960s Strat?
Yes, more than most other changes. Refinished 1966 to 1971 Strats sold on Reverb for about $6,600 to $9,300 in recent years, against $9,500 to $11,500 for typical original 1969 sunbursts. A quality refinish on an otherwise original guitar still sells, and we buy them.
Sell your late-1960s Stratocaster to Edgewater
Edgewater Guitars buys 1967, 1968 and 1969 Stratocasters directly, nationwide, original or refinished, with free appraisals from photos. Call or text (440) 219-3607 or request a free estimate online, and we will reply with an offer and the sales behind it.
By Stephen Pedone, co-owner of Edgewater Guitars. Last updated: October 2026.
