Kavanagh Customs

We now also offer this body in a left-handed version. If you are after a left-handed vintage Two-Tone nitrocellulose replacement stratocaster body (exactly the same specifications as this body but the other way around!), then please click here.

Quite possibly the most-recognised finish on Fender Stratocasters ever, this is a colour combination that has withstood the test of time and still proves incredibly popular to this day, an ideal starting point for that 1950s vintage reissue project.

Of course, finishing the body using authentic methods and nitrocellulose isn't enough on it's own, which is why an original 1962 Fender Stratocaster ('The original contour body') was used as a template to ensure a close-to accurate reproduction, with all the curves in the right places and the right thickness. A lot of the very earliest Stratocaster bodies were very square-edged, less easy to handle and a little rough around the edges. For this reason we've chosen to template this body on a slightly-later model instead, just to ensure that the curves are accurate to everyone's expectations. The routing is the classic Stratocaster three single-coils, keeping as much of the wood as possible present to ensure the very best possible resonance. The finish is nitrocellulose (a rare thing to find on guitars today: we're one of very few workshops still shooting genuine cellulose) which really allows the sound to ring out rather than being trapped under the thick layers of poly that other manufacturers seem to prefer. And, of course, to keep with the authentic vintage theme, the sunburst finish on this body is painted totally by hand: and laborious task and an art itself to get looking right!

The wood used in our work is always carefully hand-selected for it's individual tonal properties and always comes from sustainable sources. This would be the ideal starting point for that guitar project you've been promising yourself since the summer (and a very pleasurable way to spend the grim and dark evenings this winter: first building, and then enjoying a great guitar), and the hand-painted nitrocellulose finish not only adds to this body's vintage authenticity, but also means that it is an ideal candiate for true-to-life relicing if you were that way inclined.

We can also additionally provide a relicing service for this item if you aren't happy doing such things yourself yet still want a true used vintage appearance, just contact us to find out more!

Please note that this is not a Fender product, nor is it made in a sweatshop in the Far East by children getting paid 10p a day - it's much, much better than that. Like all our items, it has been carefully hand built to exacting standards and dimensions to ensure the highest possible quality, and the perfect fit for Fender, Squier and 98% of the Fender-copy market. We comply directly with Fender's own neck pocket dimensions (see the diagram on the left), although there may still be a small amount of work necessary to ensure a perfect fit.

If you have any doubt over whether any of our work is suitable or not for you, drop us a line, we're always happy to help.

This body has been left completely undrilled to ensure that it is suitable for anyone and everyone's needs - you can fit any type of scratchplate you like without having empty holes left under the scratchplate, you can fit a three or four-bolt neck, you can fit the tremolo system of your choice without the need to worry if the screw and string spacing is compatible with your body, or if the holes in your neck and body will line up. The advantages are endless and most importantly: it guarentees compatibility with the rest of your guitar. Please note that our Telecaster bodies do not come with the string holes pre-drills as standard - making them ideal for top-loading bridges, or else a very easy task to modify in your own home to accomodate a through-body stringing bridge.

Don't see exactly the part you're after?

We can build it for you to your exact specifications - nothing is too weird or whacky!

Contact us for a totally free quote and a chat about your requirements, and click here to see our price lists for custom-builds.

We can also supply all the parts you need to complete your guitar project, from fretwire and string trees to custom-wound pickups and polishing cloths! We will be expanding our shop in the near future so that you can conveniently purchase all these items at once but for the moment, contact us and tell us what it is you're after and we will happily arrange or source the parts you need for you.