To celebrate the Stratocaster’s 70th anniversary, Fender has teamed up with Italian fashion house Bvlgari to release a limited edition version of the iconic instrument, and it’s just as stylish as you’d expect.
Firstly, the guitar boasts a vintage-modern aesthetic inspired by the Aerodyne and Elemental series. Unlike your average Stratocaster, the Bvlgari Strat features a streamlined pickguard, miniaturized control layout, and body-mounted single coils.
This guitar features a two-piece select ash body with a 7.25-9.5 inch compound radius rosewood fretboard and is finished in a stunning mid-50s wide fade chocolate two-tone sunburst lacquer finish.
Other unique features include a straight-grained maple neck with a soft V profile, a 1/4-sized, 1-ply parchment pickguard, knurled metal volume and tone control knobs, and a custom engraved Bulgari neck plate.
Only 70 of the guitars will be produced individually, priced at $4,525 each, so players and collectors hoping to get their hands on one should hurry.
In addition to the Bvlgari Stratocaster, the partnership will also see the release of the Bvlgari Aluminum GMT x Fender watch, which will be limited to just 12,000 pieces, as well as a commemorative set of 140 pieces produced, featuring both the guitar and the watch.
“The Stratocaster has been at the forefront of musical advancement and sonic exploration for the past 70 years,” Fender’s Justin Nobel said of the release. “We wanted to partner with a brand that has a similarly rich history, and we’re sure fans of both brands will be excited to add this guitar to their collections.”
Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin added: “As lovers of both watches and music, we naturally aligned ourselves with Fender for a collaboration that goes beyond aesthetics; it’s a celebration of tradition, design and innovation. This collaboration is the union of two iconic heritages and two precision instruments; it symbolizes a harmonious journey through time and sound.”
For more details, please visit the Fender Custom Shop.