Reunited - 1979 25th Anniversary Stratocasters #000000 and #000001

by Tom Watson

1979 marked the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the Fender Stratocaster. To promote the event, Fender produced the first of its "Anniversary" Stratocasters. 10,000 of them.

The story is well known. The first 500 or so were finished in a white color that quickly deteriorated and resulted in premature finish checking. Fender switched the finish color to Porsche Silver for the remaining 9,500.

The serial numbers of these 1979 Anniversary Stratocasters are six digits long, beginning with the number 25 (for 25th Anniversary). There were two exceptions to this.

The first two 1979 25th Silver Anniversary Stratocasters built were given unique serial numbers: 000000 and 000001. #000000 was the prototype and #000001 the first official instrument of the run. [There being a #000000 explains how a run of 10,000 could have a final serial number of 259999.]

These first two anniversary Strats built by Fender, who did so well with the Anniversary Strat marketing concept it would produce Anniversary Strats for every milestone, were originally owned by Bill Carson. A few years later, Carson sold them to John Sprung, who, in turn, sold them at the Houston guitar show in the 80's and the pair (000000 and 000001) were separated. #000000 was bought by Don Lace, the inventor of the Lace pickup. The identity of the buyer of #000001 is unknown.

#000001 resurfaced in 2002 at a London, England, guitar dealer. It was purchased from this dealer (King's Road Vintage Guitars) by the Michael Perry Collection. It is now with the Fender Museum in Corona, California, awaiting display as part of the Museum's 50th Stratocaster Anniversary celebration that will presented in 2004, on loan to the Museum from the Perry Collection.

Yesterday, the Perry Collection bought #000000 from the Lace family and the two most famous Fender Anniversary Strats will soon be reunited.

Photographs of #000000 have appeared in several books about Fender and Fender Stratocasters, including A.R.Duchossoir´s book, The Fender Stratocaster (page 40).

Congratulations to Michael Perry and the Perry Collection.