Fender early 1990's Stratocaster Rhinestone #19

Fender early 1990's. Stratocaster Rhinestone #19.

Body by Jon Douglas #19 of 50 (27 only built).

Maple Neck and Fretboard.

#520151.

All 70’s hardware.

Only 27 Bodies were produced due to the death of the artist in 1995.

The Fender Stratocaster Rhinestone History

In 1975, Ivor Arbiter, the UK Fender® distributor, sanctioned Douglas to design a "non-boring Strat®". Douglas created a prototype Strat® body of cold-cast bronze, employing a metallic layer over a fibreglass shell. After a suggestion from Arbiter, Douglas set rhinestones into the body's surface providing the Legendary name “Rhinestone Strat”. Douglas used all 1975 Fender® Strat® parts.

A first batch of six instruments were made. According to Paul Day, it seems that two of this first production batch were sold. The other four were destroyed in a fire at Fender Soundhouse, John Arbiter's store/facility in London.

You can see on the photo below 4 Original Rhinestone Stratocasters, underneath in the corner, 3 with rosewood fretboard and 1 with maple neck, which were destroyed in the fire.

Many thanks to Robert Plateringen who sent this photo!

In the early 1990’s Keith Smart & Jon Douglas planned to create a limited production of 50 Rhinestone Strats. Jon Douglas made fresh moulds for the further round. Each instrument with a plaque of authenticity and numbered thru 1-50 on the back near the bottom of the body. The artist's signature and “1975” are imbedded into the top above the input jack. Unfortunately Mr. Douglas died in 1995 after completing only 27 of the intended 50 guitar bodies.

See the Fender 1975 Original Rhinestone Prototype From Paul Day's Collection @ guitarmotel.net

This is an example of Jon Douglas' work:

The Beatles cold cast bronze plaque and Fender Stratocaster sculpture by the artist Jon Douglas, 1964.E Serial Number 10/50.

Jon Douglas was a London based sculptor whose work in '60s/'70s appeared in public places in England. He was licensed by NEMS in 1964 to produce a limited run of reproduction of his bronze plaque depicting the four members of the Beatles.

Jon has a full-size sculpture of Winston Churchill in The Savoy's Churchill room, he also has a full-size Sherlock Holmes sculpture in The Holmes Museum in Baker Street.