The 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black is a Fender electric guitar, currently around $24481.14. Close alternatives include the Gretsch G6120 Brian Setzer and the 60's Danelectro DC59. It pairs well with the Bad Cat Cub and the Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head.
1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black
Fender · electric guitar
This 1962 Fender Stratocaster in black finish represents the pre-CBS era Stratocaster considered by many players and collectors to be the high point of Fenders original design and construction quality, built before Fenders 1965 sale to CBS is generally held to have changed the instruments specification and feel. Black was a custom-order finish in this period rather than a standard colour option, making an original black 1962 Stratocaster a rarer and more sought-after example than the sunburst finish Fender shipped as standard. It is associated in this catalogue with John Frusciante.
- glassy
- smooth
- bridge tones
- twang
- biting
- quack
- perfect condition
- many players and collectors
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black is commonly used in
- Psychedelic Rock
Amps that pair well with the 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black
Bad Cat Cub
Bad Cat
10% matchBad Cat Cub's own harmonically rich character is the real reason this is worth trying
Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head
amplifier
10% matchMarshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head leans toward dynamic, and that's a real, usable character to pair with — also used together by 1 artist
Milkman Sound Creamer 20W Combo
Milkman Sound
10% matchMilkman Sound Creamer 20W Combo's own edge of breakup character is the real reason this is worth trying
1970s Mesa/Boogie Mark I 'Snake King'
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Amplified Nation Trem-Drive Deluxe Combo
Amplified Nation
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Bogner Barcelona
Bogner
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Bruno Cowtipper 35
Bruno
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Carr Mercury V
Carr
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Pedals that stack with the 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone
7% matchThe OCD's firm, British-voiced overdrive rounds off the Prized Black's biting, glassy bridge tones with real thickness.
J. Rockett Archer
pedal
7% matchThe Archer's creamy clean boost pushes the Prized Black's glassy, biting bridge tones louder without recoloring them.
Amptweaker Fat Rock
Amptweaker
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Amptweaker Tight Drive
Amptweaker
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo
Artec
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
BBE Tremor V2
Bbe
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Beetronics Nectar
Beetronics
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Caroline Guitar Company Crom Hi-Gain Fuzzstortion
Caroline Guitar Company
tonal matchVoiced for Fender-style amps
Cheaper alternatives
Gretsch Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird
Gretsch
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins
Gretsch
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Hendrix "Burnt" Stratocaster
Fender
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Danny Gatton Telecaster
Fender
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Dave Murray Stratocaster
electric guitar
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Albert Collins Telecaster
Fender
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Gretsch G6120 Brian Setzer
Gretsch
90% similaritysimilar tone character
60's Danelectro DC59
Danelectro
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone 1961 50th Anniversary Casino Reissue
Epiphone
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender '57 Stratocaster Reissue with EMG SA Pickups
Fender
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Highway One Telecaster
electric guitar
89% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black?+
The closest matches in character are the Gretsch G6120 Brian Setzer, the 60's Danelectro DC59, the Epiphone 1961 50th Anniversary Casino Reissue. Budget picks: Gretsch Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird, Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins, Hendrix "Burnt" Stratocaster. Boutique upgrades: 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop.
What pairs well with the 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Bad Cat Cub, Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head, Milkman Sound Creamer 20W Combo — Bad Cat Cub's own harmonically rich character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the 1962 Fender Stratocaster Prized Black cost?+
Around $24481.14 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).