1958 catalog description, "The many remarkable design features incorporated in the Stratocaster including many "Fender Firsts" have resulted in making it the choice of many of the country's leading musicians. It features the advanced neck design, the contoured curves of the body, the improved adjustable pickups, the new method of tone control, the mechanical bridge, the surface mounted plug receptacle, and one of the most outstanding Fender developments - the exclusive Fender built-in tremelo. The Stratocaster contoured body design offers considerably greater playing comfort. This is accomplished by curving and relieving the guitar body so that it snugs into the body of the player. Also, the front of the guitar is dressed away, providing a firm comfortable arm rest. The Fender built-in tremelo is a simple fool-proof and extremely effective method of obtaining any degree of tremelo one might desire. When the tremelo effect is not required, the tremelo lever swings completely out of the player's way. This is yet another remarkable "Fender First". The Stratocaster is truly an artist's guitar, combining all the fine features of the original Fender solid body guitar plus many of the developments which make it the the most advanced instrument on the market."

1958 Stratocaster without Vibrato

A fine three-tone example with the orange plush tweed case. Courtesy of the late Ed Black.

This is the first year three color sunbursts arrived on normal production models. A maroon toner was utilized to create the reddish tint over the yellow color. Then a very dark brown was sprayed last around the edges. They experimented with various colored bodies left outside on the roof of the factory to obtain a red that wouldn't fade as easily from the ultaviolet rays. The earliest 58's often had the two tone bursts while the "shaded sunburst" two and a half tone burst (dark brown to light brown to yellow) was an option beginning in 1959 on the guitars and basses. Alder bodies were standard since mid 1956 and took a finish much easier than the grainy, absorbent ash wood bodies. The switch to alder was necessary because of the inconsistancy in weight with the ash lumber. It was also a very popular wood for kitchen cabinets and furniture. They had used alder occasionally in 1951 on the earliest solidbodies. The alder wood tone was a little more mellow and softer.. without the brilliance and longer sustained tones of the ash wood bodies. Leo's right-hand man, Freddie Tavares told this author they knew the alder tone wasn't as strong and bright, but the production mandates were to be followed. Some earlier unused non-trem ash bodies are occasionally seen on 1957 sunburst models. Ash hardwood, with it's striking grain patterns were primarily reserved for the blonde instruments. Neck shapes during 1958 were beginning to flatten out a little, creating a nice slender profile for the guitarist. A slight V returned in early 1959 before the advent of the rosewood fingerboards. In retrospect, many shapes were done through the years, giving todays players a variety to choose from. While some prefer the earlier rounded U shapes, others enjoy rounded V shapes from '56 into early '57 or the normal sharp '57 V variations.