Fender Olympic White

Fender Olympic White
Why do some Olympic White Fender Stratocasters age into a creamy, yellowish off-white while others do not?

I’ve seen 1962 Strats in Olympic White that are still very white, bright, and vibrant. Then I see, like, a 1993 Strat in Olympic White and it is almost yellow. What is the deal?

Hi! If you are seeing a true original 1962 Olympic White Stratocaster that is still very white, it has either been repainted or hidden in a closet for 37 years. Most likely, you are looking at re-issue instruments. One of the characteristics of nitrocellulose or acrylic lacquer (typically used for most traditional Fender colors) is the natural yellowing with time. What starts out as essentially an off-white, parchment-like color, will gradually turn into a cream tone over the years. Clear coats add to the change in color, as well. This can even happen with an instrument that is kept in a case most of the time! There are chemicals that can be added to stabilize the paint, but Fender typically uses the original formulas for their Olympic White guitars. Best regards, Dana

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