What Color is Olympic White? Talking About the Origin of the Color of Fender Electric Guitars!

Fender electric guitars often come in colors with unusual or quirky names, and sometimes it’s hard to understand what those names actually mean. But once you know the origin of a color name, you might feel even more attached to your guitar, and it can also be a fun bit of trivia to share with others.
So, I decided to look into the origins of Fender’s electric guitar color names.

■ Olympic White

Olympic White is a shade that’s almost pure white, or sometimes has a yellowish tint.
Some might think the name comes from the fresh, clean image of the Olympics, but that’s not quite right.

The origin of "Olympic White" actually comes from the white stone quarried on Mount Olympus in Greece. This stone was traditionally used to build Greek temples and is considered a material with a noble architectural heritage.
When you think of an electric guitar bearing that name, it kind of feels like its status has been elevated, which is pretty cool!

Vintage guitars in Olympic White often appear more yellowed, but that’s due to aging and discoloration over time. Many people actually love this aged look and they find that it’s full of character.

○ FENDER Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster Olympic White

FENDER Jimi Hendrix Stratocaster Olympic White

Jimi Hendrix is famously known for playing a Stratocaster in Olympic White. Naturally, this Jimi Hendrix tribute model also comes in Olympic White that’s complete with an emotional touch of a sketch of Jimi himself on the back of the neck joint!

■ Penny/h2>

“Penny” sounds like a cute name for a color, and it comes from the U.S. one-cent coin — a.k.a. the penny. It’s similar to Japan’s one-yen coin in everyday usage.

The color is a reddish copper tone that’s softer and warmer than the bronze of a Japanese 10-yen coin. Its subtle, refined hue gives it a stylish, mature vibe that’s quite charming.

○ Recommended guitar in Penny

FENDER MIJ Limited F-Hole Telecaster Thinline Penny

This stylish Telecaster sports the Penny finish. A fun little detail is that the sound hole is shaped like the Fender logo!

■ Sonic Blue

Sonic Blue is a color that was originally used on the body of the 1956 Cadillac. Many of Fender’s guitar finishes were influenced by popular car colors at the time they were released, with Sonic Blue being one example.

Sonic Blue is a pale, whitish light blue that’s very characteristic of classic American cars. A similar color is Daphne Blue, which has a stronger blue tone compared to Sonic Blue. Interestingly, Daphne Blue also comes from the 1958 Cadillac.
The word “sonic” means “sound” or “supersonic,” and it’s easy to imagine the name reflecting the speed and power of American cars.

○ Recommended guitar in Sonic Blue

FENDER Vintera 60s Jaguar Modified HH Sonic Blue

Sonic Blue has a long history and it fits perfectly with the vintage style of the Vintera series. It's the perfect color to get you feeling like you're back in the '60s.

■ Candy Apple Red

Candy Apple Red is a color that evokes the sparkle of a glossy candy coating and the rich, deep red of an actual apple. The finish is achieved by first applying a metallic gold or silver base coat, then layering a translucent red over it. This allows the metallic base to shine through, creating a vibrant, shimmering red finish.

○ Recommended guitar in Candy Apple Red

FENDER Player Plus Telecaster Aged Candy Apple Red

The Player Plus series builds on Fender’s Player line, combining classic design with modern features that are player-friendly. Choosing a stunning Candy Apple Red finish makes the joy of owning and playing an electric guitar even greater.

■ Lake Placid Blue

Lake Placid Blue takes its name from the lake in New York State, USA. Its deep, calm blue tone has a mature feel, making it a popular choice. The color was also used on Cadillacs around 1958. As with many other Fender finishes, it was inspired by the colors of classic American cars.

○ Recommended guitar in Lake Placid Blue

FENDER American Performer Jazzmaster Satin Lake Placid Blue

The combination of the dark brown pickguard and the subdued blue of Lake Placid Blue gives this guitar a refined, understated look.

■ Sunburst

“Sunburst” refers to the effect of strong sunlight shining through gaps in the clouds. On guitars, the term describes a color pattern where the center is lighter and gradually darkens toward the edges — the bright center is likened to sunlight, which is where the name comes from.

There are different types of sunburst finishes:
- 2-Color Sunburst uses two tones
- 3-Color Sunburst uses three tones
Additionally, there’s Cherry Sunburst, where the center is yellow and it fades to red on the edges, and Tobacco Sunburst, where the center is yellow and the edges fade to black.
Tobacco Sunburst is actually meant to recreate the look of a faded Cherry Sunburst, mimicking the natural aging process over time.

○ Recommended guitar in Sunburst

FENDER American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe, 3-Color Sunburst

A popular model from the American Professional II series, this guitar features a 3-color sunburst finish. The smooth gradient gives it a rich, classy look that adds to its premium feel.

■ Dark Night

This color is featured in the American Professional II series. It starts with black at the center and fades into a deep blue toward the edges. It’s named “Dark Night” like the Batman movie, which is just so cool — it’s a striking and stylish finish.

○ Recommended guitar in Dark Night

FENDER American Professional II Stratocaster HSS Rose Dark Night

This is so cool!
You could call it a reverse sunburst since the gradient from black to deep blue is understated and beautiful. It’s incredibly stylish.

■ Cobra Blue

Cobra Blue is inspired by the color used on the AC Cobra, a sports car manufactured in the U.S. and U.K. around the 1960s. The deep metallic blue gives off a bold, stylish vibe.

○ Recommended guitar in Cobra Blue

FENDER American Ultra Jazzmaster Maple Cobra Blue

The striking contrast between the deep Cobra Blue body and the bright maple neck makes this guitar visually stunning. Fender offers many shades of blue, but Cobra Blue stands out as one of the most vibrant and beautiful.

■ Mercury

While “Mercury” in English can refer to the planet, in this case, it’s referring to the metal liquid mercury. It’s a sleek, metallic gray with a subdued shine, giving off a sophisticated, mature vibe.

○ Recommended guitar in Mercury

FENDER American Professional II Jazzmaster, Mercury

It’s the very definition of understated elegance. Black or white guitars offer a clean monochrome look, but choosing Mercury lets you express a more refined, grown-up style.

As expected from Fender, even the colors have a story.

So, what did you think of these Fender electric guitar colors? As you dig into the meaning behind each name, it becomes clear just how much thought Fender puts into their finishes. Personally, I’m really drawn to Dark Night. It has such a cool, mature vibe!

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