Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt '63 Stratocaster by Greg Fessler in Relic Faded Dakota Red

This Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Greg Fessler ’63 Strat literally ticks every box. Roasted Alder Body, AAA Rosewood Fingerboard, 7.4lb, Hand-wound pickups, Oval 60s C shape neck and it's Red! To me, this is the dream guitar, nothing can top this!

It sounds and plays as good as it looks, like the guitar you’ve always played and always will play. Meticulously built to perfection, it's ready to go. Beautifully resonant, rich in harmonics and with all the spank and bell-like chimey-ness you'd want in a Pre-CBS styled Strat. The ultimate Stratocaster tone machine. 

Key Features 

• Masterbuilt: There is just something indescribably special about a guitar that’s built by one person. The neck is specifically built for that specific body and the pickups wound with that guitar in mind. 
• Authentic: With its 3 Patent number decal, Nitro Pickguard and Vintage Clay fretboard markers, this Custom Shop ’63 Strat has all the correct appointments. 
• Oval 60s C: In my opinion, the best neck profile! The perfect middle ground between a modern slim C-shaped neck and a more vintage style shape. It hugs your hand without feeling clumpy. 
• Reliced Nitro Finish: Expertly Reliced to look like the real deal. Forget about any anxiety caused by giving your new favourite guitar its first ding or scratch, this Strat looks like it's been already played every day for the last half a decade.

Tonewoods

The already perfect combination of Alder, Maple and Rosewood but made even better. Roasting the Alder body in effect, ages and seasons the wood to absolute perfection. All moistures, sugars and saps are roasted away leaving you with a piece of timber which feels like it's been seasoned for 100 years. Perfectly resonant and often more lightweight. Wonderfully combined with the guitars riff sawn Maple Neck and AAA Rosewood Fingerboard.

Modern Touches

Two details about this beautiful Greg Fessler ’63 Strat which has been tweaked to a more modern spec, and in my opinion, absolutely for the better is the 9.5” fingerboard radius and the 6105 frets. Effortless bending and increased speed thanks to the ever so slightly flatter fingerboard and slightly taller frets. 

Greg Fessler

Working his way up in the Fender Custom Shop since the early ‘90s, Greg Fessler has rightfully earned his place as one of the most respected Master Builders in the ranks. Famed for his meticulous attention to detail, Fessler has built guitars for many of the greats including Robbin Ford, Hank Marvin, John Mayer, and Joe Bonamassa (to name just a few). 

Josefina Hand-Wound Pickups

Hand-wound pickups by a pickup winding legend in her own right! Josefina Campos was selected and trained by no other than Abigale Ybarra, Fenders' original pickup winder from the early 50s. Leo trained Abigale who then passed on every scrap of pickup-making knowledge to Josefina. These are THE pickups, wound from the best, most authentic parts by one of the greatest winders. Hear each note sing how it was designed to be heard on your Custom Shop 63 Strat. 

Specifications 

• Model: Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt '63 Stratocaster

Body 

• Body Style: 60s Strat
• Body Wood: Roasted Alder
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Body Colour: Faded Dakota Red (Relic)

Neck 

• Neck Shape: 60s Style Oval C
• Neck Wood: Maple (Riff Sawn)
• Neck Finish: Medium Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer, No Finish on Neck Back
• Fingerboard: Laminate AAA Rosewood
• Frets: 21 Narrow Tall (6105)
• Radius: 9.5”
• Nut Width: 1.65”
• Nut: Bone
• Decal: 63 Strat (3 Pat Numbers)
• Dots: Vintage Clay

Hardware 

• Bridge: American Vintage Stratocaster Bridge Relic
• Trem Arm: Vintage Upgraded 60s Relic with White Relic Tip
• Tuners: Vintage with Fender Logo Relic
• Pickguard: ’63-’76 GBG Nitro Relic 
• Hardware: Chrome

Electronics 

• Controls: Strat Vintage ’61-’67 Relic
• Switch: CRL 5-Way (White Relic Tip)
• Knobs: White Relic
• Pots: 250K 10% Taper Split
• Neck Pickup: Josefina Hand Wound 69 Strat Relic
• Middle Pickup: Josefina Hand Wound Fat 50s Relic
• Bridge Pickup: Josefina Hand Wound Texas Special Relic
• Capacitor: Vintage Ceramic

Miscellaneous 

• Strings: 10-46
• Case: Fender Custom Shop Black Tolex Case