Fender Custom Shop 59 Strat in Purple Metallic Heavy Relic

This Fender Custom Shop Strat is special in so many ways and we’re happy to say that our very own Captain Anderton and Danish Pete spec’d this guitar up themselves. It’s a stunning mixture of what we feel are the best specs you could have on a Strat.

Lightweight Ash Body

While Fender transitioned to alder in the late 50s, for this guitar we’ve opted for the original Strat body wood, ash. Ash has an impressive natural resonance which really helps the notes ring out. It also has the added benefit of being lightweight so it won’t take a toll on your back while you’re standing up. The body has been given the relic treatment which gives it that vintage, well-played look and is finished in Metallic Purple with a gold anodised pickguard for a truly unconventional look.

Comfortable, Worn-In Neck

The neck shape is a “Large C” profile which is a versatile shape that accommodates a range of playing styles and fills the hand nicely without feeling too cumbersome. The neck has also been relic’d for an instantly familiar feel that’s smooth and worn-in.

For the fingerboard, we’ve gone for rosewood which offers a smooth and natural-feeling playing surface with Narrow Tall 6105 frets to give you great control over your bends and vibrato. The fingerboard is a more modern 9.5” radius which is more comfortable for soloing and note bends but still has some curve for comfortably fretting chords.

Vintage Strat Tone

With a guitar that has the look of a vintage instrument you, of course, want the tone to match. This is where the pickups come in. With a ‘69 Strat pickup in the neck and a ‘65 Strat pickup in the middle position you get that pure iconic Strat tone you know and love. In the bridge is something less-traditional, the Texas Special. Named after that gritty Texas Blues tone, the Texas Special is an overwound Strat pickup that provides a fatter and more aggressive sound for when you really want to turn up the gain.

Specifications

Body

• Body Wood: Ash
• Finish: Heavy Relic Nitro-Cellulose

Neck

• Neck Shape: Large "C"
• Neck Finish: Heavy Relic
• Radius: 9.5
• Neck Wood: Maple
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Truss Rod: Early 60s
• Dots: Micarta White 
• Fret Wire: Narrow Tall 6105
• Number of frets: 21
• 4-Bolt neck join

Hardware

• Hardware Finish: Chrome/Nickel
• Bridge: American Vintage Strat
• Tuners: Vintage With Fender Logo

Electronics

• Bridge Pickup: Texas Special
• Middle Pickup: Reverse 65 Strat
• Neck Pickup: 69 Strat
• Wiring: Strat Vintage Modern Wiring #2 (master volume, tone 1 for neck and middle, tone 2 for bridge)

Other

• Case: Tweed Custom Shop Case
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Fender Custom Shop 'Traveller' Case Candy