Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster 59 Heavy Relic Purple Metallic
Imagine a hot night in a blues club, where smoke, whisky, and sweat create a perfect atmosphere for dedicated players ripping their instruments. They've been coming here every weekend with just one aim - to express the song of their souls through screaming amps. They give it all like there's no tomorrow. This amazing Fender Stratocaster takes you back to this club. Being a creation of Custom Shop based on the 60s Stratocaster, it also has features associated with the 1959 model.
Starting with the wood - a lightweight piece of ash was used for the body. Thanks to it the guitar's weight is low, around 3.15 kilograms. It helps to resonate better and in combination with a thicker, large C neck delivers sustain and punchy note dynamics. The hardware is pretty standard - American Vintage tremolo and tuning keys, a 5-way switch, 3 knobs, and an angled jack input.
The neck feels nice and solid, not too thick yet on the larger side. Its back is sanded off to create the worn-out vintage feeling, worth noting is also the rolling of fret edges. All together it gives a nice vibe of an older, played-in instrument with a story.
As far as the pickups go, the 69/65/Texas Special combo has the appetite for a hotter blues drive. It's by no means a humble sound for those who like to be in the shadow - both in the clean and overdriven version it will be pushing you to the front with a nice balance of sparkle and midrange compression.
Visually, the color is dominant, in your face plum purple with a metallic shine. The relic job is heavy, and there's a lot of wood sneaking from under the paint. Scratches, wears, and tears - it's all we're in for here.
Specification
- Body: ash
- Body sorted for lightweight: yes
- Lacquer: purple metallic, nitro
- Relic: Heavy
- Neck: maple 5/4 quarter-sawn
- Neck profile: large C (.850" 1st fret - .950" 12th fret)
- Back of the neck finish: sanded off, worn, relic
- Fretboard: AAA rosewood
- Fretboard radius: 9.5"
- Frets: 6105 Sanko
- Pickups: 69 (neck) / 65 RWRP (middle) / Texas Special (bridge)
- Bridge: American Vintage Tremolo
- Tuners: American Vintage Tuners
- Weight: 3.15 kg
- Hardcase: yes
- Certificates: yes
- Relic: yes