New Fender Custom Shop Master Design Series

For the Stratocaster 60th Anniversary celebration, Fender asked their Custom Shop Master Builders to create the model of their dreams.

The Fender Custom Shop Master Design series debuts with two 1950s Relic and 1963 Relic Stratocaster guitars. Each instrument is the result of the vision and favorite specifications of one Master Builder and his team. All the instruments are available in limited quantities.

The Master Design 1950s Relic Stratocaster was created by Todd Krause who wanted to recreate the sound, style and spirit of the first decade of the Strat life, while using modern elements. Here are its specifications:

Alder body
Bolt-on maple neck with 10/56 large V shape
Maple fingerboard with 9.5” radius, 21 narrow jumbo frets and black Dot inlays
Nut width: 1.650”
Scale length: 25.5”
Vintage-style tuners with Fender logo
3 Custom Shop Fat ‘50s Single Coil Strat shielded pickups
Master volume and 2 tone knobs, 5-way pickup switch
Vintage-style bridge with synchronized tremolo
Golden hardware
1-ply Parchment pickguard
4-bolt plate with “Master Design” engraved
Moss Green Relic nitrocellulose finish
Ships in a hardshell with a cable, strap, CruzTools kit and certificate of authenticity

The second model in this Master Design series is the 1963 Relic Stratocaster, the creation of John Cruz who was inspired by the early 60s classic models. The single coil pickups were specially designed and offer, according to Fender, polyvalence with a high output, lots of mids and a sweeter character for solos. Note that the center pickup features a reverse-wound (polarity) design for hum cancellation in positions 2 and 4.

Specifications:

Alder body
Bolt-on quartersawn maple with large C shape
Laminated rosewood fingerboard with 12” radius, 21 jumbo frets and white Dot inlays
Nut width: 1.650”
Scale length: 25.5”
Vintage-style tuners with Fender logo
3 Master Design Single Coil Strat pickups
Master volume, master tone and Blend knobs
5-way pickup switch
Vintage-style bridge with synchronized tremolo, 6 saddles and brass block
3-ply Mint Green pickguard
2-Tone Sunburst nitrocellulose finish
Ships in a case with cable, strap, CruzTools kit and certificate of authenticity