Description

"Originally my work was design, modification, repair, and custom building. I guess you would say the objectives were durability, performance, and tone." - Leo Fender

We are very excited to welcome the Fender Custom Shop to The Music Emporium! Many of us started our guitar playing journey on Fender guitars - and we certainly noticed all of our idols playing them - so to be able to work with the Dream Factory in CA and spec out our perfect Fender guitars? A dream come true to be sure. 

Our goal with these builds was to, in essence, retell the Fender story while also tipping our hat to the players who made them famous. Each mark, ding, or worn spot telling a story of countless hours on the road or in the studio. There's a magic to that idea that we can't help but be inspired by, and as we all know, Leo and crew got it right from the start. Why mess with a great thing?

Few things are cooler than a '50s style Strat in our book. Images of Buddy Holly, Clapton, etc...come to mind, and Fender nailed all the details that make these guitars so sought after. A big part of the vintage feel comes from the rift sawn maple neck, '54 U carve, and the 7.25-9.5" radius. The Journeyman relic'ing is very realistic, and we had them leave the back of the neck alone (we love relic jobs too, but it's nice to have some guitars without that on the neck, no?). The pickup covers are rounded like an old guitar, the knobs are taller and fatter, and the switch tip has the rounder "football" shape as well - all in the details, as the saying goes. 

Tones? Stellar. There's something about vintage wiring - aka, no tone control assigned to the bridge pickup - that you can't beat. Open, twangy, Tele-like bridge pickup tones couple beautifully with round, bell-like neck pickup tones. This is what a great vintage Strat should sound like! 

Priced with hardshell case. 

Specs

  • 2-Tone Sunburst, Journeyman
  • 2-piece Ash body, sorted for light weight
  • Maple neck, rift sawn
  • '54 U neck carve (.88"-.99")
  • 1.65" nut width, bone
  • 7.25-9.5" compound radius 
  • Black dots, wide spacing 
  • Vintage Upgrade Frets, 21
  • '54 Strat Custom Shop pickups
  • 10-46 Strings 
  • Fender Hardshell Case
  • SN R101302
  • 7lbs 14oz

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