NGD: Fender CS Relic Strat content

fretfinder

As some will know I’ve been looking for absolutely ages for a nice Fender Custom Shop Relic Strat, that meets certain criteria such as a 9.5” radius, big frets, in a decent colour, not too heavy and not too expensive. Well I’ve finally snagged one that might do me for a while.

It’s a 2017 limited edition ‘59 Strat Journeyman Relic in aged Olympic White, with a heavily flamed ‘59 C shaped maple neck, AAA dark rosewood board, 9.5” radius and jumbo frets. The pickups are handwound Ancho Poblanos, with the middle pickup RWRP, and the controls are master volume with tone-saver bleed, master tone with Greasebucket tone circuit, and the third knob does bridge/neck pickup blend. According to Fender there was a limited edition of 75 in this colour. I got it off Reverb from a nice chap who had bought it new from Peach.

The pickups sound great and it plays really well after a few tweaks to the action. I’ve never had a CS guitar with a ‘59 neck profile before but I really like it - it’s a comfortable medium-sized handful at the 1st fret, fattening up to pretty chunky at the 12th fret. The tone circuit and blend options are also new to me but I think they provide some nice sounds, with the Anchos giving a bit more oomph than more vintage-style Strat pickups. The Journeyman Relic finish is pretty cool too, with lots of checking and a few small dings but no belt-sander work. The guitar weighs 7lb 7.5oz - or 3.39kg for the more metrically aligned among you. Here’s some pics.

https://i.imgur.com/4ZUK0Ld.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xLI3uHx.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1BnHMmw.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iTKbmol.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/I7XVzxh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/XIcRPQ5.jpg

RandallFlagg

I'm off the sound of Strats completely but it sure looks nice.

RaymondLin

That's a keeper, check out that neck!

chris78

Oooph that neck. Great find, Nigel.

richardhomer

Gorgeous!

LPManic

Flame on the neck my goodness! Health to enjoy!

Hattigol

Be prepared for plenty of detailed questions when this hits the classifieds... 

Voxman

Congrats...veeery nice. Enjoy.

danishbacon

Nice find Nigel

Dan

That looks sublime, congrats! That neck though! Great weight too. Glad you found something.  

Still got mine/yours/mine again strat. Loving it. 

guitars4you

Enjoy the Strat - I like the Ancho's but often with the vol pot knocked back a touch, especially with less gain on the amp, so as to be more cultured and less 'hot' - And again prefer the slightly larger neck, compared to the 790/930 classic profile - The blend pot I can take/leave, but then again I don't mind the simple m/vol + m/tone option with this wiring loom - Enjoy - Best wishes 

deadgrateful

You did well with this one, enjoy and I hope it's the keeperyou're after!

SRD81

Looks a cracker and very cool spec too - enjoy

axisus

Lovely guitar!

ennspek

Lovely. Too light for me though!

Enjoy.

Brize

fretfinder said: It weighs 7lb 7.5oz. 

Christ, what a boat anchor.

thegummy

Man that is up there with some of the most perfect looking guitars I have ever seen!

Classic combo, very tasteful reliccing.

Wazmeister

Nice photos Nigel !

I'm so pleased you got there in the end... I have found too that sometimes the search takes years.

Hyster

That looks amazing.

GazMoz

Nice spec! I like big frets, big necks and Poblano's

fretfinder

Thanks for the comments guys, wisdoms awarded. It is a cracker and I can’t wait for the chance to play it loud with the band. Unfortunately I suspect it will be a fair while before that can happen. Meanwhile here’s to GAS and more GAS to keep us going!