NGD - Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop 1955 Heavy Relic Limited Edition in Red Sparkle

vivalacoulter

I was browsing around on a local guitar shops page just checking out what stock he had in when I came across this and had to go and try it.

After getting my head around the chunkier neck I had to have it, the tone is just phenomenal.

Also, I tried it through a Fender Supersonic 22, why are they not praised more? What a fantastic amp!

SquireJapan

I like that. I wouldn’t call it heavy relic (at least compared to what fender are calling heavy relic nowadays…)

Wear on the fretboard really doesn’t sit well with me, but I’m probably the exception

vivalacoulter

SquireJapan said:

I like that. I wouldn’t call it heavy relic (at least compared to what fender are calling heavy relic nowadays…)

Wear on the fretboard really doesn’t sit well with me, but I’m probably the exception

Thanks! Yes heavy relic now looks like they’ve been on tour with Hendrix for a few years!

I was unsure on the wear too but it just feels and plays like an old friend.

thebreeze

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

vivalacoulter

thebreeze said:

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

I’d never tried one before, took a little familiarisation to start but very comfortable now.

HandwrittenHero

Happy NGD! The fretboard wear was my hang up before I recently got my CS strat as well, but now I've lived with it for a bit it's not a deal. Back of the neck I do feel but it's comfy.

What pickups are in it by the way?

Lewy

Happy NGD! Looks a beauty.

I think the Supersonic 22 isn’t more popular because most people looking for a 22 watt Fender in that format at that price would rather go for a Deluxe Reverb and a pedal for drive sounds rather than an on-board drive channel.

vivalacoulter

HandwrittenHero said:

Happy NGD! The fretboard wear was my hang up before I recently got my CS strat as well, but now I've lived with it for a bit it's not a deal. Back of the neck I do feel but it's comfy.

What pickups are in it by the way?

Thanks! They’re the hand wound 55’s, really enjoying them.

Lewy said:

Happy NGD! Looks a beauty.

I think the Supersonic 22 isn’t more popular because most people looking for a 22 watt Fender in that format at that price would rather go for a Deluxe Reverb and a pedal for drive sounds rather than an on-board drive channel.

Thanks! It’s a shame as I was honestly really impressed.

GavRichList

Love it. Congrats. 

meltedbuzzbox

Lewy said:

Happy NGD! Looks a beauty.

I think the Supersonic 22 isn’t more popular because most people looking for a 22 watt Fender in that format at that price would rather go for a Deluxe Reverb and a pedal for drive sounds rather than an on-board drive channel.

I seem to recall the supersonics biggest problem was reliability?

Nice ngd fella. Looks great

Philly_Q

vivalacoulter said:

thebreeze said:

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

I’d never tried one before, took a little familiarisation to start but very comfortable now.

Is the '55 a distinct neck profile, or do they just use the 10/56 V or 54 U?

Sorry, I'm a bit obsessed with neck profiles... Great looking guitar!

vivalacoulter

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

thebreeze said:

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

I’d never tried one before, took a little familiarisation to start but very comfortable now.

Is the '55 a distinct neck profile, or do they just use the 10/56 V or 54 U?

Sorry, I'm a bit obsessed with neck profiles... Great looking guitar!

Haha, I believe it’s the 54 U.

Philly_Q

vivalacoulter said:

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

thebreeze said:

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

I’d never tried one before, took a little familiarisation to start but very comfortable now.

Is the '55 a distinct neck profile, or do they just use the 10/56 V or 54 U?

Sorry, I'm a bit obsessed with neck profiles... Great looking guitar!

Haha, I believe it’s the 54 U.

Ah!  That's what I have on mine, although the rest of it's based on a 1971 spec.
Great neck profile, nice and chunky but not as big as a Nocaster.  I think it's my favourite neck.  

vivalacoulter

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

thebreeze said:

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

I’d never tried one before, took a little familiarisation to start but very comfortable now.

Is the '55 a distinct neck profile, or do they just use the 10/56 V or 54 U?

Sorry, I'm a bit obsessed with neck profiles... Great looking guitar!

Haha, I believe it’s the 54 U.

Ah!  That's what I have on mine, although the rest of it's based on a 1971 spec.
Great neck profile, nice and chunky but not as big as a Nocaster.  I think it's my favourite neck.  

I’ve not used one before this but I’m certainly a fan now.

GavRichList

https://youtu.be/_XII4jpuArE

Here’s its blue counterpart

vivalacoulter

GavRichList said:

https://youtu.be/_XII4jpuArE

Here’s its blue counterpart

Great now I need to buy a blue one too!

HandwrittenHero

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

thebreeze said:

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

I’d never tried one before, took a little familiarisation to start but very comfortable now.

Is the '55 a distinct neck profile, or do they just use the 10/56 V or 54 U?

Sorry, I'm a bit obsessed with neck profiles... Great looking guitar!

Haha, I believe it’s the 54 U.

Ah!  That's what I have on mine, although the rest of it's based on a 1971 spec.
Great neck profile, nice and chunky but not as big as a Nocaster.  I think it's my favourite neck.  

It’s supposedly the neck profile on my AV54 as well, but I’m sceptical since it doesn’t really feel like a U, more of a C. Anyone else feel that way?

Agreed re nocaster, I let my Tele go because the 52U was ultimately past my own comfort, but the 54 neck, 10/56v and Gibson’s 59C have all felt like cousins of each other and all comfy for me.

vivalacoulter

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5j6iNu82mFE

vivalacoulter

Duplicate comment - please delete

thebreeze

HandwrittenHero said:

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

Philly_Q said:

vivalacoulter said:

thebreeze said:

Really nice.   I’ve got a 55, best neck shape for me

I’d never tried one before, took a little familiarisation to start but very comfortable now.

Is the '55 a distinct neck profile, or do they just use the 10/56 V or 54 U?

Sorry, I'm a bit obsessed with neck profiles... Great looking guitar!

Haha, I believe it’s the 54 U.

Ah!  That's what I have on mine, although the rest of it's based on a 1971 spec.
Great neck profile, nice and chunky but not as big as a Nocaster.  I think it's my favourite neck.  

It’s supposedly the neck profile on my AV54 as well, but I’m sceptical since it doesn’t really feel like a U, more of a C. Anyone else feel that way?

Agreed re nocaster, I let my Tele go because the 52U was ultimately past my own comfort, but the 54 neck, 10/56v and Gibson’s 59C have all felt like cousins of each other and all comfy for me.

Mine isn’t a 54U interestingly, I can’t remember exactly what mine is though.  I’ll post a pic from the spec sheet when I get home (in a couple of days).  I’ve a feeling my one was probably commissioned as special order or something as the wording is something like neck shape “based on *********’s 55”

Offset

Really like it.  I'm not a massive relic-ing fan but in this instance, the body 'wear' is fairly convincing compared to some and isn't over-done.  Love the colour too.