2023 Fender Custom Shop '61 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Hardtail Ocean Turquoise

The 2023 Fender Custom Shop '61 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Hardtail in Ocean Turquoise combines early-1960s Stratocaster styling with the distinctive character of a heavily played vintage instrument. Built with a carefully selected two-piece alder body and finished in thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer, this guitar features Fender Custom Shop's Heavy Relic treatment, creating the appearance and feel of decades of use. The striking Ocean Turquoise finish is complemented by authentic vintage-inspired appointments, while the hardtail bridge provides a unique alternative to the traditional Stratocaster tremolo, offering a direct, resonant response and excellent tuning stability.

The quartersawn maple neck features a comfortable '60s Style Oval "C" profile, measuring .790" at the first fret and .930" at the 12th. A hand-selected dark AAA rosewood fingerboard with a 10" radius and 21 narrow tall frets provides smooth playability while maintaining the familiar feel of a vintage Stratocaster. Three hand-wound Wildwood 10 single-coil pickups deliver expressive, vintage-inspired Stratocaster tones with excellent clarity, warmth, and dynamic response. The reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle pickup provides hum-canceling operation in the combined pickup positions, while Vintage Modified Wiring #2 expands the instrument's tonal versatility. With its lightweight construction, heavily aged appearance, and distinctive hardtail configuration, this Custom Shop Stratocaster offers an exceptional combination of vintage character and modern playability.

Condition: Excellent - Features factory Heavy Relic aging

Year: 2023
Model: Fender Custom Shop '61 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Hardtail
Color: Ocean Turquoise
Body Style: '60s Stratocaster
Body Wood: 2-Piece Sorted Alder
Body Finish: Thin-Skin Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Finish Treatment: Heavy Relic
Neck Wood: Quartersawn Maple
Neck Shape: '60s Style Oval "C"
Neck Finish: Medium Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer, Heavy Relic
Neck Construction: 4-Bolt
Fingerboard Wood: AAA Rosewood, Sorted for Dark Color
Fingerboard Radius: 10"
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Wire: Narrow Tall / 6105
Position Inlays: Micarta White .250" Dots
Side Dots: Micarta White 3/32"
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650"
Butt Width: 2.200"
Neck Depth at 1st Fret: .790"
Neck Depth at 12th Fret: .930"
Truss Rod: Early '60s Style
Headstock: Small '60s Stratocaster
Headstock Thickness: .575"
Headstock Decal: '61-'63 Stratocaster with 2 Patent Numbers
Neck Pickup: Hand-Wound Wildwood 10 Stratocaster Single-Coil
Middle Pickup: Hand-Wound Wildwood 10 Stratocaster Single-Coil RWRP
Bridge Pickup: Hand-Wound Wildwood 10 Stratocaster Single-Coil
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Controls: Stratocaster Vintage Modified Wiring #2
Pickup Switching: 5-Way CRL Lever Switch
Potentiometers: 250K, 10% Taper Split Shaft
Bridge: Vintage-Style Stratocaster Hardtail, Heavy Relic
Hardware Finish: Chrome/Nickel, Heavy Relic
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo, Relic
Pickguard: '60s Stratocaster Nitrocellulose GBG, Relic
Control Knobs: Vintage White, Relic
Switch Tip: White, Relic
Neck Plate: R Series Vintage, Relic
Output Jack: Vintage Stratocaster, Relic
String Tree: American Vintage '59-'64 Metal Spacer, Relic
Case: Fender Custom Shop Wildwood 10 Case