Fender Custom 1959 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3TSB (Actual Guitar)

This venerable transition year for the Strat brought several big changes, including a flat-lam rosewood fingerboard, white “clay” position dots and an 11-hole pickguard (single-ply until that July). Leo Fender, never one to waste anything, would use up parts until they were gone completely, so during transition years you can find different and distinctive combinations of parts. We’ve incorporated some of those rare combinations in this faithful recreation.

A two-piece select alder body (ash on aged white blonde) wears a Heavy Relic nitrocellulose lacquer finish for a well-loved look and feel. The rift-sawn maple neck sports an “oval C” profile, 9.5”-radius flat-lam rosewood fingerboard and 21 jumbo frets for comfortable deep bends. Hand-wound Texas Special pickups are connected to five-way switch and vintage modified #2 wiring on a rare 11-hole single-ply parchment pickguard. Other features include a Custom Shop vintage-style synchronized tremolo, vintage-style tuning machines, bone nut and wing string tree with metal spacer. Also includes deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity.

SPECIFICATIONS

General

• Model Name: 1959 Stratocaster® Heavy Relic®, Rosewood Fingerboard, Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst
• Model Number: 9231012786
• Series: Time Machine™
• Color: Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst

Body

• Body Shape: Stratocaster®
• Body Material: 2-Piece Select Alder
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Neck

• Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple
• Neck Shape: 60s Oval "C"
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
• Number of Frets: 21
• Fret Size: Jumbo
• String Nut: Bone
• Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
• Truss Rod Nut: Vintage-Style Slotted
• Neck Plate: 4-Bolt with Custom Shop "V" Logo
• Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Fingerboard: Flat-Laminated AAA Rosewood
• Position Inlays: Micarta White Dot

Electronics

• Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special™ Single-Coil Strat®
• Middle Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special™ RWRP Single-Coil Strat®
• Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special™ Single-Coil Strat®
• Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
• Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup Position 3. Middle Pickup Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup Position 5. Neck Pickup
• Pickup Configuration: SSS

Hardware

• Bridge: Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
• Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
• Orientation: Right-Hand
• Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
• Pickguard: 1-Ply Parchment
• Control Knobs: Vintage White
• Switch Tips: Vintage White

Miscellaneous

• Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges)
• Included Accessories: Deluxe Hardshell Case, Strap, Certificate of Authenticity