Fender Custom Shop 1960 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic, Faded Aged Surf Green Overview

Fender Custom Shop 1960 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic, Faded Aged Surf Green

With its beautiful tonewoods, timeless looks and glistening tone, this 1960 Stratocaster is a prime example of why the Fender Custom Shop is so revered.

Golden Era Charm

You could easily mistake this Fender Custom Shop 1960 Strat for an instrument that was made during the Golden Era. Every aspect of this fantastic instrument is authentically vintage in its nature, from the crisp, articulate '60s Strat pickups to the meticulous ageing of the finish and hardware.

Select Tonewoods

At the the core of this Custom Shop Strat’s lush tone are its select tonewoods. The 2-piece body features the iconic Strat contours and is sculpted from Alder, a staple Fender tonewood that’s praised for its well-rounded, resonant and full-bodied sonic character. The body is partnered with a AAA Flame Maple neck, which sports a stunning grain pattern. The neck has been roasted to enhance its stability and durability. The roasting process also imparts an alluring dark colour.

Smooth Playability

Topping the roasted Flame Maple neck is a buttery-smooth slab AAA Rosewood fretboard, which was specially selected for its distinctively dark look. Comfortable playability is catered for by the fretboard’s flatter 9.5" radius and the '60s Oval “C” neck profile. This popular profile fills the hand nicely and feels superb whilst performing a wide variety of left-hand techniques. The fretboard is adorned with 21 Narrow Tall 6105 frets, which are slightly taller than Fender’s vintage-spec frets and present an inviting modern feel.

Classic Tone

The Fender Custom Shop have loaded this spectacular Stratocaster with a trio of their '60s Strat pickups. These single-coils use a classic 1960s design, alnico 2 magnets and formvar wire to deliver that quintessential vintage Strat tone - sweet, defined highs, rich mids and warm lows with plenty of punch. The Modern Strat wiring and 5-way switch allow you to conjure a range of inspiring tones, from hollow rhythms to singing leads.

Time Machine Treatment

This '60s Stratocaster has undergone the Fender Custom Shop’s Journeyman Relic treatment. This is a more nuanced ageing process that’s akin to a prized vintage instrument that has been lovingly taken care of and routinely polished over the years. If it weren’t for the Fender Custom Shop neckplate and headstock decal, you could very easily mistake this Strat for a real '60s model. The period-correct nitrocellulose finish has aged like a fine wine, whilst the subtle finish checks, oxidised hardware and discoloured parts impart the endearing, played-in character of a genuine Golden Era guitar.

Modern Performance

Crafted with only the finest tonewoods and hardware by the Fender Custom Shop’s world-class luthiers, this Strat gives you all the desirable qualities of a vintage Fender with the effortless playability and solid reliability of a modern one. You can count on this Fender Custom Shop Strat to consistently deliver and inspire on stage or in the studio.

If you’re looking for a truly magnificent Strat that has bags of vintage Fender character, this Custom Shop model will make an excellent addition to your collection.