Since 1954, the Fender Stratocaster has set the bar for the electric guitar. Versatile and expressive—but originally conceived as an affordable, workingman's instrument—the Stratocaster has become ubiquitous across all genres of music as a Swiss-army-knife guitar.
This '60 Stratocaster rolled out of the Fender Custom Shop in 2003. The Custom Shop produces the finest Fender instruments on the planet. These special-order guitars show the accuracy, detail, and quality that were lost as Fenders became more mass-produced. On this Stratocaster, the Daphne Blue finish looks stunning with some subtle relic-ing and a relic-ed pickguard. Since 2003, the Custom Shop has grown more aggressive with the "heavy relic" concept, but this one is more tasteful. It captures the right played-in vibe, but unlike the recent Custom Shop stuff, this Stratocaster was spared from the medieval torture implements.
This Custom Shop Stratocaster stays faithful to the 1960 spec sheet. It has an Alder body and Maple neck with a slab rosewood fingerboard. The fingerboard radius is 9.5", and all the hardware is the proper vintage spec. The three-ply pickguard is correct for 1960, and this model left the factory with a vintage-appropriate 3-way switch. Of course, the Custom Shop does provide a 5-way switch, but the previous owner elected not to install it, so this Strat still has the 3-way. Like the vintage examples, it's easy enough to find the in-between, out-of-phase positions. The tip has been subtly bent, which helps out toward that end, too.
This 2003 Custom Shop '60 Stratocaster has been played, so it shows some authentic play wear beyond the relic treatment (see photos). It is set up with nice, low action, and it does the Strat thing extremely well. The Daphne Blue is a nice look, too. This 2003 Custom Shop '60 Stratocaster includes its original case, tremolo arm, ash tray cover, cable, strap, 5-way switch, and much of the included paperwork. However, the Certificate of Authenticity has been misplaced.