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Description

The Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster is a distinguished member of the electric guitar family, revered for its exceptional craftsmanship and timeless sound. Handcrafted in Fender's Custom Shop, this Stratocaster embodies the pinnacle of guitar artistry, combining vintage aesthetics with modern playability. It features a select alder or ash body, which provides a balanced tonal range, from bright, crisp highs to warm, resonant lows, making it a versatile choice for any musical style.

The neck is crafted from premium maple, with a smooth satin finish that ensures effortless playability across the fretboard. Its comfortable "C" shape is designed to fit naturally in your hand, allowing for extended play without fatigue. Custom-wound pickups deliver a rich, articulate sound that pays homage to the legendary tones of classic Stratocasters, while offering enhanced clarity and dynamic response for today's musicians.

Whether you're on stage or in the studio, the Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster promises reliability and performance. Its vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge provides smooth action for subtle vibratos or more intense dives, without sacrificing tuning stability. Each instrument is meticulously inspected and set up by Fender's master builders, guaranteeing that your guitar is ready to inspire from the moment you pick it up.

Key Features:

  • Handcrafted in Fender's Custom Shop
  • Select alder or ash body for balanced tonal range
  • Maple neck with "C" shape profile and satin finish
  • Custom-wound pickups for rich, articulate sound
  • Vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge
  • Meticulously inspected and set up by master builders
Ola Englund

Ola Englund

MY GUITAR - FENDER CUSTOM SHOP STRATOCASTER

Video thumbnail for MY GUITAR - FENDER CUSTOM SHOP STRATOCASTER by Ola Englund

MY GUITAR - FENDER CUSTOM SHOP STRATOCASTER

Ola Englund

Ola Englund

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster.

Features and functionality

  • Direct-mounted pickups reportedly offer unique overtones, especially when played with high drive.

    Source
  • The SD Seth Lover pickup in the neck position is praised for its exceptional tone.

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  • Texas Special pickups are preferred by some owners for their tonal qualities compared to other options like Fat '50s.

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Comparisons

  • The guitar is likened to a Nashville Tele with a "Keef" style HB at the neck, combining Strat and Tele elements.

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Build quality

  • The binding on the guitar is frequently highlighted as a visually appealing feature.

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  • The Time Machine Relic series appears less common at lower prices, with owners expressing satisfaction in their unique and "broken in" feel.

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User experience

  • Owners appreciate the 2 and 4 pickup positions for delivering the classic Strat "quack" sound.

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  • Owners report a "worn out" feel that provides no neck friction, enhancing playability and producing inspiring sound.

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Value and pricing

  • A secondhand Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster at $2,000 is considered a significant bargain by experienced players.

    Source
  • Prices for these guitars often exceed $4,000, making anything below this a potential bargain, particularly in international markets like Perth.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Fender Custom Shop Guitar Center Dealer Select Stratocaster HST Journeyman review | Guitar World

guitarworld.com

The Fender Custom Shop Dealer Select Stratocaster HST Journeyman is a dream for collectors and players alike, offering top-tier craftsmanship and a broad tonal range from vintage to modern. Its unique pickup configuration and relic'd finish deliver distinct aesthetics and sonic versatility. While its exclusive availability through Guitar Center could be a hurdle for some, and its price is high, it's more affordable than many other premium guitars. Overall, it's a lifetime guitar for those willing to invest in quality and exclusivity.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 6 Reviews and 26 Ratings

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jspark01

Incredible

the dynamics and resonance is the reason why they cost so much more than a regular American strat, they are worth every cent the craftsmanship, tone and weight are all perfect

peasinafookinpod420

awesome custom

I got a custom strat some time ago. It has a Floyd rose, a Gretsch steel guitar bridge pickup and Seymour Duncan Antiquity Lap Steel middle pickup and a Lace Alumitone single coil neck pickup. It also has a in/out of phase switch and is in a heavy relic 2 tone sunburst finish.

davidcrickett

I love it!

I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! I love it! :D

chris_klondike_masuak

An ugly purple sparkle but a beautiful tone!

Picked up on a whim at a music expo in Sydney, this Strat instantly "spoke" to me. A little on the heavy side, even unplugged it seems much cleaner and richer sounding than most other Strats I've played or owned.

skylinerr

Number 1

natural custom shop strat big headstock rosewood board replaced bridge pickup with duncan ssl-5 with a black cover to the others white but its what I had

Genres:
ryan_ha

Abigail Ybarra

Abigail Ybarra pickups in mine -- love it.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how John Mayer uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

John Mayer

Guitarist

John Mayer Trio

...
Verified via Twitter

John Mayer originally tweeted about this guitar on February 19, 2014 saying:

"Fender Custom Shop made this nickel plated Strat...believe it or not, it sounds incredible." - (@JohnMayer)

He can be seen covering the Eric Clapton track "Promises" using this guitar on a night in Auckland, New Zealand during his 2014 tour.

Also, he spoke briefly of this guitar on a Periscope post entitled "Gear Talk." (Fast forward to about the 2:30 mark to see this guitar specifically.)

See how Billie Joe Armstrong uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Billie Joe Armstrong

Singer, Guitarist

Green Day

...
Verified via Photo

Billie Joe Armstrong starting using Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster for playing all song from Nimrod in E Standard.

In 1997, Billie Joe Armstrong ordered "Blue" replica and other Stratocaster called "Frankenstein" in Shell Pink (which can see on Howard Stern Show and 1998 MTV New Year Eve's), There all guitar was smashed/turned out into other guitar (confirmed by Bill Schneider), "Blue" replica and shell pink "Frankenstein" guitar no longer used since 2000.

"Blue" replica has left handed bridge with GraphTech Saddles. Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB humbucker with 9 holes pickguard and neck has sanded off Fender logo on headstock (later he replace with another Stratocaster neck with Fender logo). The guitar is bulit by Alex Perez from Fender Custom Shop.

See how Eddie Van Halen uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Eddie Van Halen

Guitarist

Van Halen

...
Verified via Photo

In this Instagram post by andrewbennettredux, Eddie Van Halen is seen playing a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster.

See how The Edge uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

The Edge

Guitarist

U2

...
Verified via Photo

Use during "With Or Without You" with Chris Martin

See how Jim Root uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Jim Root

Guitarist

Slipknot

...
Verified via Photo

In this post jim shows off his fender custom shop 69 strat. His strat is fitted with a pair of emg pickups as well as a floyd rose bridge

See how Thomas DeLonge uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Thomas DeLonge

Singer, Guitarist

Blink-182

...
Verified via Photo

Thomas DeLonge owns several Fender Custom Shop Stratocasters from 1999 to 2003, including a natural finish model crafted by Alex Perez, as shown in the user-uploaded photo.

See how Josh Klinghoffer uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Josh Klinghoffer

Singer, Guitarist

Pearl Jam

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video Josh is rehersing with his Fender Custom Silver Stratocaster with a matching headstock. He had it made with a neck replicating his black strat ' gus ' which has a super skinny neck. He had a least three made with that neck, a silver, gold and pink.

And at the end of this video Josh gives an overview of his silver strat

See how Justin Vernon uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Justin Vernon

Singer, Guitarist

Bon Iver

...
Verified via YouTube

During the 2022 tour Justin can be seen playing a green custom Strat that has 2 EMG style pickups and gold hardware.

See how Dave Murray uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Dave Murray

Guitarist

Iron Maiden

...
Verified via Photo

Dave uses three Custom Shop Stratocasters, according to Guitar Geek's rig diagram.

See how Brad Delson uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Brad Delson

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Linkin Park

...
Verified via Premierguitar

As listed as part of his studio gear on PremierGuitars "In the Studio with Linkin Park", the Fender Custom Shop 1962 Stratocaster is used by Brad Delson.

See how Tré Cool uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Tré Cool

Drummer

Green Day

...
Verified via YouTube

Tre Cool playing Billie Joe Blue copy Custom Shop in 1998.

See how Matthew Followill uses Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

Matthew Followill

Guitarist

Kings of Leon

...
Verified via Instagram

Matthew Followill showcases his Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster on Instagram, referring to it as his "new love."

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

Show yours
artifex_adrift

artifex_adrift

Gear IQ 903

qlyde

qlyde

Gear IQ 113

artifex_adrift

artifex_adrift

Gear IQ 903

beddau

beddau

Gear IQ 206

yusmars

yusmars

Gear IQ 1403

boris_atanasov

boris_atanasov

Gear IQ 189

boris_atanasov

boris_atanasov

Gear IQ 189

bradleyx

bradleyx

Gear IQ 114

3 alternative and related items for Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, curated by the Equipboard community.

Fender American Vintage II 1961 Stratocaster

$1,940.40 - $2,499.99

similar sound cheaper alternative

With the American Vintage II Strat, Fender has now brought back the quintessential 1961 model with unparalleled authenticity. Built with alder and maple, and rosewood tonewoods and featuring an exclusive trio of single-coil Strat pickups, the ’61 Strat is a perfect emulation of a beloved axe classic. Considering it retains the same “C” neck profile and familiar fretboard access, holding an American Vintage II guitar feels akin to wielding an instrument rife with legendary 20th-century tone.

Shijie Guitars STE Relic Series

 

similar sound cheaper alternative

I have owned a Fender Custom Shop strat. At about 1/4 of the price, the Shijie that I own blows it out of the water. I'm not going to say that all Shijie STE's are Fender custom shop quality but the one that I own definitely is. I highly recommend this brand.

Nash S57

$2,179.00

similar sound cheaper alternative

Nash is not cheap by any means. They clock at around $2600 new, but that is still a lot less than a Fender CS which could set you back $5K depending on the amount of aging / relic. I've owned a Fender CS Strat and my Nash S57 (based on 57' strat obviously) is every bit as good as the Fender CS that I owned. I highly recommend Nash.

More Fender Custom Shop Solid Body Electric Guitars

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