Pricing and availability
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
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
Videos
Ola Englund
MY GUITAR - FENDER CUSTOM SHOP STRATOCASTER
MY GUITAR - FENDER CUSTOM SHOP STRATOCASTER
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.
Source -
Texas Special pickups are preferred by some owners for their tonal qualities compared to other options like Fat '50s.
Source
Comparisons
-
The guitar is likened to a Nashville Tele with a "Keef" style HB at the neck, combining Strat and Tele elements.
Source
Build quality
User experience
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 6 Reviews and 26 Ratings
.jpg?v=1763454385)
2423
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.
250
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
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.
Artist usage
Add artist
In this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVp8_r2s3Pk&ab_channel=InhalerVEVO video, at 3:09, the Fender Custom Shop Decal can be seen on the back of the headstock.
In a YouTube video titled "Butch Walker - Uncomfortably Numb," Butch Walker is seen playing a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster. This guitar, noted for its unique configuration, features two humbuckers, a standard Strat tremolo, a reverse headstock, and a cream distressed finish. During a 2018 performance at Irving Plaza in NYC, Butch's bandmate mentioned that the Fender Custom Shop crafted this instrument specifically for him.
According to Premier Guitar, Vaden has the 2015 version of Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster.
Stein keeps his stage arsenal simple, relying on a Marshall JCM900 head, a Vega 2x12 cabinet, his new leather-covered Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, and a Dean Soltero.
In the YouTube video titled "Sound Like Arcane Roots | Without Busting The Bank" by Andertons Music Co, Andrew Groves is seen discussing his Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster at the 14:00 mark. The guitar features a Texas Special pickup in the bridge, Fat '50s in the middle, a '69 in the neck, a hardtail bridge, a '63 sunburst finish, and a rosewood neck.
1954 Custom Shop Stratocaster was used by Ralphs during recording of "The 'Original' Bad Co. Anthology", according to 2001 Vintage Guitar interview.
For my rhythm tracks on all of the songs, I used either a Japanese ’50s reissue Strat or a blond Custom Shop ’54 reissue Strat. I used the Custom Shop Strat for all the slide parts.
Eric Steckel is seen with a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster in a user-uploaded photo, showcasing his preference for high-quality guitars.
Kieran Shudall is seen performing with a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, identifiable by its sonic blue finish and rosewood fretboard, in a photo from Asset-cache. He has played this guitar for several years, and it appears to be his primary instrument, especially noted during 2015.
It was the first guitar he has shown from his guitar collection videos.
"Back in Strat w/ a SnapAttack '92 FlameTop, BurgundyBottom CustomShop StratoCaster"
Auctioned via Julien's in 2013.
Built for Ronnie Montrose by Gene Baker while he was still at Fender, this custom Stratocaster was painted by artist Michele Graybeal and was known as "Skinny." Serial number GB017. This guitar, one of Montrose's primary guitars for several years, features a "muscles and tendons" design on white with a Wilkinson tremolo and maple neck with maple cap fingerboard and locking tuners. Includes a picture of Montrose with the guitar, a letter of authenticity from Gene Baker, and a hardshell case.
PROVENANCE From the Collection of Ronnie Montrose
Album Usage
The Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster has been featured on the following albums:
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.
-s.webp?v=1783263560)
Community setups
Show yours
Similar
Add recommendation3 alternative and related items for Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, curated by the Equipboard community.
$1,960.03 - $2,499.99
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.
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.
$2,179.00
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
$5,075.15 - $6,625.00
$4,111.00 - $5,100.00
$4,876.13 - $6,325.00
.png?v=1783265543)
$3,899.00 - $8,240.00
-m.webp?v=1779375658)
.jpg?v=1783299754)
.png?v=1783265549)
$1,900.00 - $4,750.00
$4,657.50 - $5,175.00
$159.00 - $4,500.00
$2,666.00 - $4,696.34
-m.webp?v=1783335927)
$2,785.84 - $4,925.00
$5,000.00 - $5,725.00
$3,899.00 - $5,200.00
$4,550.00 - $5,950.00
.png?v=1783270193)
$4,100.00 - $7,599.00
$4,299.00 - $5,079.74
$3,546.25 - $5,217.13
.png?v=1783256553)
$2,785.84 - $4,925.00
.jpg?v=1783323685)
$4,299.00 - $5,079.74
$3,899.00 - $4,875.00
.jpg?v=1783299754)
$3,881.18 - $4,750.00
$4,100.00 - $5,900.00
$9,999.00 - $14,999.00
$999.00 - $52,500.00
$5,425.00 - $5,850.00
Gear Guides
Most Popular Solid Body Electric Guitars
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
julianwolf2Gear IQ 13060
-
