What is the 'Journeyman Relic' finish?

It is a specific level of ageing from the Fender Custom Shop that simulates a guitar that has been used over many years but not abused. It features light finish checking, dulled hardware, and minor nicks to provide a 'worn-in' feel.

What pickups are installed in this model?

This guitar features three Hand-wound Fat '60s single-coil pickups, which offer a slightly higher output and more low-end than standard vintage-style pickups.

What is the neck profile of this Stratocaster?

It uses a '60 Style Oval C profile, which is a comfortable, slightly slimmer shape characteristic of Fender necks from the early 1960s.

How does African Blackwood affect the guitar?

African Blackwood is a dense tonewood used for the fingerboard; it provides a smooth feel for the player and contributes to enhanced note articulation and clarity.

What does 'Aged Chocolate 3-Colour Sunburst' refer to?

It refers to a specific sunburst finish that has been darkened or 'aged' to resemble a vintage nitrocellulose finish that has matured over several decades.

Does this guitar have vintage or modern frets?

It features 'narrow tall' frets, which are a modern choice that makes string bending easier while maintaining a vintage-adjacent look.

What is the significance of the compound radius?

A compound radius means the fingerboard flattens out as you move up the neck, which helps prevent notes from 'choking out' during high-register string bends.

Is this a one-of-a-kind instrument?

While the specifications may be shared with other '60 Custom Shop models, each instrument with a unique serial number (like #R135693) has its own individual hand-wound components and relic patterns.

How does this compare to a Squier Mini Stratocaster?

The Custom Shop '60 is a full-scale, professional-grade instrument handcrafted in the USA with premium materials, whereas a Squier Mini is a budget-friendly 3/4 size guitar for beginners.

Is this guitar suitable for high-gain metal?

While it can be used for many genres, it is best suited for blues, rock, and pop; players like Jim Root typically use active humbuckers for metal, which differ greatly from these single-coils.

What is the price range for this model?

This specific Fender Custom Shop model typically retails for approximately GBP 3,899.

Does the guitar come with a certificate of authenticity?

Yes, all Fender Custom Shop instruments include a Certificate of Authenticity confirming their origin and specifications.

Gear article

Fender Custom Shop '60 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic (Aged Chocolate 3-Colour Sunburst)

The Fender Custom Shop '60 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic is a master-crafted electric guitar designed to recreate the specific specifications and aesthetic of the early 1960s. This model, identified by serial number R135693, features an Aged Chocolate 3-Colour Sunburst finish and a hand-wound electronics suite for authentic vintage performance.

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Overview and Design

The Fender Custom Shop '60 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic is a high-end recreation of the 1960-era Stratocaster, balancing historical accuracy with modern refinements. This particular iteration is finished in an 'Aged Chocolate 3-Colour Sunburst,' a darker, more matured version of the classic Fender aesthetic. The 'Journeyman Relic' treatment simulates the wear of a guitar that has been used for decades but well-maintained, resulting in a finish with light checking and hardware with a soft patina.

A standout feature of this build is the use of an African Blackwood fingerboard, which provides a dense, smooth playing surface that aids in note articulation. This is paired with a compound radius and narrow tall frets, allowing for easier string bending and lower action compared to strictly vintage-spec instruments.

Hardware and Electronics

The guitar is equipped with a trio of Hand-wound Fat '60s pickups. These are designed to deliver the classic 'glassy' Stratocaster tone but with a slightly overwound character that provides more 'thump' and low-end response than standard 1950s-style pickups. The hand-winding process ensures a dynamic response that reacts sensitively to the player's touch and volume adjustments.

The neck follows a '60 Style Oval C' profile, which is historically accurate to the slimmer, more comfortable feel that Fender introduced at the turn of the decade. The hardware is aged to match the Journeyman Relic aesthetic, ensuring the bridge, tuners, and plastics look and feel like authentic period pieces.

Sound Character

The combination of the African Blackwood board and the Fat '60s pickups results in a sound that is rich and dynamic. While it retains the traditional 'quack' in the 2 and 4 positions, the Fat '60s pickups provide a more robust midrange than typical vintage coils. This makes the guitar particularly effective for blues and rock contexts where a slightly hotter signal is desired without sacrificing the clarity associated with the Stratocaster design.

Comparison to Alternatives

When compared to standard production models like the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, the Custom Shop '60 model offers a significantly more labour-intensive construction process and higher-grade materials, such as the African Blackwood fingerboard versus standard Rosewood.

In relation to other Custom Shop offerings, such as the '61 Telecaster Relic, this Stratocaster provides the versatility of three pickups and a vibrato system, whereas the Telecaster offers the distinct 'twang' of a fixed bridge. Compared to modern-spec guitars like the Jim Root Telecaster or Kurt Cobain Jaguar, the '60 Stratocaster is firmly rooted in traditionalism, aimed at players who prefer vintage ergonomics and classic single-coil dynamics.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the 'Journeyman Relic' finish?: It is a specific level of ageing from the Fender Custom Shop that simulates a guitar that has been used over many years but not abused. It features light finish checking, dulled hardware, and minor nicks to provide a 'worn-in' feel.
What pickups are installed in this model?: This guitar features three Hand-wound Fat '60s single-coil pickups, which offer a slightly higher output and more low-end than standard vintage-style pickups.
What is the neck profile of this Stratocaster?: It uses a '60 Style Oval C profile, which is a comfortable, slightly slimmer shape characteristic of Fender necks from the early 1960s.
How does African Blackwood affect the guitar?: African Blackwood is a dense tonewood used for the fingerboard; it provides a smooth feel for the player and contributes to enhanced note articulation and clarity.
What does 'Aged Chocolate 3-Colour Sunburst' refer to?: It refers to a specific sunburst finish that has been darkened or 'aged' to resemble a vintage nitrocellulose finish that has matured over several decades.
Does this guitar have vintage or modern frets?: It features 'narrow tall' frets, which are a modern choice that makes string bending easier while maintaining a vintage-adjacent look.
What is the significance of the compound radius?: A compound radius means the fingerboard flattens out as you move up the neck, which helps prevent notes from 'choking out' during high-register string bends.
Is this a one-of-a-kind instrument?: While the specifications may be shared with other '60 Custom Shop models, each instrument with a unique serial number (like #R135693) has its own individual hand-wound components and relic patterns.
How does this compare to a Squier Mini Stratocaster?: The Custom Shop '60 is a full-scale, professional-grade instrument handcrafted in the USA with premium materials, whereas a Squier Mini is a budget-friendly 3/4 size guitar for beginners.
Is this guitar suitable for high-gain metal?: While it can be used for many genres, it is best suited for blues, rock, and pop; players like Jim Root typically use active humbuckers for metal, which differ greatly from these single-coils.
What is the price range for this model?: This specific Fender Custom Shop model typically retails for approximately GBP 3,899.
Does the guitar come with a certificate of authenticity?: Yes, all Fender Custom Shop instruments include a Certificate of Authenticity confirming their origin and specifications.