What does the 'Relic' finish signify?

The Relic finish is a process where the Fender Custom Shop artificially ages the guitar's nitrocellulose lacquer and hardware. This replicates the cosmetic wear and tear of an instrument that has been played for decades, including scratches, finish checking, and dulled metal parts.

What pickups are installed in the '62 Stratocaster Relic?

This model is equipped with Fender Strat Fat '60s pickups. These are designed to offer a vintage-inspired tone with slightly more output and a fuller low-end response than standard 1960s-style pickups.

What is the neck profile of this model?

The guitar features a custom '60s 'C' profile neck. This is a medium-tapered shape that is historically accurate to the period, offering a balance between slim 1950s necks and chunkier modern profiles.

What body wood is used for the '62 Stratocaster Relic?

The body is constructed from premium alder. Alder is the traditional wood choice for Stratocasters from the early 1960s, known for its clear, full-bodied sound and light weight.

Is the finish nitrocellulose or polyurethane?

The guitar uses a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. This material is thinner than modern polyurethane finishes, allowing the wood to resonate more naturally and age more authentically over time.

How does the 5-way switch function?

The 5-way switch allows the player to select the neck, middle, or bridge pickups individually, or use the combinations of neck/middle (position 2) and middle/bridge (position 4) for classic Stratocaster tones.

What makes a Custom Shop model different from a standard Fender?

Custom Shop instruments are built in a dedicated facility using higher-grade tonewoods (such as AA-grade materials) and more labour-intensive hand-finishing techniques. They are often built to historical specifications or unique customer requirements.

What is the typical price for this specific model?

The typical retail price for the Fender Custom Shop '62 Stratocaster Relic in Candy Apple Red is approximately £3,999.

What type of fingerboard does this guitar have?

This model features a rosewood (RW) fingerboard. In 1962, rosewood was the standard fingerboard material for Stratocasters, providing a warmer tone compared to maple boards.

Who is the ideal player for this guitar?

This guitar is designed for professional musicians and collectors who desire the feel and sound of a 1960s vintage instrument but require the reliability and structural integrity of a new build.

How does it compare to the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster?

While the American Professional II is a high-quality production model with modern features like a 'Deep C' neck and V-Mod II pickups, the Custom Shop '62 Relic focuses on vintage-correct specs, premium wood selection, and hand-aged aesthetics.

What is included in the 'Relic' aging process for hardware?

The hardware, including the bridge, tuners, and pickup covers, undergoes a process to dull the chrome or nickel and yellow the plastic parts. This ensures the entire guitar looks like a cohesive, aged vintage piece.

Gear article

Fender Custom Shop '62 Stratocaster Relic RW Candy Apple Red #R134705

The Fender Custom Shop '62 Stratocaster Relic is a high-end electric guitar designed to replicate the aesthetics and sonic characteristics of the early 1960s Stratocaster. Meticulously crafted in the United States, this specific instrument features a distressed nitrocellulose finish in Candy Apple Red and is equipped with Strat Fat '60s pickups for a vintage-voiced output.

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Overview and Construction

The Fender Custom Shop '62 Stratocaster Relic is a precision-engineered instrument that serves as a tribute to the golden era of solid-body electric guitars. The foundation of the guitar is a premium alder body, a tonewood selected for its balanced frequency response and resonance. This is paired with a maple neck featuring a custom '60s 'C' profile, designed to provide a comfortable, period-correct playing experience.

The aesthetic is defined by its 'Relic' treatment. This process involves the intentional aging of the nitrocellulose lacquer finish to simulate decades of natural play-wear. The Candy Apple Red finish on this model (#R134705) exhibits the checking and hardware oxidation typical of a genuine vintage instrument from 1962, providing a worn-in feel that many professional musicians prefer.

Electronics and Hardware

A defining feature of this model is the inclusion of Strat Fat '60s pickups. These units are overwound to provide a slightly increased output and enhanced low-end response compared to standard vintage pickups, while still retaining the characteristic 'chime' and 'quack' associated with the early 60s.

Control is provided by a traditional 5-way selector switch, allowing players to access the classic bridge, middle, and neck positions, as well as the out-of-phase 'in-between' sounds of positions 2 and 4. The hardware is aged to match the body's relic status, ensuring visual consistency across the bridge, tuners, and plastic components.

Tone and Playability

The combination of the nitrocellulose finish and alder body allows the instrument to breathe and vibrate freely, resulting in a resonant tone with significant sustain. The Fat '60s pickups offer a versatile sonic palette, making the guitar suitable for genres ranging from blues and jazz to classic rock and pop.

Playability is enhanced by the AA-grade materials and the ergonomic 'C' neck profile. The rosewood fingerboard provides a warm contrast to the maple neck, both visually and sonically, offering a smooth surface that facilitates technical lead work and comfortable chordal playing.

Market Position and Alternatives

Occupying a premium price point of approximately £3,999, this guitar is aimed at professional performers, recording artists, and serious collectors. Within the Fender ecosystem, it sits above the American Professional II series, which offers modern refinements rather than vintage specifications.

Compared to other Custom Shop offerings like the '61 Telecaster Relic, the '62 Stratocaster offers the versatility of a vibrato bridge and a three-pickup configuration. For players seeking a specific artist signature feel, the Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster provides a different mid-boost active circuit, whereas this '62 Relic focuses on passive, traditional vintage accuracy.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the 'Relic' finish signify?: The Relic finish is a process where the Fender Custom Shop artificially ages the guitar's nitrocellulose lacquer and hardware. This replicates the cosmetic wear and tear of an instrument that has been played for decades, including scratches, finish checking, and dulled metal parts.
What pickups are installed in the '62 Stratocaster Relic?: This model is equipped with Fender Strat Fat '60s pickups. These are designed to offer a vintage-inspired tone with slightly more output and a fuller low-end response than standard 1960s-style pickups.
What is the neck profile of this model?: The guitar features a custom '60s 'C' profile neck. This is a medium-tapered shape that is historically accurate to the period, offering a balance between slim 1950s necks and chunkier modern profiles.
What body wood is used for the '62 Stratocaster Relic?: The body is constructed from premium alder. Alder is the traditional wood choice for Stratocasters from the early 1960s, known for its clear, full-bodied sound and light weight.
Is the finish nitrocellulose or polyurethane?: The guitar uses a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. This material is thinner than modern polyurethane finishes, allowing the wood to resonate more naturally and age more authentically over time.
How does the 5-way switch function?: The 5-way switch allows the player to select the neck, middle, or bridge pickups individually, or use the combinations of neck/middle (position 2) and middle/bridge (position 4) for classic Stratocaster tones.
What makes a Custom Shop model different from a standard Fender?: Custom Shop instruments are built in a dedicated facility using higher-grade tonewoods (such as AA-grade materials) and more labour-intensive hand-finishing techniques. They are often built to historical specifications or unique customer requirements.
What is the typical price for this specific model?: The typical retail price for the Fender Custom Shop '62 Stratocaster Relic in Candy Apple Red is approximately £3,999.
What type of fingerboard does this guitar have?: This model features a rosewood (RW) fingerboard. In 1962, rosewood was the standard fingerboard material for Stratocasters, providing a warmer tone compared to maple boards.
Who is the ideal player for this guitar?: This guitar is designed for professional musicians and collectors who desire the feel and sound of a 1960s vintage instrument but require the reliability and structural integrity of a new build.
How does it compare to the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster?: While the American Professional II is a high-quality production model with modern features like a 'Deep C' neck and V-Mod II pickups, the Custom Shop '62 Relic focuses on vintage-correct specs, premium wood selection, and hand-aged aesthetics.
What is included in the 'Relic' aging process for hardware?: The hardware, including the bridge, tuners, and pickup covers, undergoes a process to dull the chrome or nickel and yellow the plastic parts. This ensures the entire guitar looks like a cohesive, aged vintage piece.