Fender Custom Shop 2017 NAMM Limited Edition '56 Stratocaster Roasted Relic – Aged Vintage White – 3A Birdseye Maple

This is a very special Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition '56 Stratocaster, originally created as part of Fender's 2017 NAMM Limited Edition series and featuring a roasted alder body, stunning medium-roasted 3A birdseye maple neck, hand-wound Fat '60s pickups, and Aged Vintage White Relic finish.

What has always stood out to me most about this guitar is its sound. It has a very distinctive, almost ethereal character that I haven't found in more conventional Stratocasters. It's difficult to fully describe in words, but there is an unusual character and complexity to it that makes the guitar feel like it has a voice of its own.

For that reason, I think this would be an especially interesting guitar for a player looking to develop a sound that is distinctly their own, or someone working outside of more conventional or mainstream styles where a unique tonal character can really become part of the music.

The neck is another standout feature. Fender specified a medium-roasted 3A birdseye maple neck, and the figuring is exceptional throughout the neck, fingerboard and headstock. It has Fender's 10/56 "V" profile, 9.5" radius and 6105 frets.

The guitar also features a roasted alder body — not simply a roasted maple neck — along with a set of Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Strat pickups.

This is a factory Relic guitar, so the finish checking, exposed wood, worn areas and aged appearance shown in the photographs are intentional elements of the Custom Shop relic treatment.

Documentation & Case

The guitar includes its original Fender Custom Shop Shop Floor Traveler, which documents the build and factory specifications. The traveler identifies it as:

'17 LTD NAMM 56 STRAT RST REL - AVWT

It also notes the 2017 NAMM Limited Edition and 30th Anniversary decal.

The original Fender Custom Shop tweed hardshell case with red interior is included.

Serial Number: CZ536299
Fender Material / Model Number: 9235000459

Fender Custom Shop Factory Specifications

Model: 2017 NAMM Limited Edition '56 Stratocaster Roasted Relic
Finish: Aged Vintage White Relic
Orientation: Right-handed
Hardware: Chrome/Nickel

Weight: 7 pounds + 8.4 ounces

Body

• Roasted alder body
• '56 Stratocaster body style
• Nitro lacquer finish
• Aged Vintage White
• Factory Relic treatment
• Fat '60s Stratocaster pickup configuration
• Vintage-style Stratocaster bridge mounting

Neck

• Medium-roasted 3A birdseye maple
• Nitro lacquer finish
• Heavy Relic treatment on back of neck
• Midas coat to accentuate the grain
• 1956-style small Stratocaster headstock
• Fender Custom Shop 30th Anniversary decal
• 10/56 "V" neck profile
• .880" depth at 1st fret
• .980" depth at 12th fret
• 9.5" fingerboard radius
• 21 frets
• Sanko 6105 fret wire
• 1.650" nut width
• Bone nut
• Black Micarta face dots
• Black Micarta 3/32" side dots
• '50s truss rod
• Vintage Fender-logo tuning machines
• 4-bolt neck mounting

Pickups & Electronics

• Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Strat pickups
• Hand-Wound Fat '60s neck pickup
• Hand-Wound Fat '60s RWRP middle pickup
• Hand-Wound Fat '60s bridge pickup
• Strat Fat '50s-style wiring/hookup
• CRL 5-way selector
• 250K pots
• Vintage white Relic switch tip
• Vintage white Relic volume and tone knobs

Hardware

• American Vintage Stratocaster bridge
• Vintage Stratocaster output jack
• Engraved Limited Edition Custom Shop neck plate
• Vintage aluminum Limited Edition Relic back plate
• Vintage-style string tree
• Vintage Stratocaster tremolo arm
• Relic aluminum tremolo arm tip

Included

• Fender Custom Shop 2017 NAMM Limited Edition '56 Stratocaster
• Original Fender Custom Shop tweed hardshell case
• Original Fender Custom Shop Shop Floor Traveler

The photographs are of the actual guitar and are intended to show its condition, factory Relic treatment, highly figured birdseye maple neck and included documentation in detail.

A distinctive Custom Shop Strat for someone looking for something considerably less ordinary than a standard '50s-style Stratocaster.