To celebrate 70 years of the Stratocaster — the platinum anniversary of the world’s greatest electric guitar — the Fender Custom Shop introduced the Limited Edition 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster.   Fender only does the 1954 Strat every 10 years, and each anniversary model becomes instantly collectible.  Here's a version you will rarely see: it's a hardtail '54 Strat.  It's a Limited Edition Anniversary model that we got on order in 2024, just under the wire, and just received the guitar.  It comes complete with the special commemorative case.

Also, if you're looking for a light Strat, this one is a winner - it comes in at just 6.80 lbs.

We went for a classic look: Wide Fade 2-Tone Sunburst.  It's done in the Time Capsule package, where the finish is a thin Flash Coat Nitrocellulose Lacquer and the hardware is faded slightly (Closet Classic).  The Custom Shop has nailed this process, to create the look of a vintage guitar that was never played - it's like it came out of the factory yesterday, if yesterday was 70 years ago.  Hence the "Time Capsule" moniker.  

Its two-piece select ash body (with offset seam on the treble side) resonates with singing highs, sweet midrange and tight lows,  The one-piece quartersawn maple neck is fashioned with a special 70th anniversary Soft “V” profile based on an incredible Strat neck from July 1954. This is topped with a modern radius fingerboard ( 9.5”) with 21 narrow tall (6105) frets for a modern feel with a 1.625” bone nut. Three Custom Shop hand-wound ’54 Strat pickups deliver that classic Strat voice with clear, bell-like highs, routed through vintage '54 Strat wiring with wax paper cap and five-way switching.

Other premium features and authentic first-year Strat appointments include a single-ply white pickguard and serial-number back plate, 1954-style ABS white pickup covers and control knobs, Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, vintage-style tuners, and disc string tree.  As an added touch the "Synchronized Tremolo" has been removed from the decal....as after all, there is no tremolo.  It's this, along with everything else, that makes a Custom Shop build so special.

Included is the 70th Anniversary embroidered hardshell tweed case, special “case candy” kit and certificate of authenticity.  You won't see many of these hardtail '54 Strats out there!

• Part # 9231015871
• Serial # R147311
• Weight: 6.80 lbs

• SERIES: 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster
• COLOR: Wide Fade 2-Tone Sunburst
• FINISH: Time Capsule
• BODY FINISH: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• BODY MATERIAL: 2-Piece Select Ash with Offset Seam; sort for lightweight
• NECK MATERIAL: 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple
• NECK FINISH: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• NECK SHAPE: 07/54 Soft "V"
• SCALE LENGTH: 25.5" (64.77 cm)
• NUT WIDTH: 1.625"
• NECK BUTT WIDTH: 2.190"
• NECK THICKNESS 1ST FRET: .885"
• NECK THICKNESS 12TH FRET: .980"
• FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 9.5"
• POSITION INLAYS: Black Micarta Dot, 0.25" 
• TRUSS ROD: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust
  
• NUT MATERIAL: Bone
• FRET SIZE: Narrow Tall (6105)
• NUMBER OF FRETS: 21
• BRIDGE: Custom Shop Vintage Hardtail
  
• PICKGUARD: 1-Ply White
• CONTROL KNOBS: Vintage-Style Skirted White Plastic
• SWITCH TIP: White ABS
• HARDWARE FINISH: Nickel/Chrome
• TUNING MACHINES: Vintage-Style with Fender® Logo
• STRING TREES: Vintage-Style Disc
• NECK PLATE: Vintage with Serial Number
• BRIDGE PICKUP: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '54 Single-Coil Strat®
  
• MIDDLE PICKUP: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '54 Strat®
• NECK PICKUP: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '54 Strat®
• PICKUP CONFIGURATION: SSS
• CONTROLS: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
• SWITCHING: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
• POTENTIOMETERS: 250K 10% Taper Split Flat
• INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: Deluxe Hardshell Case, Strap and Certificate of Authenticity.
  

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