Up for sale, a 2022 Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition ‘65 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic in mint condition, finished in Aged Blue Sparkle metalflake lacquer and complete with the original G&G Deluxe hardshell case, CoA, and all hangtags/case candy. This ‘65 model features an alder body paired with a quartersawn AA flame maple neck capped with a bound AAA rosewood slab fingerboard. A couple player-friendly modern tweaks include a 9 1/2" radius fingerboard and 6105 narrow/tall fretwire that has more crown and meat than vintage fretwire.

The guitar has a bright and lively natural acoustic response that's channeled faithfully via the trio of Fender's Custom Shop Vintage ‘65 single coils. Featuring gray fiber flatwork, push-back cloth wire, and staggered hand-beveled Alnico V magnets, these handwound pickups offer plenty of traditional Strat cut and bounce. The sound is broad and bell-like at the neck, sparkling and spanky at the bridge, and the middle pickup is RWRP for hum-cancelling quack and scooped jangle in the 2 and 4 positions. The guitar weighs 8lbs 3oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Quartersawn AA flame maple
• Shape: ‘65-style oval C, measuring .820” 1st fret, .975” 12th fret
• Fretboard: AAA rosewood, modern 9 1/2“ radius, mother of pearl dot inlays, bound
• Frets: 6105 Narrow/tall, flawless
• Scale Length: 25 1/2”
• Nut: 1.650”, bone
• Tuners: Fender Deluxe, Kluson-style
• Serialization: CZ-prefix serial on “Limited Edition” neck plate
• Factory Markings: “Limited Edition” Custom Shop chevron on headstock, Custom Shop stamps in control cavity, tremolo cavity, neck pocket, heel dated 5-18-22

Body Specs:

• Wood: Alder
• Pickups: Custom Shop Vintage ‘65 single coil x3 (5-24-22 dates on bobbins)
• Harness: CTS pots, Fender paper-in-oil tone caps
• Controls: Volume, Tone x2 (functions on bridge pickup), Five-way pickup selector
• Hardware: Synchronized Tremolo with “ashtray” bridge cover, jack cup
• Plastics: Three-ply pickguard, ivory knob/pickup covers

The Aged Blue Sparkle nitro lacquer finish is rich and saturated with a dense metallic flake, and the Journeyman Relic treatment includes lacquer checking and a few faint marks of simulated playwear, with virtually no wear beyond the factory aging. The neck profile has a silky smooth satin finish, worn down nearly to the bare maple as part of the Relic process.

The original black tolex G&G Deluxe hardshell case is included, along with the CoA (dated 5/26/2022) and all hangtags/case candy.