2004 Fender Custom Shop '56 Stratocaster "Mary Kaye" Blonde Relic

From Fender:

The 2004 Fender Custom Shop '56 Mary Kaye Stratocaster Relic is a limited edition, vintage-inspired electric guitar featuring a White Blonde finish, gold hardware, ash body, maple neck with a '56 soft "V" profile, and hand-wound pickups, replicating the iconic, elegant style of the original Mary Kaye Stratocaster for discerning players. 

It boasts period-correct specs like a compound radius fingerboard, nitro lacquer finish, and vintage-style tremolo, offering authentic 50s tone and feel with the desirable relic'd look. 

Key Features:

• Body: Lightweight 1-piece Ash.
• Finish: Aged White Blonde, flash coat lacquer.
• Neck: Tinted Rift Sawn Maple with a '57 soft "V" profile.
• Fingerboard: Maple with a 7.25"-9.5" compound radius.
• Hardware: Gold-plated, including vintage-style tuners and synchronized tremolo.
• Pickups: Hand-wound '57 Strat single-coils.
• Pickguard: 1-ply Parchment.
• Switch: 3-way selector, sometimes with vintage 3-way wiring options.
• Relic Finish: Intentionally aged for a vintage look, often with subtle checking.
• Accessories: Comes with a deluxe hardshell case & ALL the case candy! Leather Fender strap and Certificate of Authenticity (COA), etc...( See pics)
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About the "Mary Kaye" Style Stratocaster:

• Named after Mary Kaye, a famous guitarist who played a custom-ordered 1956 Stratocaster with gold hardware and a white blonde finish, sparking a legendary look.
• The Custom Shop replicates this elegant, minimalist aesthetic, making it a highly sought-after model. 

Why it's so Special?

• Limited Edition: Produced in limited numbers for high-end dealers, making them collectible.
• Vintage Accuracy: Combines classic aesthetics with modern playability (like the compound radius).
• Authentic Tone: Hand-wound pickups and vintage wiring deliver genuine '50s Strat sound. 

This 2004 Custom Shop relic offers a blend of iconic style, premium craftsmanship, and vintage-inspired playability, appealing to collectors and players looking for a piece of Fender history.

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This particular era in the early 2000's for the Fender Custom Shop guitars was AMAZING!!!

The greatest attention to detail was paramount. Authenticity in every aspect was key!

This Strat is absolutely Incredible. In every way... Structurally, Cosmetically & Sonically. 

It is without a doubt "The Best" Fender Custom shop Strat I've ever owned, & I've owned MANY! Including 2 Cunnettos...(MEH...), & even more importantly; I've had the good fortune to own 2 "Original" 50's Mary Kaye Strats. A '57 & a "56 Hardtail - (See Last Pic of the original '57 Mary Kaye behind my '55 Coupe De Ville). 

This guitar comes SO CLOSE to those 2 that it's uncanny...

Most noticeable to me is that the Blonde finish on this guitar is, simply put; "Correct". It is a beautiful "Creamy Blonde" finish that is virtually identical to the blonde finish on the 2 original Mary Kayes I owned. The key word here is "Creamy". It seems that almost every Fender Custom Shop Mary Kaye Strat after this era is a "Ghastly Greyish" or "Peachy/Beige" blonde finish. ...& that's just wrong...

The body is Beautifully contoured with a gorgeous 'Deep Scallop" on the backside. Just like the originals...

The P/UP's sound great. Strong & transparent. It sounds like... well simply, like a Great Sounding Strat!

Soft "V" neck radius is Super Comfy.

Fingerboard is "Tastefully & Realistically" Relic'd. The back of the neck was (Luckily) left with its' finish on it. Not sanded down to bare wood as so many of the Custom Shop Strats unfortunately are...

Frets are virtually "As New" ( See pic)

I REALLY hate to part with it, but I'm 99.8% "Unplugged" these days due to hearing issues...So I'm playing my Collings acoustics while this beauty has sat in its' case for far too long. Collecting dust....

I don't see many from this era for sale these days. I'm guessing because most 'players / collectors' just don't want to part with them?

I can see why........