Product Description

Here we have a true time capsule guitar, a minty clean 2003 '56 Strat from the Custom Shop. This guitar is over 20 years old but looks like it just came off the line. 2003 was a great year for the Custom Shop, just after the Cunetto era, when Fender was really dialing in the minute details of each model year, and beginning to embark on the full-fledged heavy relic world we now live in.

This 2003 '56 sports a glossy NOS fiesta red finish, which at the time would have made it one of the few non-sunburst or Mary Kaye guitars out there. The guitar looks virtually unplayed, and appears to have been stored in the case in the proper environment for the majority of its life. When you catch the light, you can see the finish has shrunk into the wood grain a bit. There is a tiny ding on the top and just a bit of lacquer chipped at the corner of the neck pocket, the only two things keeping this from being listed as "mint" condition. The hardware is all clean and looks virtually new. The guitar has a 5-way switch installed as most of these came with a 3-way from the factory, many with a 5-way included in the case just tempting you to swap it out.

This one has the classic 10/56 neck which is rounded with a full shoulder up high, and the hint of a V down low. The V on this one is ever so subtle. The neck finish feels light, not too thick, and void of tint. Though glossy, it almost looks a touch more satin tham current guitars would present, sort of the like '54 Masterbuilt 50th Anniversary run. The fingerboard is the vintage-spec 7.25" radius with smaller vintage wire. The neck is .900 at the 1st and 1.010 at the 12th.

The guitar has great resonance and is easy to play. It's a touch more focused sounding, and not quite as loud acoustically as some examples we've had, but it sports a full thickness finish, unlike current thin skin relics. It has a nice chime with a glassy top end and plenty of twang. It weighs in right at 8lbs.

Ships in the original tweed hardshell case and includes the COA, tremolo arm, bridge cover, strap, original 3-way switch, extra tremolo springs, Fender Custom Shop picks, polish cloth, hang tag, and paperwork. Essentially, everything it came with originally is still in the case. This is a really great one, perfect for any incomplete collection!

Product Details