Product Description

This is a cool 2014 '56 Stratocaster Heavy Relic from the Fender Custom Shop! This Desert Sand model is in excellent condition with some very nice features.

This alder body '56 was built with a set of Master Design single coil pickups and a factory 5-way switch. This set was designed to have the sparkle, chime, and chunk of original 1950s pickups. They certainly achieve that tone, being a touch less "glassy" and more "twangy" than other model sets we've heard.

The neck is a one piece maple 10/56 soft V as you'd expect. It has a 9.5" radius with 6105 fret wire. It measures .880 to .980 at the 1st and 12th. The V is subtle down low, but the neck rounds out higher up the register. The guitar weighs 7lbs 6oz. It has a nice resonance and a warm punch off the body emanating around the neck joint. It has warmer mids, not quite as scooped sounding as ash can be, but still nice clarity with the maple board.

The guitar is finished in Desert Sand, a traditional 50s color, a la the Cletro Strat. This one is also listed as a Heavy Relic per the original part number. In 2024 a heavy relic is much more extreme than this, but at the time, this was indeed heavy duty. It has plenty of forearm and buckle wear, body edge wear, dings, and dents. The back of the neck finish is worn away and the fingerboard shows the requisite playing wear. All of the aging appears to be factory Relic work as we don't believe this one has been played much at all.

A fine guitar that includes the tweed case, COA, hang tag, cloth, cable, strap, and Cruz tool kit. The accessories / warranty kit is unopened and includes the bridge cover and tremolo arm.

2014 Fender Custom Shop '56 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Specs

• Alder Body
• One Piece Maple Neck
• 10/56 Boat Neck Carve
• 9.5" Fingerboard Radius
• 6105 Fret Wire
• Kluson Tuners
• Master Design Single Coil Pickups
• Tremolo Bridge
• One Volume & Two Tone Controls
• 5-Way Selector Switch
• Single Ply White Pickguard
• Heavy Relic Aging
• Lacquer Finish

Product Details