Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Roasted Stratocaster Journeyman Relic, Cimarron Red

2024 is a memorable year for Fender. It is the year of the platinum anniversary of the Stratocaster. No less than 70 years ago -in 1954- the world's most famous guitar was introduced to the market. At that time Fender was onder the ownership of Leo Fender, a man who has been of unprecedented significance for the electric guitar. Just how extraordinary is it, that so many guitarists today -after all these years and in a completely different era- still swear by and seek that authentic Fender Stratocaster sound. There is almost no other subject or product imaginable where time has actually stood still for the most part and with such an ongoing, strong, direct connection to the culture and inventions of the last century.

Of course, such an exceptional moment in the history of the electric guitar cannot go unnoticed by Fender. In fact, Fender is dedicating an full collection to its anniversary for this year; within the intire range of Squier, Fender Mexico and Fender USA there is a variety of 70th Anniversary models. Naturally, you'll find the crown jewels within the Fender Custom Shop collection.

This Limited Edition is a reissue of an exceptional 1954 Strat. With its Roasted Maple neck and insane, popping Cimarron Red finish, this is -as far as we're concerned- THE ultimate choice from the 70th Anniversary Custom Shop collection. For a milestone like this you go big or you go home, right?!
But let's talk about the essence; sound. Oof! Rarely did we hear a Custom Shop Strat that has so much 50's vibe! This Strat is an absolute embodiment of that typical American Rock 'n Roll sound of the 50's. It is no sweetheart but it bites, spanks and rocks off with crisp top end and powerful, glassy low end. You immediately find yourself among Caddilacs, diners and greasers.

This '54 Strat has a two-piece selected Ash body with an offset seam on the treble side. The 1-piece roasted, quarter-sawn maple neck has a historically-correct soft-V neck profile like the original 1954 Strat from July of that year. The fingerboard has a 9.5" radius with 21 narrow tall frets and a bone nut. That authentic sound comes (partly ) from the trio of hand-wound ' 54 Strat pickups. These are wired to a 5-position switch.

The combination of the dark, roasted neck with the popping Cimarron red, annodized gold pickguard, the off-white pickup covers and the subtle journeyman relic aging is really just awesome. The neckplate is engraved in honor of the anniversary and of course the guitar comes with the necessary certificates and goodies and the original hardcase.

Specifications:

• 70th Anniversary 1954 model
• Relic nitrocellulose lacquer with an 8-hole gold anodized aluminum pickguard
• Lightweight, comfortably shaped 2-piece select roasted alder body
• Quarter-sawn roasted maple neck with soft "V" neck shape
• 9.5-inch radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 narrow tall frets
• Custom Shop handwound '54 Strat single-coil pickups
• 4-bolt neck plate with 70th Anniversary engraving
• Vintage style synchronized tremolo and tuning machines
• Comes with a deluxe 70th Anniversary hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity
• Model: 9236091156