For some, the very idea of paying a premium for an electric guitar that’s already been pre worn-in just makes the skin crawl, but its hard to argue with success… the strategy has obviously worked for Fender because they keep kicking out new versions of their Custom Shop Relics like they’re going out of style.
The latest incarnation (just released for 2007) is Fender’s new Limited Release ’57 Heavy Relic Stratocaster––a guitar which apparently aims to combine the good looks and comfy feel of a properly lived-in vintage Strat with a few modern conveniences, like a flatter 9.5“ radius fretboard, and fatter 6105 frets.
In fact, according to the spec sheet the ’57 Heavy Relic Strat is actually pretty loaded down with unique features, including a light-weight ash body, one-piece quartersawn maple neck (sporting a ’57 soft V-shaped worn-neck backshape,) a bone nut, and pre-installed 5-way pickup switching––not your traditional vintage 3-way switch.
A trio of highly popular single-coils round out the package, including Fender’s Texas Special bridge pickup, a Custom Shop Fat ’50s in the middle position, and the classic Custom Shop ’69 at the neck.
Other highlights include: thin-skin Nitrocellulose finish, round laminate rosewood fretboard, American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo with ”ash tray“ bridge cover, Fender/Gotoh Vintage Style tuners, 1-Ply Parchment pickguard,
”aged“ knobs and switch tip, rusty hardware, and a deluxe Limited Edition black hard case.
No word on pricing yet, but with specs like these it ain’t gonna’ be pretty.
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March 7th, 2007 at 12:33 am
After looking at the relic/aged stuff from other builders like Nash, Van de Haar and Molinelli, I’m convinced that Fender should come out with a Second Generation Relic Tribute Series Strat “SGRTSS”. For example, they could copy Kenny Wayne’s Relic Strat; adding the new dings and scratches actually made by Kenny, to a “plain” stock Relic model. That’s right, the SGRTSS! Not your father’s Relic Strat.
March 7th, 2007 at 10:04 am
I like Fender Relics, but one thing that I don’t like is inconsistency. If you go to Buffalo Brothers Guitars in Carlsbad, CA…. they seem to have the same relics in stocks for ages, then when they get a new batch in….the good ones gets sold, and the ok ones end up part of their “stock.” I had my dream Telecaster relic sold a few days before I went to pick it up (why I didn’t put a deposit down, is beyond me….perhaps the $3500 had something to do with it).
I’ve gone to 2 stores that “stock” Bill Nash Guitars, and they told me they are consistently out of stock….because they are so good, and the price is right.
November 14th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
look buy the 57 heavy relic. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY. I love it, I sold my 54 masterbult by yury for this, no longer need my es-335 59 historic gibby.. so sporting the 57, the rory gallagher, 2 60′s relics, and a nash 57 relic. lookin for a 56 relic with 9.5 radius neck love all my good children