Fender Custom Shop 1962 Stratocaster HSS Heavy Relic Black

A Hot Rodded Classic

The 1960s saw some important changes to the Stratocaster, including a new neck profile and rosewood fingerboard, pickguard template, pickups and logo, all culminating in a compelling new contemporary look and sound.  As music evolved during this era, so did Leo Fender's finest creation.  The Strat has continued to change over the years, but for many, stepping back to how it was done in the '60's is the way to go, especially in "pre-CBS" years.   And for some, modifying this classic is another way to go.  That's what we've gone for here.
  
The Custom Shop 1962 Stratocaster HSS Heavy Relic is a reflection of that.  It features a two-piece select Alder body, with a lacquer finish, in Black with a Matching Headstock.    We went for a "true black" approach, not only with the black pickguard, but also black pickup covers, knobs and switch tip.  We knew this would be a cool look but were still blown away with how cool when it arrived here.  The Custom Shop nailed the Heavy Relic finish - the wear is realistic, perfectly done and looks killer.

Of course, it's not just about aesthetics - this guitar feels amazing too.  We went with the most popular neck shape - the 60's Style Oval C, but with the twist of a compound radius (9.5 - 12.0”) for dark Rosewood fingerboard and 22 frets.  This, in combination with the 6105 (Narrow Tall) frets, allows for steady play up into the higher register without fretting out.  The back of the neck is perfectly worn and easy to play fast upon.
  
Where this guitar will really grab your attention (and make or break whether it's right for you) is the pickup configuration: we did this one as an HSS.    The humbucker is a Lollar High Wind Imperial.  We originally heard this pickup in a different guitar, fell in love with the tone, and chose it for this guitar.  It creates a thicker, fuller sound that will push your amp harder and faster than the standard Imperial, while still delivering a smooth tone and softer attack.   The low end is full and powerful, the highs are crisp and detailed, and there’s an upper-midrange bump that adds crunch and chunk to heavy chords but translates to a singing, vocal-like quality when you play single notes or solos.  Meanwhile the hot output pushes your amp just that little bit harder for more sustain and harmonics.   We specifically asked for it to be an F-spaced humbucker, so everything lines up perfectly.  This guitar has 250k pots to sweeten and soften the tone just a bit.  That matches it up nicely with the Custom Shop Fat 60's pickups in the neck & middle positions.   These are some of our favorite Strat pickups here, and are very versatile.  They deliver sweet 1960s single-coil Stratocaster sound with plenty of crisp articulation. The overwound design gives these pickups added low-end punch for an extra shot of modern attitude.  The middle pickup is reverse-wound, reverse polarity, to eliminate hum.  And, we asked for the Custom Shop to add in a push/pull pot to coil tapping, making the guitar even more versatile.