Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Jason Smith 1961 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Black Electric Guitar With Case
Fender Custom Masterbuilt Jason Smith 61 Strat Heavy Relic
There aren't many guitars that leave us speechless, but this one did when it landed on our doorstep. This isn't too surprising, considering it was built by Jason Smith, veteran Masterbuilder, but this one went to a different level. That's exactly what he and the other dream-makers at the Fender Custom Shop do.
A Custom Shop veteran and son of longtime Fender R&D legend Dan Smith, Jason Smith grew up on Fender—“It has always been in my family,” he said, “And I was always extremely interested in everything my father did.”
Born in Rochester, N.Y., and raised in California, Smith remembers meeting guitar greats from about age five on through his father’s work with Fender—Eric Clapton, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jeff Beck and Robben Ford, to name only a few. Smith joined the Fender Custom Shop in 1995, and in 2006 completed a five-year apprenticeship under acclaimed Senior Master Builder John English. Among many diverse projects with English, Smith worked on a pair of double-neck Stratocaster guitars for Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo. He has since crafted fine instruments for players and acts including John 5, Michael Landau, Flea, Josh Klinghoffer, Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, Reggie Hamilton, Linkin Park, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Neon Trees and many others.
But now, what about this amazing guitar? There's plenty about it....
We went for a vintage vibe, with a thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish, tastefully relic'ed to show the wear & tear of a guitar that has been played hard since 1961. A matching painted headstock completes the look. It has a super lightweight alder body (the spec sheet actually calls for "as light as humanly possible"). As soon as we pulled it out of the case, we noticed how light it was, and took it straight to the scale - it's 6.7 lbs.
The neck shape is a comfortable 60's Oval "C", the most popular choice for Custom Shop Strats. The dark rosewood fretboard has a 9.5" radius and 6105 (narrow/tall) frets that provide a modern playability aspect to an otherwise vintage style Strat. We had the finish removed off of the back of the neck, to really give it a "worn in" feel. This is one of the best playing Strat's we've had in here for a very long time.
The '60 Strat pickups give it the classic sound expected from a 60's era Strat. Designed with alnico 2 magnets, formvar wire and a vintage stagger, you'll get the glistening highs and warm, punch lows that define the era's sound. The Custom Shop's Vintage Modified # 2 wiring includes the Tone-Saver set up, allowing you to roll off the volume without losing treble. The front tone pot controls the neck & middle pickup (positions 2, 3, 4, 5), while the back tone pot is just for the bridge pickup (positions 1, 2).
This is an amazing playing, sounding and looking Strat. We love getting Masterbuilt guitars here, as we enjoy being blown away - and Jason Smith surely succeeded in that with this one!
Come to Club Fender at Truetone Music to try it today, or order right here, right now before it's gone!
- Serial # R102279
- Weight: 6.7 lbs
- Finish Package: Heavy Relic
- Finish: Nitro Lacquer
- Color: Black with Matching Headstock
- Pickguard: 3 Ply Mint Green
- Neck Pickup: Custom Shop 60's Strat
- Middle Pickup: Custom Shop 60's Strat
- Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop 60's Strat
- Body: Alder (sort for lightweight)
- Neck: Quartersawn Maple
- Fretboard: AAA Rosewood (sort for dark)
- Dots: Clay
- Neck Shape: 60 Style Oval "C"
- Frets: 21
- Fretwire: 6105
- Radius: 9.5"
- Neck Nut Width: 1.650"
- Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .790"
- Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .930"
- Neck Butt Width: 2.200"
- Bone Nut
- Tuners: Vintage
- String Guide: Vintage
- Bridge: Vintage
- Back Plate: Mint Green
- Switch: 5 Way
- Wiring Vintage Modified # 2
- Part # 9211001627