Built By A Master
Throughout the years, Truetone Music has received a ton of Custom Shop guitars. They're all special, but when a Masterbuilt piece lands, it feels like an event, not just a guitar. This is especially true with one like this. As always, Jason Smith nailed it.
At first glance, it's simple: a classic Stratocaster in an ultra cool color. This is a 1959 Strat in Sherwood Green Metallic. Dig deeper, feel it, hear it, and experience it - that's when how special it is really stands out. Nothing beats a Masterbuilt.
The alder body, sorted for lightweight, is super resonant, and really sings, even unplugged. A dark AAA rosewood fretboard tops a rock solid quartersawn maple neck. The '59 Esquire C neck profile is very comfortable - it's got a good amount of grip, but isn't too thick. Players gravitate towards this neck shape because it has the thinness of a '60's Strat in the first position (.790" depth at the 1st fret) and the meatiness of a 50's Strat in the higher register (.970" depth at the 12th fret). We went with the classic modernization move of a 9.5" radius and 6105 (narrow tall) frets.
The guitar features Hand-Wound '59 Strat pickups, voiced to be vintage correct recreations of one of the most sought after sets. The reason is that they give you a classic clean Strat tone with just the right amount of bite. It's "the" sound that players strive after with a Strat, and works for a variety of styles. They produce a round, warm tone with a sweet edge, thanks to the Alnico 5 magnets, Formvar-coated wire, stagged pole pices, and a ton of mojo.
The Journeyman Relic treatment was perfected by Smith, down to the finest detail (zoom in on the pictures to see). We could have gone with any color, but in a case like this, we had to go with one of our favorites: Sherwood Green Metallic. It's not a color you see every day. It's matched perfectly with a 3-ply mint green pickguard.
Other features include an American Vintage bridge, period correct tuners, string tree, and other hardware. The guitar comes with a Custom Shop deluxe case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Masterbuilder.
This amazing example from one of Fender's premier Masterbuilders was created as a one-off guitar for Truetone Music - and we couldn't be happier with the result. Don't hesitate, as it will be at least 2 - 3 years till we get another, as that's the wait time for all Jason Smith builds. Any Masterbuilt Stratocaster is a special instrument, and this one really stands out. Come to Truetone Music to check it out today, or order right here to be shipped to your home.
About the builder:
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. He went to his first big rock concert at age six—Rush—and Smith remembers going backstage with his dad and meeting Geddy Lee after the show. Before he was even in his teens, Smith was going to see Pink Floyd, ZZ Top and many other major artists.
Rock music and Fender are part of his DNA. 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.
- Part # 9211003371
- Serial # R135818
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Finish Package: Journeyman Relic
- Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Color: Sherwood Green Metallic
- Body: Alder - Sort for Lightweight
- Neck: Quartersawn Maple
- Tint: Medium
- Fretboard: AAA Blackwood - Sort for Dark
- Neck Profile: 59 Esquire C
- Depth at 1st Fret: .790"
- Depth at 12th Fret: 970"
- 1.650" Nut Width
- Radius: 9.5"
- Frets: Narrow Tall (6105)
- Inlays: Vintage Clay
- Tuners: Vintage
- Pickups: Custom Shop Handwound '59 Strat
- 5-way Switch
- Wiring: Vintage Modified # 2
- Pickguard: 3-ply Mint Green
- Backplate: Parchment
- Knobs: White
- Bridge: American Vintage
- Neck Plate: Vintage
- Custom Shop Deluxe Brown Hardshell case
- Certificate of Authenticity Signed by Masterbuilder Jason Smith
- Custom Shop Strap
