Fender Custom Shop 1967 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Sonic Blue

We at Truetone Music are always looking to come up with something you haven't seen before, especially when in partnership with Fender.  For this take on a classic Strat, we chose a unique aesthetic - Sonic Blue with a Matching Headstock, and binding on the fretboard.  We've done this before with an NOS (New Old Stock) finish and this time we moved it to being a Deluxe Closet Classic.  And of course, the Custom Shop knocked it out of the park.

This Custom Shop 1967 Stratocaster features a two-piece select alder body that has been sorted for lightweight, so it will be comfortable to play strapped on for hours.  It weighs in at just 7.3 lbs.  The maple neck is capped with a 9.5”-radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium vintage frets for steady play up and down the neck.  For the neck shape, we kept it "period correct" with the '66 Oval C, which is a slightly larger carve (running .840" at the 1st fret to .974" at the 12th fret).  While not huge, it's not for those looking for a skinny neck.  It's perfect for anyone wanting a Strat neck that has bit more to grip with a great vintage feel.  A unique feature of this guitar is the neck binding - something Fender did in 1967 but that you rarely see these days, even on a Custom Shop guitar where anything is possible.  We also chose to do a matching paint job on the larger '67 style headstock, giving it a very unique aesthetic.

Custom Shop 66 Strat pickups were appropriately chosen to give it a rich ’60s tone that will still cut through the mix.  They have a Alnico 5 magnets, enamel wiring and vintage staggered polepieces for a balanced output across the strings.   These are lower output, mellow pickups that are a bit "scooped", and give you the classic Fender Strat tone of the late 60's.

If you're wondering what the Deluxe Closet Classic finish is, and where it falls in the Custom Shop's options, you're not alone.  This finish package just came out in the last year or two.  It slides in right between regular Closet Classic and Journeyman Relic.  It has the appearance of a guitar that came out of the Fender factory 5 decades ago, was barely played, taken care of meticulously and polished regularly over the years.  Over time, the finish would start to show aging and evolve into something that signifies vintage, but without the wear & tear.  Moderate finish checking, slight oxidation of the hardware and mild discoloration of the parts give this finish it's distinct look & feel.