The Fender Custom Shop 69 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic in Fiesta Red takes one of the coolest Era Strats and makes it free from all the foibles the CBS-Era Fender Guitars are known for! Quite simply, the Custom Shop version of the guitars from the late 60s into the 1970s are considerably better than anything actually built during that era! Our 1969 Strats are a testament to that fact.
1969 was a crazy year for Music. From the Nightmare at Altamont to the gloriousness of Woodstock, with timeless releases from David Bowie, CCR, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley's return to performing, and Jim Morrison showcasing Little Jimmy, man the Iconic Music Moments of 1969 go on and on! But what Jimi Hendrix did at Woodstock with a Strat will forever stand the test of time and has gone on to influence countless new players to pick up the guitar! We have had our 69 Strats created in an attempt to capture the vibe and essence of that incredibly transformative year.
The body is made from 2 pieces of Alder that have been sorted through for lightweight. This helps this specific guitar to weigh in at 7 lbs 15 oz. Alder is a fantastic tonewood that is loved for its Balance, Punchiness, and how easy it is to work with. This much-loved tonewood has been in use since the late 1950s.
The neck on the 69 Strat starts with Rift Sawn Maple. This is the most stable way to cut wood so this neck will need less adjustment than one constructed from flat-sawn wood. The 69 U Neck profile is truly a thing of beauty. In fact, it's one of the few neck profiles that Strat and Tele players seem to agree on due to its thicker than an early 60s profile and less chunky than an early 50s Tele. The fingerboard radius is shaped to a 9.5" and has 21 Narrow-Tall Frets installed. The result is a highly playable neck with a tall fret, great for big bends and vibrato. 25.5" scale length and 1.650" nut width combine for a classic and decidedly Fenderfeeeling neck.
The pickups are a favorite combo of ours. The neck and middle positions have Hand-Wound 1969 Strat Pickups installed, the middle pickup being Reverse Wound/Reverse Polarity for noise-free operation in positions 2 and 4. The bridge pickup is a Hand-Wound Texas Special. We went this route as the 69 Bridge PIckup is EXCEPTIONALLY bright and jangly. The Texas Special thickens things up a bit yet still plays very nicely with the middle pickup. A master volume, 2 tone controls, and a 5-way pickup selector switch grant access to all the quintessential tones.
The Music Gallery has been a Fender Custom Shop dealer since its formation in 1987. We keep a bevy of Fender Custom Shop instruments in stock at all times. Whether you're looking for a Stratocaster, Telecaster, Precision Bass, Jazz Basses, Jaguar, or Jazzmaster, we can help you design or find the special instrument you're looking for!
