This Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt 62 Stratocaster Relic Dale Wilson in Graffiti Yellow is the bee's knees! Not just because it's Black and Yellow but because it has mojo for days, plays incredibly well, and sounds just as good. An alder body paired with a maple and rosewood neck gives us the time-tested tonewood combo that has been heard on countless hit songs. Weighing in at only 7 lbs 4 oz, this is one of the lightest Strats we have in stock.
Dale Wilson doesn't leave anything to be desired when it comes to aging guitar. His instruments are almost indiscernible from VIntage guitars in many ways, except for one: they play way better than any vintage Fender guitar I have played... ever. While Graffiti Yellow wasn't around in 1962, this guitar does a fine job at showing us what it would look like if it had been. A legit-looking patina adds another layer to the look, darkening things up in some spots. The wear along the bass-side edge of the pickguard reminds me of the SRV #1 and the Black 1 though the wear is not as severe. The worn spot on the pickguard and the lightening of the spot under the arm wear are just a couple of the other expertly executed touches that make this guitar a stand-out.
The body is made from 2 Pieces of light-weight Alder which helps it weigh in at just 7 lbs 4 oz. This is a pretty good weight for a Strat, most come in 4 or ounces heavier. The guitar is finished in Graffiti Yellow which has an origin story tied to Jeff Beck and John Hill, Fender's English Artist Relations Guy at the time. Jeff loved the 1932 Ford Chopped Deuce Coupe from American Graffiti so John Hill suggested they paint Jeff's guitar that same shade of yellow, dubbing it "Graffiti Yellow". A 1 ply black phenolic pickguard is aged to perfection while the aged white pickup covers help give it a modded-out look, only adding to the Hot Rod vibe further.
The neck is made from rift sawn Maple which is the most rigid and stable, making it the perfect choice for a guitar. This top-shelf neck is then topped with a AAA Rated Piece of Dark Rosewood. This board is very rich looking and the aged clay dots set the front-facing look off perfectly. The neck profile is the 60s Oval C that measures in at .790" at the first fret and tapers up to .930" at the 12th fret. The fingerboard radius is 7.25" and we have Vintage Upgrade fretwire for an authentic 60s playing experience. Classic Fender specs like 25.5" scale length and 1.650" nut width out the finishing touch on things.
A set of Handwound Texas Special Stratocaster pickups are installed in this guitar. For an in-depth look at these stellar pickups, check out this edition of Matt's Blog. These pickups have some sweet heat to them that still plays nicely with the volume and tone controls, especially when you want to clean things up. A master volume and 2 tone controls allow you to sculpt your sound while a 5-way pickup selector switch grants access to the pickups.
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!
