This used Fender Custom Shop '63 Stratocaster Journeyman in Sonic Blue weighs 7 lbs 8 oz. It is in excellent shape and it is fully functioning. The neck is straight, the frets are still crowned, and the truss rod is functioning properly. This guitar was purchased new from us just a few months back then traded back in on another guitar. It saw very little playing time and is basically as it came from the factory, minus a setup and restring.
One of the staples at The Music Gallery is the Fender Custom Shop 1963 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic. Whether you have been to the shop, perused the website, or just lurked on social media, you have probably come across these value-packed Custom Shop models. We have had dozens of them over the last couple of years and this one is finished in Sonic Blue.
The main ingredients:
- A 2 Piece Alder Body Sorted for Light Weight: 7 LBS 8 OZ
- A quarter-sawn maple neck and AAA Rosewood Fingerboard.
Alder is a punchy, assertive-sounding wood, that pairs perfectly with the Maple/Rosewood Neck. If a little beefier than brighter is your thing, then Alder over Ash is the way to go. Alder is considered punchy, well balanced if not flat across frequencies, making it very malleable in terms of tone.
The quarter-sawn maple neck increases stability and typically requires less adjustment, depending on it's the environment. So even though these have thin necks, they are exceptionally rigid.
AAA Rated Rosewood fingerboard is hand-selected and chosen for its darkness. The Fender Custom Shop still has a nice stash of Rosewood so their fingerboards continue to look great! The 9.5" fingerboard radius is preferred by many players especially when compared to a 7.25". 21 Sanko 6105 Frets are installed that provide a tall surface. This fret and radius combo has been the choice of literally thousands of our customers!
The Neck:
- 60's Oval C Neck Profile
- .790 at 1st fret and .930" at the 12th
- 9.5" fingerboard Radius
- Sanko 6105 Frets
This is a great neck for the typical Strat Player. Slim in the lower positions, lending itself to fast playing and easy riffing, with a nice taper that thickens up nicely on your way up the fingerboard. This makes big bends easier to hold onto and vibrato is less of a chore.
The electronics:
- Handwound 60's Spec Set
- 5 Way, Volume, Tone x 2
Our 63's are weight controlled and always weigh under 8 lbs. These are very comfortable on a strap or seated thanks to perfectly sculpted body counters and great edge radius work around the body.
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!
The Music Gallery of Highland Park: Your 'Mom and Pop' Neighborhood Guitar Shop! For Music Lessons, Fretted Instrument Repairs, and the finest in Electric and Acoustic Guitars.
