Fender Custom Shop Custom Classic Stratocaster Black 2004
Fender Custom Shop Custom Classic Strat, black, made in USA 2004. Going back twenty years or so, Fender's Custom Shop was a bit of a different operation than it was today. It was smaller, producing less guitars, and more focused on delivering instruments that play and sound as good as possible than on doing amazing and unique finish work like they are today. This beautiful Strat hails from that era, and it's not a reissue model, it's the Custom Classic. It's kinda like a supercharged American Standard: 9.5" radius, smooth and stable two point tremolo bridge, headstock-end truss rod adjuster... modern conveniences for fast and uninhibited playing. But, you get this incredible flame maple neck. Seriously, one look at this thing and you're hooked. The flame figuring is deep and detailed, shifting under different light and revealing new delights from every angle. We had our house tech do a full fret level, crown and dress, so it's playing perfectly to match it's perfect presentation. On arrival, the middle pickup had been replaced, and we couldn't get it to hum cancel how it ought to in switch positions two and four, so it's now wearing a set of American Standard single coils. The original neck and bridge pickups, as well as the supplied middle, are in the case, but I don't think you'll be in a hurry to change anything when you hear how it already sounds. It's a clear, full and complex take on the classic Strat spank. The neck pickup delivers perfect glassy, shimmering cleans with a deep and responsive bass to match. The bridge and middle pickups offer slice and snarl, with a great balance of body and bite and an enjoyable wide, breathy midrange. This is on offer for less bucks than you'd pay for the new (lengthily-titled) American Ultra Luxe Vintage Stratocaster, and you get a stunning hand made Custom Shop. Life is grand.
Model: Fender Custom Shop Custom Classic Stratocaster
Made: USA, 2004, Corona Custom Shop
Serial: CN94952
Finish: black, gloss nitro
Body: alder
Neck: flame maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale, 9.5" radius, 43mm nut
Weight: 3.715kg
Mods: pickups replaced
Pickups: American Standard single coil x3
Accessories: original case, docs, certificate of authenticity, trem arm, original neck and bridge pickup, supplied non-original middle pickup
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end, dimples and a dent on the treble edge, dimples on the bass side, a small dent near the 'F' in the decal and some scuffs near the end on the front and some light scuffs on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back only. The back has scuffs and dimples on the horns dents along the bottom edge, dimples and scuffs along the back edge scuffs in the elbow area, belly carve and middle of the body and some screws missing and a chip from the corner of the cavity cover. The sides have dimples and small dents on the top horn, a couple of dents and scuffs in the elbow area and top edge, dimples and small dents near the jack and some dimples and scuffs on the bottom horn. The front has a dent and some dimples in the elbow area, widespread dimples near the jack, behind the bridge and up from the pickups and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear only, recently levelled, crowned and polished