Roasted '56 Strat
The limited-edition Fender American Vintage '56 Stratocaster's body and neck were subjected to a highly controlled high-heat drying process in a special kiln. So why would you want a roasted guitar? Stability, comfort — and tone. Fender's roasting procedure removes almost all the moisture from the wood and collapses the cell walls, which makes the guitar much more insensitive to humidity changes. If you gig far and wide, you'll appreciate this next time you play Miami after a week in Phoenix. As roasting removes moisture, it also removes weight. Now you can play marathon sets without next-day chiropractor visits. Roasting also improves resonance and increases sustain. This axe sports a supremely playable soft-V profile maple neck with a vintage 7.25" fingerboard radius and vintage-style frets. Topped off with superb-sounding American Vintage '56 single-coil pickups, the Fender American Vintage '56 Strat is a musical force to be reckoned with.
Legendary Stratocaster tone
The Fender Custom Shop's Limited-edition American Vintage '56 Stratocaster is loaded with a trio of American Vintage '56 single-coil pickups that deliver all the legendary spank 'n' sparkle of an original golden-age Stratocaster. From chimey, glassy cleans to chunky grind, these pups serve up classic tone by the bucketful. 1956 was the Stratocaster's second full year of production. In looks as well as sound, the American Vintage '56 Strat takes you back to the roots of Fender's groundbreaking solidbody electric guitar.
Smooth, vintage playing feel
The American Vintage '56 Strat looks and plays like a meticulously cared-for vintage instrument. It sports a soft-V maple neck with a vintage-spec 7.25"-radius and 21 vintage-style frets for a playing experience just like the original. The vintage-style 6-screw vibrato bridge/tailpiece is ideal for deploying dive bombs and other forms of sensory expression. Vintage-style tuning machines, strap buttons, whammy arm, butt-adjust truss-rod, and a bone nut complete the setup. For American-made Strats, this is as good as it gets!
Nitro finish, for the look and feel of a classic
The Fender American Vintage '56 Stratocaster wears a gorgeous satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Nitro finishes — standard back in the day — are significantly thinner than today's polyurethane finishes, allowing the guitar to "breathe." Nitro finishes not only look vintage-y wonderful; they also enhance the instrument's tonal qualities. This guitar has the look (and feel) of a lovingly cared-for classic — one that will only improve with age. Sweetwater has secured a limited number of these wonderfully unique factory special run instruments — get yours while you can!
Fender Limited-edition American Vintage '56 Stratocaster Features:
- Roasted Neck and Body for great sustain and stability
- Built on Original Era machinery for authenticity
- Roasted Ash Body with nitrocellulose lacquer finish
- Roasted maple neck with soft-V profile
- Maple fingerboard with 7.25" radius and vintage-style frets
- 3 American Vintage '56 single-coil Strat pickups, 5-way blade selector
- American Vintage 6-saddle floating vibrato bridge/tailpiece
- Bone nut, vintage-style tuning machines, black anodized aluminum pickguard
- Chrome/nickel-plated steel hardware
