This Is One Boss ’56!
Take a trip back to 1956 with this Relic’d Limited-edition ’56 Hardtail Stratocaster from the Fender Custom Shop. Tributing the last batch of early ’56 ash-bodies, this Strat adjoins its traditional body build with a maple neck and matching fretboard with superbly era-appropriate accuracy. Its soulful and versatile single-coil song radiates from a pair of 11/56 Strats at the bridge and neck with a reverse-wound reverse-polarity (RWRP) pickup in the middle position, all tailorable by standard Strat knob specs and a classic 5-way blade. Dressed in charming gold closet classic hardware, including its second-year-style hardtail bridge, plus a fabulous road-worn relic job, this mid-’50s Custom Shop Strat from Sweetwater is the certified crème de la crème of original, well-loved Strats.
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Classic cuts for classic cats
Fender stopped building ash-bodied Strats in late 1956, which would’ve placed this ash-bodied Limited-edition ’56 Hardtail Stratocaster alongside a select few from the last batches of ash-bodied production. The 2-piece select ash body is complemented by a rift-sawn single-piece maple neck with a matching 21-fret fingerboard, profiled to Fender’s 11/56 off-center “V” carve for a truly traditional feel in hand. Its playing surface keeps riffs, runs, and chords quite bright and articulate, no matter the style or intensity you favor.
Vintage-style and versatile single-coils
This beauty’s bridge and neck positions carry deluxe 11/56 Strat single-coils, handwired with precision and care by Fender’s Custom Shop specialists. At the middle position, an RWRP single-coil affords guitarists the hum-free playability required to track and perform with tonal purity. The design of this set is one that drops you right into the sonics of the mid-’50s, but with that classic Strat versatility to excel in a range of musical environments. Subtle integration gleams with smooth and glassy traditional tones. Level things up a notch, and these pickups really get up and go! From rockabilly and surf to country, classic rock, and beyond, queuing up your ideal vintage Strat sound is marvelously simple.
Stoic, stylish hardware
From the bridge and tuning machines to the neck plate and instrument jack, the Limited-edition ’56 Hardtail Stratocaster comes dressed to impress with an ornamentation of closet classic gold hardware. Without being too flashy, this subtle upgrade adds a dash of upscale elegance to the road-weathered look of this Strat. And speaking of hardware, its namesake vintage-style hardtail bridge offers well-anchored tuning stability, dependably accommodating both string bends and heavy-handed playing. Raucous rhythmists and passionate lead stylists alike will adore this Custom Shop Strat’s steadfast playability.
Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition ’56 Hardtail Stratocaster Relic Electric Guitar Features:
- 2-piece ash body pays tribute to the last batch of ash-bodied guitars from 1956
- Maple neck with 11/56 off-center “V” profile feels phenomenally traditional
- Bright and articulate maple fingerboard with 21 medium vintage frets
- 2 x 11/56 Strat single-coil pickups at bridge and neck positions offer both vintage and versatile tonal sculpting
- RWRP middle position single-coil kicks hum to the curb with ease
- Master volume, dual tone controls, and a 5-way blade make sonic shaping a breeze
- Closet classic gold hardware, including vintage-style tuners and a dependable hardtail bridge
- Detailed relic job adds a gorgeous road-worn look to this Strat
- Handcrafted in the USA at the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, Calif.
