Road Rash with Radical Tone
As a testament to its own place in music history, the Roasted ’61 Stratocaster is a primo distillation of countercultural aesthetics, weathered by time and stages the world over. According to Sweetwater’s guitar gurus, the roasted 2-piece alder body yields rich, full tones, with a predilection for the low end, reflecting its excellently-simulated distressing details of this Super Heavy Relic. The historically accurate flat-laminated rosewood fingerboard tops a quartersawn maple neck, producing crystalline upper registers that defy the aesthetics of a Strat washed in the waves of time. Crank up the heat with the hand-wound Texas Special single-coil pickups, in addition to a “1/2 blender” option to maximize your sonic spread. Plus, with the vintage synchronized tremolo onboard, you'll hit massive bends and stay in tune with equally retro panache.
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Sonics forged in fire
The Fender Custom Shop’s attention to detail doesn’t stop at the Super Heavy Relic treatment. A hand-selected, 2-piece alder construction gives the Roasted '61 Strat's body slicing mids, great bass, and warm sustain. Roasting the alder decreases wood moisture as a part of the aging process, augmenting these features by increasing natural sustain as well. The quartersawn maple neck imparts an all-around brightness, balancing powerful projection with great note separation along with a tight low end. Flat-laminated rosewood produces deep basses and vivid highs, adding a glassy veneer that complements the alder’s warm lows and the maple’s enriching tone.
Time-tested, versatile play
Tinted and roasted, the quartersawn maple neck boasts a brawny, custom-large “C” profile capitalizes on the wood’s natural light weight, accommodating a variety of playing styles. Moreover, its natural qualities keep it stable across climates, delivering resilience with minimal intervention. The era-accurate flat-laminated rosewood fingerboard rocks 21 jumbo (6100) frets, sprawling across a 9.5-inch radius, dotted with vintage clay inlays. A Fender Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo and vintage-style tuning machines bookend the 25.5-inch scale, alongside a classic bone nut and a wing string tree with metal spacer.
Searing Texas-style sound
Tap into searing tones with the Custom Shop’s hand-wound Texas Special single-coil Strat pickups. In fact, they’re overwound to increase the output of the Alnico V magnets, balanced by the staggered pole pieces. Vintage warmth pours out from these Texas scorchers, touting crisp highs, tight lows, and tremendous midrange growl. The middle pickup is actually reverse wound in order to eliminate hum while preserving the heft of the mids. Use the 5-way blade switch to tap into the Strat’s “1/2 blender” wiring, allowing you to blend the neck and bridge pickups in the first and second positions, delivering some serious sonic variety in the process.
Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition Roasted '61 Stratocaster Super Heavy Relic Features:
- Custom Shop hand-wound Texas Special single-coil Strat pickups combine vintage warmth with scorching range, minus the mid-range hiss
- 2-piece roasted alder body is hand-selected to deliver rich mids and tight bass
- Aging the wood by decreasing the moisture content by roasting the alder to increase sustain
- Maple neck produces crisp, balanced tones with great projection and powerful note-separation
- Period-precise flat-laminated rosewood fingerboard boasts vivid highs, luscious lows, and a glassy veneer
- Quartersawn neck features a custom large “C” profile perfect for versatile play
- 21 jumbo (6100) frets mean great tonal range with comfortable access to every register
- Vintage-style tuners, disc string tree, and bone nut provide stable, reliable tone
- Classic “1/2 blender” wiring enables blending of the neck pickup between positions 1 and 2 on the 5-way blade
- Vintage synchronized tremolo creates era-accurate opportunities for expressive play
- Deluxe hardshell case, strap, and certificate of authenticity included
