The 1957 Stratocaster is the late-'50s Strat in its maple-neck form: a 1-piece rift sawn maple neck with a 1957 Soft "V" back, a single-ply parchment pickguard, and a body of select alder, or select ash on the Aged White Blonde and Aged 2-Color Sunburst finishes. The Heavy Relic finish carries deep wear and checking all over.
The pickups are Custom Shop Hand-Wound Tomatillo Strat single-coils with a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle, wired with Vintage Modified #2 wiring, a Greasebucket tone circuit and a treble-bleed on the master volume so the top end holds up as you roll it back. Tone 1 covers the neck and middle, and Tone 2 gives the bridge pickup a tone control of its own, which the originals never had. A 9.5" radius and narrow tall frets make bends easier than a vintage 7.25" board.
The 1956 Hardtail Stratocaster Heavy Relic is the fixed-bridge alternative. For the same year with no aging, look at the Vintage Custom '57 Stratocaster, and for lighter wear and a slightly earlier spec, the 1955 Stratocaster DLX Closet Classic.
Four finishes: Aged Fiesta Red, Aged 2-Color Sunburst, Aged Surf Green and Aged White Blonde.
The photos show one example. Wood grain and aging vary from guitar to guitar, so the one built for you will differ in the details.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: USA
Body Material: 2-Piece Select Alder or 2-Piece Select Ash (by finish)
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Pickguard: 1-Ply Parchment
Aging: Heavy Relic
NECK
Neck Material: 1-Piece Rift Sawn Maple
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: 1957 Soft "V"
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Fingerboard Material: 1-Piece Rift Sawn Maple Neck
Position Inlays: Black Micarta Dot - 0.25"
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Narrow Tall (6105)
Truss Rod: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Tomatillo Strat
Middle Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Tomatillo Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Tomatillo Strat
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Controls: Master Volume with Tone-Saver Treble-Bleed Circuit, Tone 1. (Neck/Middle Pickups), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
HARDWARE
Bridge: Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
Tremolo Arm: Vintage-Style Tremolo Arm
Control Knobs: Vintage White Plastic
Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges)
CASE
Case: Deluxe Hardshell



