The 1963 Stratocaster Super Heavy Relic is an early sixties Strat aged to the far end of the Time Machine wear scale, with the lacquer worn through as if it had been gigged hard for decades. Underneath is a 2-piece select ash body and a rift sawn maple neck with a 1963 Strat "C" back on a 3A rosewood board.
The 9.5" radius is flatter than the vintage 7.25", so bends are less likely to choke out high on the neck. Three Custom Shop Hand-Wound '60-'63 Single-Coil Strat pickups, with the middle one reverse wound and reverse polarity so positions 2 and 4 cancel hum. The 1/2 blend control brings the neck pickup into the bridge and bridge-and-middle positions for combinations a standard Strat can't reach. Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo and a 3-ply mint green pickguard.
For the same era with far less wear, look at the 1962 Stratocaster Relic. The 1965 Stratocaster Super Heavy Relic carries the same aging a couple of years on, with an alder body, '65 pickups and a parchment guard.
Finishes are Super Faded Aged 3-Color Sunburst, Super Faded Aged 3-Color Sunburst Sparkle, Super Faded Aged Black over 3-Color Sunburst and Super Faded Aged Surf Green over 3-Color Sunburst.
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 Ash
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape: Stratocaster
Pickguard: 3-Ply Mint Green
Aging: Super Heavy Relic
NECK
Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: 1963 Strat "C"
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Fingerboard Material: 3A Rosewood
Position Inlays: Vintage Clay Dot
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Narrow Tall (6105)
Truss Rod: Early '60s
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '60-'63 Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP '60-'63 Single-Coil Strat
Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '60-'63 Single-Coil Strat
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone, 1/2 Blend
Switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge with Neck Blend, Position 2. Bridge and Middle with Neck Blend, Position 3. Middle, Position 4. Neck and Middle, Position 5. Neck
HARDWARE
Bridge: Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
Tremolo Arm: Vintage Upgraded '60s
Control Knobs: Vintage White Plastic
Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges)
CASE
Case: Deluxe Hardshell