How beautiful is this one!! With the high-end XSC-3 models, the American brand Xotic presents, through its US-based Xotique workshop, an absolute masterpiece firmly rooted in a Fender-inspired register. We were already familiar with Xotic basses and a few guitars, including the Allen Hind Signature models and some XSCPRO-2 from the “budget” series—but this is clearly a whole different story. Californians are truly lucky: everything is there, including the best Fender-style workshops (and of course Fender itself) such as Anderson Guitarworks, Suhr, and for several years now Xotic, which honestly blows Suhr away and seriously challenges the quality of Tom Anderson guitars. With this one-off instrument built for NAMM 2026, the small custom, handmade Xotique workshop of Xotic proves the outstanding quality of their craftsmanship and the insane tonewoods they have access to.

The Xotic Xotique XSC-3 Custom is a phenomenal guitar, built using the very best carefully selected acoustic resonance woods. This unique XS-3, crafted by the small American Xotique workshop, represents the absolute top of the Xotic range, featuring every possible option. The guitar retains the classic Strat shape but features an ultra-light alder body. It is finished in Obsidian Flame with a New Old Stock finish, meaning no aging. The nitrocellulose lacquer allows the body to breathe, delivering beautiful organic tones and excellent resonance.

The neck on this XS-3 Custom is simply stunning: 5A Flame Roasted Maple. The 5A figured option is a real bonus, with absolutely mind-blowing grain patterns—no photo can do it justice. Featuring a modern C profile with a slight D shape on the bass side and C on the treble side, a 12″ radius, and Tall Narrow 6105 frets, the neck feels extremely comfortable and familiar.

Vintage-style Gotoh locking tuners and a Gotoh vintage-style bridge provide outstanding tuning stability and intonation. A pair of Raw Vintage RV-PAF pickups delivers a powerful sound with real punch and excellent clarity. Equipped with Alnico magnets, each pickup is hand-wound on site in Los Angeles. They offer a very wide tonal range with truly punchy low end. Raw Vintage pickups are a key feature of the Xotic California Classic series, and on this XS-3 Custom, combined with the selected woods, they deliver absolutely insane tones.

This ultra-light guitar is a real killer and easily stands up to the very best Californian Custom Shop guitars and high-end production models. It comes delivered in a Deluxe ABS hard case.