Ordered in October 2022… Here it arrives in September 2024, well, you have to be patient at Fender eh? Combining vintage features with some welcome modern specs, this very pretty Limited Edition Journeyman Relic “’59 Special” Strat is an exceptional guitar that proves that the Fender Custom Shop still knows how to make great instruments.

A trio of powerful Custom Shop Ancho Poblano Hand Wound pickups add their special sauce to the traditional Strat guitar sound. Each pickup is calibrated for its position, including the RWRP center mic. Special Strat Blender wiring blends the bridge and neck pickups in almost any position while the Greasebucket™ master tone control circuit maintains full gain and the Tone Saver Treble Bleed on the master volume control preserves tone at any what setting. The neck is absolutely superb, made from AAA flame maple, and sports a 1959 “Esquire C” shaped profile, with a rosewood fingerboard that has a comfortable 9.5 inch radius and 21 jumbo 6100 frets.

The two-piece select alder body (an option from Fender) sports a Journeyman Relic treatment, while the neck features a Heavy Relic treatment. The rest of the hardware and plastic parts, from the eight-hole, 3-ply mint green pickguard to the American Vintage synchronized tremolo bridge, also received the Relic treatment. A flavorful blend of carefully selected ingredients for flexible Fender tone and stunning style make this very pretty Limited Edition Journeyman Relic “’59 Special” Strat a magnificent guitar.

Delivered with its Tweed hardcase and accessories as well as the COA.