Up for sale, a 2018 Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt John Cruz 1963 Stratocaster Relic in near-mint condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original G&G hardshell case, CoA, hangtags, and case candy. The highest tier of Fender's Custom Shop, the Masterbuilt models are made by a singular master craftsman, in contrast to other "team built" Custom Shop tiers. This Strat was handcrafted by John Cruz, who has made guitars for artists including John Mayer, Jeff Beck, and Richie Sambora. This particular ‘63-inspired Strat boasts a gloss Sunburst nitro lacquer finish with a moderate relic and a set of single coil pickups hand-wound by Josefina Campos.

Channeling SRV with its black pickguard, white pickup covers/knobs, and gold-plated hardware, this Masterbuilt Stratocaster has also been fitted with a genuine vintage set of Schaller Elite Fender-branded gold plated tuners, highly valuable and identical to the ones used on SRV’s #1 (stock tuners also included).

Tonewoods include an alder body, maple neck with a slender C-shaped carve, and a rosewood fingerboard with a modern 9 1/2” radius. The latest in a grand lineage of Fender pickup winding “queens,” Josefina Campos was apprentice to the legendary Abby Ybarra, whose decades of pickup winding at Fender were a true link to Leo’s golden age. These ‘60s-style single coils are lively and potent, with a focused midrange cut and sparkle at the bridge, smooth sparkle at the neck, and quintessential Strat honk at the “in-between” positions on the five-way pickup selector switch. This Masterbuilt John Cruz 1963 Stratocaster Relic has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple
-Shape: ‘60s-style slender C, fractionally more heft in upper registers, measuring .790” 1st fret, .930” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood, 9 1/2“ radius, Micarta dot inlay
-Frets: Sanko 6105 narrow/tall, no wear
-Scale Length: 25 1/2”
-Nut: 1.650” (42mm), bone
-Tuners: Schaller Fender Elite (original tuners in case)
-Serialization: John Cruz signature on back of peghead
-Factory Markings: John Cruz signature and 12-18 dates on neck heel/pocket, vintage-style “Dec 63” stamp on heel, JC stamp in neck pickup cavity

Body Specs:

-Wood: Alder
-Pickups: Josefina Campos-wound ‘60s Strat single coil x3 (Josefina signature and 12-3-18 date on bobbins)
-Harness: CTS pots
-Controls: Volume, Tone x2, Five-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Vintage-style Synchronized Tremolo, jack cup, “ashtray” bridge cover (gold-plated)
-Plastics: Three-ply black pickguard, aged white knobs/pickup covers

The gloss Sunburst nitro lacquer finish is shot nice and thin for maximum resonance, and the relic includes subtle checking, with simulated wear through the finish at the arm and belly contours, faux buckle wear central to the back, and some small nicks. There is sparingly little identifiable wear beyond the factory aging. As part of the relicing process, the neck has been stripped of its nitro gloss, with a smooth open-grain satin feel.

The original Custom Shop G&G hardshell case is included, along with the CoA, Floor Traveler, all hangtags, case candy, and the original Kluson-style tuners. The CoA is signed by John Cruz and dated 12/11/2018.