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We currently have this product in stock and available for dispatch.
Stock Location
| UK Distribution Hub: | 1 |
"Get it" shows the next available date that we will be able to deliver this item to you on, depending on the delivery option you select, and the stock availability of anything else that you add to your shopping basket.
5-year warranty & 30-day money-back guarantee included
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
- Mouth and Lip-Care Products
- CDs, DVDs and Software
We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
10-year warranty & 180-day money-back guarantee included
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
- Mouth and Lip-Care Products
- CDs, DVDs and Software
We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
The product price includes 5 years' warranty and 30 day money back guarantee.
However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers.
The highlights of this enhanced warranty service are:
Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the UK, EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided.
For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs.
This enhanced warranty is in addition to the standard Gear4music and manufacturer warranty policies, and the Gear4music terms and conditions of trade. No statement or condition of sale contained within these terms affects or restricts your statutory rights as defined under the Consumer Contracts Regulation 2014.
Key Features
The Fender Custom Shop 1969 Stratocaster Relic is a masterfully crafted tribute to a golden era of tone, style and performance. With its Aged Black finish and matching painted headstock, this guitar radiates vintage character while offering modern playability. Its two-piece alder body and vintage hardtail bridge deliver exceptional sustain and a balanced tonal response that’s perfect for expressive lead and rhythm work.
Handwound El Diablo pickups provide a fiery output with rich harmonics and dynamic clarity, giving you the versatility to cut through any mix. The quarter-sawn maple neck with African blackwood fingerboard offers a smooth feel and precise response, complemented by jumbo frets and a 9.5-inch radius for effortless bends and fast runs. Every detail, from the relic chrome hardware to the period-correct large headstock, reflects Fender’s Custom Shop expertise.
Product Ref: 332176
The Fender Custom Shop 1969 Stratocaster Relic is built to capture the look and feel of a classic late-sixties Strat, complete with all the subtle wear and ageing you would expect from a true vintage instrument. The Aged Black nitrocellulose finish, combined with the matching painted headstock, gives this guitar a striking and period-correct aesthetic that stands out. Fender’s Relic treatment adds realistic checking, wear marks and hardware ageing, giving the guitar the feel of a well-loved workhorse straight from 1969. The two-piece alder body not only contributes to the authentic look but also ensures a balanced tonal character with warm mids and clear highs. Every detail has been meticulously designed to honour the original Stratocasters of the late sixties, from the large headstock and vintage-style tuners to the classic black pickguard. This level of craftsmanship makes it not just an instrument but a piece of art, designed for collectors and players who appreciate vintage authenticity. On stage or in the studio, the guitar projects a timeless vibe that is instantly recognisable and iconic, ensuring it remains a centrepiece in any collection or performance setup.
One of the standout features of the Fender Custom Shop 1969 Stratocaster Relic is its trio of handwound El Diablo pickups, designed to deliver fiery tones with exceptional clarity and power. Each pickup is individually wound by Fender’s skilled artisans, ensuring a unique character and consistent quality that mass-produced pickups simply cannot replicate. The neck pickup provides warm, rounded tones ideal for smooth blues lines, while the reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle pickup offers a hum-cancelling option with punchy midrange presence. The bridge pickup completes the set with biting highs and plenty of output, perfect for lead playing that needs to cut through a mix. These pickups excel in dynamic response, translating subtle picking nuances or aggressive attack with equal precision. Combined with the five-way selector switch, you have access to a wide tonal palette that ranges from glassy cleans to full-bodied, overdriven textures. This makes the guitar incredibly versatile, capable of handling everything from vintage rock to modern blues or fusion tones. The El Diablo pickups not only provide raw power but also retain the signature Stratocaster chime, ensuring your tone is both bold and unmistakably Fender.
The neck of the Fender Custom Shop 1969 Stratocaster Relic is crafted from quarter-sawn maple, known for its exceptional stability and resonance. Quarter-sawn wood is cut at a precise angle to the growth rings, making it more resistant to warping and better at sustaining tone over time. This construction method, paired with a luxurious African blackwood fingerboard, results in a neck that feels smooth under the fingers while enhancing tonal depth and clarity. The 1969 “U” profile offers a slightly chunky feel, providing comfort for chord work while remaining fast enough for intricate lead playing. Jumbo 6100 frets combined with the 9.5-inch radius give you effortless bends and accurate intonation, blending vintage style with modern playability. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish allows the neck to breathe and age naturally, improving resonance while offering a worn-in feel that players love. Every detail of this neck has been considered, from the mother-of-pearl inlays to the large headstock decal, resulting in a feature that not only performs at the highest level but also pays homage to Fender’s heritage. This neck design offers a perfect balance of classic tonewoods and contemporary performance features.
While the Fender Custom Shop 1969 Stratocaster Relic captures a vintage aesthetic, it also incorporates modern features that make it a joy to play in any setting. The vintage hardtail bridge adds increased sustain and tuning stability, a significant advantage for players who value precision and consistency. Without a tremolo system, the guitar’s resonance and string vibration are transferred directly to the body, enhancing tone and articulation. The relic hardware, including Schaller F-key tuners and the R serial number neck plate, ensures smooth operation with the character of a road-worn instrument. With a string gauge of .010-.046, the setup strikes an ideal balance between flexibility for bends and firmness for rhythm work. Inside, the modern control assembly with 250k pots and a five-way selector switch gives you the versatility needed for any genre. This combination of vintage styling and updated functionality ensures you get the best of both worlds: authentic looks and sound with dependable performance. For gigging, recording or collecting, this guitar delivers professional reliability with a personality rooted in Fender’s most iconic era.
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