It feels the word relic should be defined by a worn in Stratocaster. Seems, maybe just to the writer, that the mental image that the word conjures is of a sunburst Stratocaster, the long hours of playing burned into its surfaces. In fact, just like this 1962 Fender Stratocaster.

Unlike the output of the Fender Custom Shop, this ‘62 has definitely seen some honest playing hours put into it over the past 50 years. Theres some exquisite forearm wear and paint chips on the front, belly wear on the back that’s gone through to the wood and the colours are still vibrant. The neck has worn around the first 5 frets at the back and has been over sprayed at some point in the past so that the wear is still visible. This overspray was only done on the back of the neck and not over the headstock and could probably be easily removed if so desired.

The nice and thick, rosewood slab board has been recently refretted too with very nice sized frets that are almost like what it would have been fitted with from new, maybe just a bit taller. This leaves you with a neck that has a comfortable feel and plays very well indeed.

The bridge has worn as would be expected and the height adjustment screws have been replaced. The nitrocellulose pick guard is in excellent, classically greened and remarkably crack free condition as are the knobs and pickup covers with only a little yellowing and the fading of the text.

Internally this guitar still has its correct black bottom pickups but the volume, tone and pickup selector switch have been changed for more contemporary ones at some point in the early 80s. This does mean that you have easier access to the ‘in-between’ sounds so sought after in Stratocasters. Shielding paint has been neatly applied to the cavities which if you have the time and the patience, can be removed.

The guitar comes with its correct Brown Tolex hard case with yellow lining which has all latches working fine.

This guitar is a lot of fun to play and really exemplifies that early 60s Strat tone, more girth and not as brittle as later incarnations could end up sounding. 

This guitar, although not entirely correct, has all the important elements in place and feels great to play. Don’t let it pass you by…