Fender Custom Shop 1956 Heavy Relic Stratocaster | Fender

Few guitars are as inspiring as a beat-up original-era Strat. There's just nothing like it. The Fender Custom Shop wanted to create a Stratocaster that would look, sound and play like a real workhorse; a truly battle-hardened beauty that had survived a lifetime of beer brawls and all-nighters.

The result is this gorgeously worn 1956 model, built with power and action that perfectly match its battered heavy-relic look. Here, Fender Custom Shop's Mike Eldred shows off the 1956 Heavy Relic Stratocaster, breaking down some of its key features.

About Fender:
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is the world’s foremost manufacturer of guitars, basses, amplifiers and related equipment. With an illustrious history dating back to 1946, Fender has touched and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every genre: rock ‘n’ roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues, and many others.

Connect with Fender:

Fender Custom Shop 1956 Heavy Relic Stratocaster | Fender

[Tonetwisters]

The '56 has come to the top of my list, after 61 years of playing guitar. LOVE this one. Flatter radius. Bigger frets! Perfeck!

[guidemeChrist]

I love how fender goes on these random huge upload sprees.

[pbgas]

I've tried a few Relic strats and I love the feel of them! The Custom Shop ones are probably some of the nicest guitars I have played. Hey....they way I see it, you can now put another 20 years on it and it will look even more worn! Relic the relic! LoL!

[TheRudimentaryConfusion]

It's the only guitar you ever need. :)

[theburstedhemorriods]

i have to laugh at all the relic haters out there, who cares if a guy can afford a custom shop strat so what if its relic'd ? . i bought a custom shop, i tried every one in the shop and walked out with a 56 relic because it was the nicest guitar i ever played .

[nelvis]

My buddy plays one of the original 56 relic's with "Abigail's". It is the finest electric guitar I've ever played, bar none.

[maxsalasr]

Guys. This is the one. I heard one last week in between of other strats... beat them by faaar

[thepanman]

Release the mick mars strat. Mick deserves it

[robstrange]

Really usefull sounds.... looks good, I'd buy it

[Julius_Seizure]

Forget the Strat.. What amp are they using with it? Love the tone!

[leirbag]

Great tone... you guys should do this in Torino Red as well. These 50s Strats seem like "Murica, " embodied in a guitar.

[michaelmasters]

If I'm going to spend money on a new guitar than it better look brand new! I am definitely not going to spend extra on one that has been banged up for me!

[manchicheng]

Every relic fender sounds so much more alive, I think it's the thin finish.

[shelo]

is the 56 master design is the same 56 handwound pickups?

[trevorgwelch]

Aged pick guard maybe would be cool ! Needs more ageing.

[bluesmau]

hi.
what kind of pickups model has got this Fender?...
thanks.

[mkilner]

i got to play a custom shop strat, it was sparkley pink and a heavy relic, i thought it was awful at first site, but once i got hold of it, wow it was like a cadillac and the sound and vibration through the body was amazing, thats never happened before, so i suggest trying one out, looks are very deceiving!

[robincahill]

Oh . This is the best way of getting people to take notice. Of WHAT'S.Fenders point of rip off like this. Some of these companies. DO put in the Effort to ensure that you can get a chance get an idea of what a Fender. Is capable of but I think I will have to point out that the information contained on a rip off. Can mess with your expectations. Of what a Fender. Feels like. So to whom ever. Made this thanks for your help in reinforcing the Fender. Idea. Of making brilliant. Guitars. And they have a whole company called Squier.So there. Robin MiniZter Cahill

[ricinro]

I have been in the process of making my '89 strat plus a relic since I bought it new. I avoid beating it up and it resides in the music room (ok, home office) but, I am slowly thinking that thousands of hours of intimacy can take up residency in wood, metal and plastic. It certainly is not the same instrument that I bought new. E931031

[Wilandovsky]

"[ANY YEAR]-strat is special, one of the best, unique, a lot of people are after it, it has a unique this, that, this, that, this, that, this, that." A start is a start is a start. You have one of them, you've had all of them. Let's face the obvious truth. Yeah, yeah, some of them had a soft V-neck profile, ok, ok, ok.