The Fender Custom Shop Limited-Edition Double Bound HSS Stratocaster Journeyman Relic captures the spirit of a well-loved and road-worn Strat while delivering modern versatility and playability. This exquisite instrument combines classic Fender design with custom electronics and appointments tailored for today's discerning player. Whether you're a vintage purist or genre-defying innovator, this Strat has the chops to inspire your creativity.

Timeless Fender Tone With a Twist

At its core, the Double Bound HSS Stratocaster Journeyman Relic stays true to the iconic Fender formula – an alder body and top coupled with a quarter-sawn roasted maple neck. This tonal recipe has been a musician's trusted companion for decades, serving up rich, resonant tone with a perfect blend of warmth and bite. But Fender's Custom Shop team took things a step further by outfitting this Strat with proprietary hand-wound single-coil pickups and a Seymour Duncan SH4 Jeff Beck humbucker in the bridge position. You'll have vintage Fender tones at your disposal, along with hot-rodded tones for soaring leads and heavy rhythms.

Compound Radius Rosewood 'Board for Effortless Playability

One of the first things you'll notice when you pick up this Strat is the supremely comfortable compound radius rosewood fingerboard. The 7.25" radius at the nut makes chording a breeze, while the flatter 9.5" radius up top gives you the ideal platform for wide bends and slinky lead work. Vintage-tall frets make every note ring out with vibrant sustain. Combine these playability enhancements with the '60s-style oval "C" neck profile and you have a guitar that feels like an extension of your own hands.

Infinite Tonal Possibilities With 1/2 Blender Wiring

While classic Strat tones are the foundation, this guitar's versatility is kicked into overdrive thanks to its 1/2 Blender wiring. By pulling up on the master tone knob, you can blend the neck and bridge pickups in parallel for thick, percussive rhythms or searing lead tones. The 5-way blade switch gives you access to any combination of pickups, from glassy single-coil quack to beefy humbucker grind. With so many tones on tap, you can easily craft the perfect voice for any genre or performance.

Relic Vibe With Rock-Solid Performance

Aesthetically, the Double Bound HSS Stratocaster Journeyman Relic has all the trappings of a hard-gigging guitar – from the worn-in nitrocellulose lacquer finish and simulated buckle rash, to the yellowed binding and plastics. But under the hood, this Fender is built for modern reliability with pro-grade hardware like vintage-style locking tuners and a stable vintage-style tremolo bridge. You get the mojo of a well-loved ax without the pitfalls of a truly road-beaten relic.