Fender Custom Shop 1957 Stratocaster Hardtail “Chicago Special” Relic Aged Blue Sparkle Fender

It is no secret that the Fender Custom Shop has been creating the best instruments since 1987. In keeping with the true spirit of Leo’s original vision of the company, each instrument is built with the highest level of care and excellence. Here at Chicago Music Exchange, we have collaborated with the best minds at Fender to build the best instruments from top to bottom, tirelessly going over each spec to ensure that we offer you the best of what Fender has to offer.   

Featuring measurements and components we hand-selected from across history, our “Chicago Special” Fender Custom Shop guitars highlight important years in the development of core models like the Stratocaster, Telecaster and more. We capture the energy and essence of their respective eras with iconic fingerboard radii and period-correct plastics, matched headstocks and slab fingerboards, classic finishes and not-so-classic colorways. But that’s just the beginning of what makes our Fender Custom Shop guitars so special. We take customization a step further with rift sawn necks for added resonance and expanded control sets for tonal versatility, and every “Chicago Special” Fender Custom Shop guitar features our own custom Chicago Special pickups, designed in conjunction with Fender Custom Shop Vice President of Product Development Mike Lewis.        

“Chicago Special” Strat pickups

• Calibrated set – bridge to neck – for balanced output
• Each pickup as custom AlNiCo 5 magnet stagger for optimum output balance string-to-string
• 42 gauge enamel wire for round highs
• Potted in shellac for open wide range frequency response

Model Number: 9237101890
Serial Number: R121681
Finish Package: Relic
Case: Fender Custom Shop Tweed

Body Wood: 2 Piece Ash
Body Color: Aged Blue Sparkle
Body Finish: Nitro Lacquer
Sort for Lightweight: Yes
Body Notes: 57 Strat Deep Body Contours

Hardware Plating: Chrome/Nickel
Bridge Assembly: Hardtail Vintage Strat Relic
Output Assembly: Vintage Strat Relic
Control Assembly: Strat 1/2 Blender Relic
Neck Plate: Reissue Serial Vintage Relic
Tuner Keys: Vintage Fender Logo Relic
String Guide: American Vintage 56-58 Relic
String Gauge: 10-46

Neck Assembly: ’56 Strat Closet Classic Relic
Neck Finish: Medium Tint Nitro Lacquer
Neck Blank: Rift Sawn Maple
Truss Rod: 50’s
Head Style: Small
Neck Head Thickness: 0.580″
Neck Scoop: 57
Dot Spacing: Wide
Face Dot: Micarta Black .250
Side Dot: Micarta Black 3/32″
Fret Wire: Medium Vintage
Number of Frets: 21
Fingerboard Radius: 9.50″
Neck Back Shape: 57 Style Soft “V”
Neck Nut Width: 1.650″
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .850″
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .970″
Neck Butt Width: 2.200″
Nut Material: Bone
Number of Bolts: 4-Bolt
Head Cap Decal: 54-60 Strat
Neck Notes: Relic Fingerboard, Heavy Relic Neck Back

Pickguard: .06 Parchment Relic
Pickup Neck: Handwound Chicago Special Neck
Pickup Middle: Handwound Chicago Special RWRP Middle
Pickup Bridge: Handwound Chicago Special Bridge
Control Knobs: Small Font Vintage White
Selector Switch Tip: Vintage White
Pots: 250k 10% Taper Split
Switch: 5-Way Control Switch