Fender Custom Shop 1959 Stratocaster “Chicago Special” Deluxe Closet Classic Super Aged Daphne Blue Sparkle w/Rosewood Neck Fender

Since the inception of the Fender Custom Shop in 1987, the veteran band of guitar builders in the Custom Shop today has grown to over 50 artisans, each a specialist in their own right, dedicated to their own area of expertise and working together to build Fender guitars to exact specifications—from neck shaping and fretwork to finishing and aging. Each craftsperson brings years of hard-earned skill and dedication to helping create an instrument and playing experience that can only come from the Fender Custom Shop.

Fender Custom Shop “Chicago Special” Series
When it comes to the sound of a Fender “Chicago Special” guitar, we here at CME, would all have to say that the “Chicago sound” all starts with the pickups. So, when you see “Chicago Special” you know that you’re getting a range of tones that we, here at CME, think epitomizes the broad-ranging appeal of each instrument, wherever Fender instruments are played!

“Chicago Special” Pickups
With the “Chicago Special” series of instruments, we aimed to achieve what we think of as the quintessence of Fender tones by setting our sights on our preferred pickup sets for each model. 

All of the pickups in Fender “Chicago Special” models were designed by Chicago Music Exchange in collaboration with Mike Lewis, Vice President of Product Development at Fender Custom Shop, and are only available on “Chicago Special” Fender models at CME, or on Custom Shop orders from Chicago Music Exchange—i.e., these pickups cannot be obtained from any other retailers, or directly from Fender (nor are they currently available on the aftermarket).

Each pickup set is precisely calibrated for balanced output—using our preferred enamel wire gauges and alnico magnets in each pickup—then potted in shellac for an open, wide-range frequency response, which tends to preserve more high-frequencies than potting in wax or lacquer. 

Fender “Chicago Special” Stratocaster Pickups 

• SSS: Precisely calibrated from bridge to neck with a custom Alnico V magnet stagger for optimum output balance from string to string, using 42-gauge enamel wire for round highs 

Model Number: 9237101553
Serial Number: R117608
Finish Package: Deluxe Closet Classic
Case: Fender Custom Shop Brown
Weight: 7 lbs 10 oz

Body Wood: Alder
Body Color: Super Aged Daphne Blue Sparkle
Body Finish: Lacquer
Sort for Lightweight: Yes

Hardware Plating: Chrome
Bridge Assembly: American Vintage Strat
Output Assembly: Vintage
Control Assembly: 1/2 Blender
Neck Plate: R Serial Vintage
Back Plate & Trem Cover: Parchment
Tremolo Arm: Vintage Upgraded 60s
Tremolo Arm Tip: White
Tuner Keys: Vintage w/Fender Logo
String Gauge: .010-.046

Neck Finish: Nitro Lacquer
Neck Blank: Rosewood
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Sort for Dark Rosewood: Yes
Truss Rod: 50s
Head Style: Small
Neck Head Thickness: 0.575″
Dot Spacing: Wide
Face Dot: Micarta White
Side Dot: Micarta White
Fret Wire: Narrow Tall
Number of Frets: 21
Fingerboard Radius: 9.50″
Neck Back Shape: 60 Style Oval “C”
Neck Nut Width: 1.650″
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .790″
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .930″
Neck Butt Width: 2.200″
Nut Material: Bone
Number of Bolts: 4
Head Cap Decal: 54-60 Strat

Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
Pickup Neck: Hand-Wound Chicago Special
Pickup Middle: Hand-Wound Chicago Special RWRP
Pickup Bridge: Hand-Wound Chicago Special
Control Knobs: White
Selector Switch Tip: White
Pots: 250K 10% Taper Split
Switch: 5-Way Lever