The Beauty in the Beast – Fender Custom Shop Heavy Relic

Guitarists tend to be split 50/50 when it comes to relic’d guitars, especially on Fender Custom Shop models. Some prefer to buy a new guitar that looks old, whereas some prefer to “age” it themselves showing off the wear and tear that comes along with playing a guitar for many years. Of course, it’s each to their own and there’s no right or wrong answer. But if you want the already “played in” look of a vintage guitar without all the problems sometimes associated with vintage guitars (connection problems, sweat damage, humidity damage etc.) then a Fender Custom Shop Relic guitar could be perfect option for you. So today we’re going to look at a few of our favourites from the fender Custom Shop range that have had the Heavy Relic treatment, so you can decide whether they’re beautiful, or beastly.

The Fender Custom Shop 52 Telecaster is a staple of the Fender Custom Shop range and a classic model coveted by guitarists all over the world. An original 52’ Fender Telecaster will probably cost you the same as a house and (depending on who owned it) might not actually work properly owing to the fact the electronics might have rotted away, humidity damage may have got hold of the wood and all sorts of different problems may have set in over the course of 60+ years. However, an old guitar will certainly look pretty cool, we agree. So, if you want the reliability and build quality of a new guitar but the look of an old and well used vintage Telecaster, the Fender Custom Shop 52 Telecaster Heavy Relic Butterscotch Blonde is an ideal choice. This guitar is no longer available - contact us to special order for you! Or check THIS one out! 

The purists out there will love the fact that this Fender Custom Shop 52 Telecaster Heavy Relic Butterscotch Blonde has been meticulously designed to recreate the exact design specs of the 52 Tele including the thicker, "U" shaped neck and flash-coat lacquer which allows the wood to breathe – adding a more natural resonance. The heavy relic design makes the guitar look likes its seen the inside of thousands of venues and played hard! However, the expert luthiers at the Fender Custom Shop have ensured the playability is top notch and each aspect of the guitar provides that lush Telecaster sonic character, with a more “played in” feel.

The Fender 2017 Ltd 64 Special Strat Relic Aged Aztec Gold over Gold Sparkle is definitely going to divide guitarists with its unique look. The team at Fender Custom Shop have recreated the look of a Gold Sparkle guitar that has been painted over – the original paintjob appearing to shine through after “years” of use. The Fender 2017 Ltd 64 Special Strat Relic has been built to the same specifications of the pre-CBS era 1964 Stratocaster, with 2 key modern improvements such as a flatter 9.5" fretboard radius and black fret dots to provide an easier playing experience. Custom Shop single-coil Strat pickups offer that vintage 64 Stratocaster sound and have been hand wound and designed to original era specifications. This is as close as you can get to a 64 Strat without using a time machine. The use of the Vintage Modified #2 wiring and a special "Tone-Saver" treble-bleed network allows for a more reliable sound at all levels too!

The Fender Custom Shop 56 Stratocaster Heavy Relic 2 Tone Sunburst has been designed to look like it’s been through about 100 million tours, but its just getting started. The Team at Fender Custom Shop have faithfully recreated the look, sound and feel of Golden Era Fender guitars with Custom Shop Fat 50's Strat pickups and a large "V" shaped neck profile, but have added a flatter-than-vintage 9.5" neck radius for playability and comfort. The heavy relic job on this beautiful (or do you think its beastly?) guitar tells a story of a heavily played workhorse and makes it look like someone has used this every day for the past 60+ years. However, this thing is fresh as a daisy, just waiting to hit the stage or studio with you. The period accurate design will make you feel like you’re holding a piece of rock history in your hands. Unfortunately this is no longer available, however we can special order for you!

The Fender Custom Shop 1960 Stratocaster Relic Candy Apple Red features yet another lush Relic job from the team at Fender, providing an appearance that gives the impression that the guitar has been gigged for many years. Each aspect of the guitar has been designed to provide you with the same sound and “vibe” of 1960 Stratocaster including the Flash Lacquer "Relic" finish and a comfortable "Oval C"-shaped neck profile. In addition, you have a soon-to-be-discontinued Rosewood fingerboard that offers the same warmth and playing feel that made this guitar so sought after back in the day – essentially making it an investment.

The hand-wound, Custom Shop 60/63 pickups take inspiration from the original 1960s pickups but add enhanced bass response as well as modern reliability. However, the team at Fender Custom shop have ensured the sonic capabilities are the same as we’ve come to expect from Vintage Stratocaster thanks to the fact it includes a middle pickup featuring a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity construction, giving it that unique Vintage Strat sound. So what do you think? Are the Fender Custom Shop heavy relic guitars beautiful or beastly or is it simply a case that there is Beauty IN the Beast? Check out a full range of Fender Custom Shop Guitars over at PMT Online today or call in to selected PMT Stores to see them for yourself.

When it comes to Fender Custom Shop Relic guitars, you know that the price is going to reflect the heritage and quality you're paying for. However, here at PMT we have a range of finance options available for you to choose from (including 0% interest) to help you spread the payments out over several months, and to let you purchase that special guitar you've always wanted. Click here to see our range of Finance Options or call our team today on 0151 448 2089 to discuss easy payment options.