Fender 1969 Strat HR AVW

Fender 1969 Strat HR AVW review

The Fender 1969 Strat HR AVW is a U.S.-made Custom Shop Stratocaster with a heavy relic finish, an alder body, and a maple neck and fingerboard. It is listed as a limited 2024 model, available since November 2024. The supplied price is 5,666, and the model includes a case and certificate, but no gig bag.

Its specification sheet makes a clear vintage-style pitch. The neck has a 1969 U profile and is attached with a bolt-on joint. The maple fingerboard has a 9.5-inch radius and 21 narrow-tall frets. Scale length is 648 mm. A parchment three-ply pickguard, nickel hardware, and aged vintage white finish complete the stated look.

Pickups and controls

The three single-coil pickups are hand-wound Custom Shop units, with a Texas Special at the bridge, a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity Fat '50s in the middle, and a '69 pickup at the neck. The guitar uses vintage Stratocaster wiring and a five-way switch. The listed hardware includes Fender and Schaller vintage-style F tuners and a six-saddle synchronized tremolo with bent steel saddles.

Those details describe a familiar three-pickup layout, but the different pickup models give each position its own stated design. The available information does not include measured output, frequency response, or a controlled listening comparison, so it would be unwise to claim a specific tonal result from the names alone. Players should try the instrument through their own rig if pickup character is a deciding factor.

What one owner experienced

The supplied field report praises the guitar's overall appearance, calling the relic work convincing rather than exaggerated. The owner also liked the wood selection and described the instrument as light. Those are subjective impressions, and no weight measurement was provided.

The same owner raised substantial concerns about the example they received. They found a pronounced depression in the center of the neck, which they attributed to the relic work. It was noticeable under the palm while moving along the neck. They also reported that the tuning machines were extremely stiff and turned unevenly. A repair technician disassembled them and applied silicone-based oil to the gears before they worked properly.

The more serious problems appeared during the first string change. According to the report, the neck, truss rod, and tremolo bridge all seemed to shift after the owner installed the same strings specified on the certificate. The guitar reportedly buzzed across the fretboard, even with high action. Measurements by a specialist led the owner to suspect that the bone nut was poorly cut or had settled too low, leaving insufficient clearance at the first fret.

The repair work reportedly involved correcting the nut from the third through sixth strings, reseating frets at positions 5, 7, 9, 14, and 19, and performing a full setup. The truss rod continued to move, so the instrument took about two weeks to settle. The owner says the work cost $130. This is one person's account of one guitar, not evidence that every Fender 1969 Strat HR AVW has the same faults. It is, however, specific enough to justify careful inspection.

Buying advice

A high-end Custom Shop instrument should arrive playable and stable, but the report describes an example that needed professional attention before it reached that point. The reported faults concern basic setup and hardware function, rather than a matter of personal preference. Buyers should check tuning-machine movement, neck stability, tremolo operation, nut clearance, fret seating, and buzzes across the full fingerboard soon after delivery.

Make those checks within the seller's return period. If possible, have a qualified guitar technician inspect the instrument before that period ends. Keep a record of the setup, string gauge, and any adjustments. This is especially sensible for a heavily aged finish, where distinguishing intended wear from an uncomfortable or functional defect may take a close look.

Verdict

The Fender 1969 Strat HR AVW has a detailed vintage-style specification and an appearance that one owner found especially convincing. Its hand-wound pickup set, maple neck, and synchronized tremolo give it a coherent Custom Shop identity on paper. Yet the reported neck blemish, stiff tuners, unstable setup, nut issue, and raised frets are significant reservations for a guitar in this price range. Treat the report as a reason to inspect carefully, not as a verdict on every example. The finish may win you over, but the individual instrument should prove its playability before you decide to keep it.