Fender 56 Strat Black Relic

Fender 56 Strat Black Relic: Technical Review

The Fender 56 Strat Black Relic is a U.S.-made Custom Shop electric guitar based on the 1956 model. Its listed price is 4899, with no currency specified in the supplied information. The instrument pairs an alder body with a maple neck and fingerboard, three hand-wound Strat single-coil pickups, and a vintage-style tremolo. Its black Relic finish and period-oriented hardware shape the specification, while measurements such as the 9.5-inch fingerboard radius and 42.9 mm nut width provide concrete reference points for assessing its layout.

Body, Finish, and Construction

The body is alder, with no separate top listed. The neck is maple and attaches to the body with a bolt-on joint. Fender describes the neck wood as "Plain Grain" maple. The black finish uses nitrocellulose lacquer and a Relic treatment. The provided specifications do not explain the precise aging process or the extent of the finish wear, so those details cannot be assessed from the listing alone.

The single-ply pickguard is described as vintage white and styled after Stratocaster pickguards from 1954 to 1958. Nickel hardware, Fender vintage machine heads, and a vintage American Strat tremolo complete the period-inspired parts selection. These are stated component choices, rather than evidence of any particular tonal result or durability advantage.

Neck Dimensions and Playing Layout

The 10/'56 "V" neck profile is one of the more specific features in the specification. Its thickness measures 22 mm at the first fret and 25 mm at the 12th fret. Those figures provide a useful indication of how the neck's depth changes along its length, but they do not by themselves establish whether the shape will suit an individual player. The V profile is a defining departure from a generic, evenly rounded neck description.

The maple fingerboard has black dot inlays, a 241 mm (9.5-inch) radius, and 21 vintage frets. The 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale is the familiar full-length Strat measurement. Nut width is 42.9 mm. Together, these figures describe the main geometry without relying on subjective playability claims. The listing does not provide fret dimensions, neck relief, or setup measurements, so those aspects would need to be checked on the individual instrument.

Pickups and Controls

The guitar uses three hand-wound 1950s Strat-style single-coil pickups in an SSS arrangement. Controls comprise one master volume and two tone controls, with a five-way pickup selector. This is a conventional three-pickup Strat control layout, offering selection across the individual pickups and combined positions. The available data does not state pickup output, winding measurements, magnet type, or circuit component values. Any more detailed prediction of output or frequency response would go beyond the supplied specifications.

The factory string set is.010 to.046. That is the listed setup, not a guarantee that every instrument will arrive with identical action or feel. Players considering a different string gauge should account for the effect a change can have on setup, particularly when using the tremolo system.

Tremolo, Included Items, and Practical Details

The bridge system is identified as an American vintage Strat tremolo. The specifications do not say whether it is set to float or rest against the body, nor do they give setup details such as spring count or arm tension. Those variables matter when evaluating how the tremolo is configured, so they should be confirmed with the seller or by inspecting the guitar.

A vintage case is included. A bag is not included, which is largely academic when a case is supplied, but it is useful to distinguish the two entries in the product data. The model has been listed as available since June 2025, with item number 611659 and a sales unit of one piece.

Assessment

On paper, the Fender 56 Strat Black Relic combines a clearly specified 1956-inspired neck profile and hardware with a modern 9.5-inch fingerboard radius and five-way switching. Its core materials and layout are straightforward: alder body, maple neck and fingerboard, three hand-wound single coils, and a vintage tremolo. The Relic finish is a visual specification, but the listing does not provide enough detail to evaluate its execution or consistency.

No customer reviews are available for this product, so there is no basis here for claims about owner satisfaction, factory setup, or long-term reliability. A prospective buyer should verify the exact condition of the finish, the tremolo setup, and the instrument's measurements before purchase. The stated specifications make the guitar's design clear, while leaving those individual inspection points open.