Fender 57 Strat BLK Journeyman Relic

Fender 57 Strat BLK Journeyman Relic review

The Fender 57 Strat BLK Journeyman Relic is a U.S.-made Custom Shop guitar based on the 1957 Stratocaster. Its specification combines a two-piece selected alder body, a maple neck and fingerboard, three hand-wound single-coil pickups, and a vintage-style synchronized tremolo. The listed price is 4222, although no currency is specified in the product data. The model has been available since September 2024, and its item number is 598846.

There are no customer reviews available for this instrument. The assessment below is therefore limited to its documented construction and hardware. Specifications can indicate how the guitar is set up and what components it uses, but they do not establish how a particular example sounds, feels, or performs in person.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is made from two pieces of selected alder and has a black Journeyman Relic finish. Alder is the only body wood listed, and the specifications identify no separate top. The ST-style body follows the familiar Stratocaster outline, while the relic finish gives the instrument its stated aged appearance. The product information does not describe the aging process or specify how much wear is present.

The bolt-on neck is plain-grain maple, with a maple fingerboard. Its profile is a 1957 Soft V, a defined neck shape rather than a generic modern profile. Players who prefer a neck with a noticeable central ridge may find this specification worth trying; those who favor a slimmer or rounder contour should check the shape in person before buying. The listing provides no neck depth measurements, so the profile name is the available reference.

The fingerboard radius is 241 mm, approximately 9.5 inches. The guitar has 21 narrow-tall 6105 frets. That fret count and fret type are specific to this instrument, and should not be confused with the more common 22-fret layouts found on many modern guitars. A bone nut is fitted. The scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches, a full-length design associated with standard Stratocaster proportions.

Pickups and controls

Fender lists three hand-wound Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster single-coil pickups in an SSS arrangement. The pickup names and winding details connect the electronics to the model's 1957 basis. The specifications do not provide output readings, magnet type, wiring diagram, or measured frequency response, so those details cannot be assessed from the listing alone.

Controls comprise one volume knob and two tone knobs, with a five-way pickup selector. This gives the player access to the three individual pickup positions and the two in-between combinations typically selected on a Strat-style layout. The product data does not state whether the tone controls are assigned to particular pickups, so buyers should confirm that detail if the control layout is important to them.

A single-ply white pickguard contrasts with the black finish. The combination is a clear visual choice, but the available specifications do not identify the pickguard material or provide photographs that would let buyers judge the exact finish details.

Tremolo, tuning hardware, and included case

The guitar uses a Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo, along with vintage-style tuning machines. Nickel hardware completes the listed hardware specification. No information is supplied about the tremolo setup, spring configuration, tuning-machine ratio, or bridge adjustment. Those details can affect setup and operation, so they should be checked on the specific instrument rather than assumed from the component descriptions.

A Deluxe hardshell case is included. A bag is not included, which is consistent with the case being the stated storage option. The product is sold as one piece.

Who the specification may suit

This model is aimed at players seeking a Custom Shop instrument with a historically oriented Stratocaster layout, a Soft V maple neck, and three hand-wound single-coil pickups. Its 21-fret board, 25.5-inch scale, vintage-style tremolo, and traditional control arrangement make the underlying format straightforward to identify. The black Journeyman Relic finish and white pickguard set its appearance apart without changing the listed pickup configuration.

The main buying considerations are practical: the neck profile, relic finish, and tremolo should be evaluated in person where possible, and the price should be checked in the seller's stated currency. Since no customer feedback or independent measurements are available here, this review cannot verify build consistency, setup quality, or tonal character. On paper, the Fender 57 Strat BLK Journeyman Relic is a U.S.-made, 1957-inspired Custom Shop Stratocaster with detailed vintage-oriented specifications and an included hardshell case.