Fender 60 Strat ABLK Heavy Relic

Fender 60 Strat ABLK Heavy Relic review

The Fender 60 Strat ABLK Heavy Relic is a U.S.-made, Custom Shop guitar presented as a 1960 Relic model. Its specification combines an alder body, a quartersawn maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and three hand-wound Texas Special single-coil pickups. The listed model is a NAMM 2020 Custom Shop instrument, and the product has been available since December 2019.

This review is based only on the supplied product details. No customer reviews are available, so there is no basis for claims about how a particular instrument feels, sounds, or performs in practice. The specifications do, however, establish what hardware and construction features a buyer can expect.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is made from selected alder, with no separate top listed. Its black finish is described as Heavy Relic. That label identifies the finish treatment, but the supplied information does not describe the specific wear pattern or its extent. Buyers who need close-up condition details should confirm them with the seller rather than assume every example has identical marks.

The neck is quartersawn maple with a Mid '60s C profile. The fingerboard is rosewood, with a 9.5-inch radius and 21 frets. Fender lists the frets as size 6100. These measurements give useful reference points when comparing the neck with another guitar, but they cannot establish whether its shape or fretwork will suit an individual player.

The scale length is 648 mm, approximately 25.5 inches. The nut is Micarta. Together, the scale, neck profile, radius, and fret size describe the main dimensions of the playing surface. The supplied specifications do not state the nut width, neck thickness measurements, or fret finish, so those details remain unconfirmed.

Pickups and controls

The guitar has three hand-wound Texas Special single-coil pickups in an SSS configuration. Fender specifies a five-way switch and a Strat 1/2 blender circuit. The blender circuit is a notable part of the electronics specification because it adds a control function beyond the stated pickup selector positions. However, the listing does not explain the exact control layout or which pickup combinations the circuit blends. Check the wiring diagram or ask the seller if those details matter to your setup.

There are no published output measurements, pickup resistance figures, or descriptions of the controls' taper in the supplied data. As a result, the pickup names and circuit type are the reliable points of comparison, not a guarantee of a particular tonal character. The single-coil format is clearly identified, but noise performance and sound will depend on the instrument and playing environment.

Tremolo and hardware

Fender lists a C/S Vintage Strat tremolo, described elsewhere in the specifications as a vintage tremolo. The hardware is also identified as vintage style, and the machine heads carry the Fender logo. The product information does not specify the tremolo's setup, spring arrangement, bridge spacing, or tuning stability. Those are practical points to inspect on the individual instrument.

A mint-green pickguard provides a contrasting visual detail against the black Heavy Relic finish. The overall specification pairs a vintage-inspired model designation and hardware with a modern 9.5-inch fingerboard radius. That combination is a concrete feature of the listed build, though preferences for radius or neck dimensions are personal.

Included items and buying considerations

The package includes a case, cable, strap, and certificate. It does not include a gig bag, and the separate case listing confirms that a case is supplied. The item number is 478868, and the sales unit is one piece. The listed price is 6090; no currency is provided in the supplied data, so the figure cannot be compared accurately across markets without checking the seller's listing.

For a buyer assessing the specification, the strongest points to verify are the exact wiring behavior, the individual guitar's finish condition, and the tremolo setup. The provided details establish the materials, scale, fretboard radius, pickups, and included accessories, but do not document setup measurements or individual-instrument variation. Since no customer feedback is available, this assessment should be treated as a specification-based review rather than a report of owner experience.

Verdict

The Fender 60 Strat ABLK Heavy Relic is specified as a U.S.-made 1960 Relic-style instrument with a selected alder body, quartersawn maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, three hand-wound Texas Special pickups, and a vintage-style tremolo. Its distinguishing technical details include the Mid '60s C neck profile, 9.5-inch radius, 6100 frets, and Strat 1/2 blender circuit. Buyers should confirm the circuit's exact operation and the condition of the specific Heavy Relic finish before purchase. The available information supports a clear feature assessment, but not claims about sound, comfort, or reliability in use.