Fender '61 Bone Tone Strat ASB

Fender '61 Bone Tone Strat ASB: A specification-led review

The Fender '61 Bone Tone Strat ASB is a limited-edition, U.S.-made electric guitar modeled on a 1961 Relic-style instrument. Its listed price is 6,333, with no currency specified in the supplied information. The model has been available since October 2024, under item number 574742. No customer reviews are available, so this assessment is based solely on the stated construction and hardware. It cannot confirm how the guitar feels or sounds in use.

The specification pairs a Sonic Blue finish description with an aged Sonic Blue over three-color sunburst finish. That layered description suggests the finish treatment is part of the instrument's visual identity, though the supplied details do not explain the aging process. The body is alder, with no separate top listed. A three-ply mint green pickguard and nickel hardware complete the stated appearance.

Neck, scale, and playing dimensions

The bolt-on maple neck has a rosewood fingerboard and an oval C profile inspired by the 1960s. Its listed thickness is 20 mm at the first fret and 24 mm at the twelfth. Those measurements provide a useful reference for comparing neck shapes, but they do not establish whether the profile will suit a particular player. The fretboard radius is 241 mm, or 9.5 inches, and the nut measures 42.9 mm wide.

The 648 mm scale, equivalent to 25.51 inches, is the familiar full-length Strat-style scale. The fingerboard carries 21 vintage frets. The source does not state fret dimensions, fret material, or setup measurements, so those details should not be assumed. Factory strings are listed as.010 to.046, a gauge reference that may help when planning a replacement set, although the guitar's setup preferences are not provided.

Pickups and control circuit

Fender Custom Shop hand-wound Master Design Bone Tone Strat single-coil pickups are fitted in an SSS layout. That describes three single-coil pickups, but the available data does not give output readings, magnet type, or individual pickup specifications. Any claims about noise, frequency response, or tonal character would therefore go beyond the evidence supplied.

The control system uses a Fat 50s half-blender wiring circuit, with one volume control, two tone controls, and a five-way switch. The circuit name and control layout identify the configuration, but no wiring diagram or switching explanation is included. The precise combinations available through the blender control should be checked against Fender's documentation rather than inferred from the model name alone.

Tremolo, tuners, and included case

The guitar is equipped with a Fender Custom Shop vintage tremolo and Fender vintage tuners. Nickel hardware is specified. The product information does not provide details such as the tremolo block material, tuner gear ratio, or bridge setup. These are relevant omissions for anyone comparing hardware at a component level, and they limit what can be concluded about adjustment range or tuning performance.

A brown Tolex case is included. The general listing also confirms that a case is included and that a bag is not. The sales unit is one piece. This gives buyers a clear indication of the supplied protection, though no case dimensions or accessory list are stated.

Technical summary

• Body and finish: Alder body, aged Sonic Blue over three-color sunburst.
• Neck and fingerboard: Bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard and 1960s-style oval C profile.
• Dimensions: 648 mm scale, 42.9 mm nut, 241 mm radius, and 21 vintage frets.
• Electronics: Three hand-wound single-coil pickups, Fat 50s half-blender circuit, five-way switch, one volume, and two tone controls.
• Hardware and package: Vintage tremolo, vintage tuners, nickel hardware, and brown Tolex case.

Verdict based on the listed specifications

The Fender '61 Bone Tone Strat ASB is defined by its limited-edition status, period-inspired neck dimensions, Custom Shop single-coil set, and half-blender circuit. The detailed measurements make it easier to compare with other Strat-style instruments, while the case and factory string gauge are useful ownership details. However, there are no customer reports or independent measurements here to support conclusions about sound, comfort, setup, or build consistency. Buyers should treat those areas as unverified and confirm the circuit details and finish description with the seller before purchase.