Electric guitars

Fender 61 Strat SHR Aged Surf G 3TSB

The Fender 61 Strat SHR Aged Surf G 3TSB pairs a two-piece ash body and a 1961-inspired neck profile with three hand-wound Custom Shop single-coil pickups. Its vintage-focused hardware and included case make it a well-appointed premium Strat-style guitar, though the SSS layout may not suit players seeking humbucker tones.

★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

Technical review

The Fender 61 Strat SHR Aged Surf G 3TSB is a U.S.-made, limited-run instrument based on the 1961 Relic model. Its specifications combine a two-piece ash body, a dark-tinted maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and three hand-wound Custom Shop pickups. The listed price is 6,299. The available product information provides detailed construction and hardware specifications, but no customer reviews, so there is no basis for claims about playability, tone, or build consistency beyond those stated details.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is made from selected ash in a lightweight, two-piece construction. Fender lists the finish as Aged Surf Green over 3-Tone-Sunburst, while the color field gives Surf Green. This layered finish specification is more precise than the general color listing, but the supplied details do not describe the finish material or how the aging was applied. The guitar has an ST-style body shape and no separate top.

The neck is dark-tinted maple with a '60s C profile. Its rosewood fingerboard is identified as 3A grade and has a 241 mm (9.5-inch) radius. There are 21 frets, and the nut is bone. The stated scale length is 648 mm, a measurement consistent with the product's long-scale specification. Fret dimensions, neck finish, and detailed setup measurements are not provided, so those aspects cannot be assessed from the specification sheet.

Pickups and controls

The pickup layout is SSS, meaning three single-coil pickups in the familiar bridge, middle, and neck positions. Fender specifies three hand-wound Fat '60s Custom Shop Strat single-coils. The middle pickup uses reverse-wound, reverse-polarity construction, commonly abbreviated RWRP. That is a concrete design detail, although the supplied information does not state how much hum reduction to expect in any particular switch position.

The controls use vintage-modified Strat No. 2 wiring and a five-way switch. The wiring designation and switch count identify the control arrangement, but the sheet does not explain the precise circuit differences or list the individual control functions. There are no supplied output measurements or frequency-response data. Any claims about pickup balance, clean tones, or distortion response would therefore go beyond the available evidence.

Tremolo and other hardware

The bridge is a Custom Shop Vintage synchronized tremolo, described in the general specifications as vintage style. Fender also lists vintage-style tuning machines with its logo and an American Vintage '59, '64 string tree. These details give the hardware a period-oriented specification. The product information does not include bridge adjustment range, tuning-stability results, tuner ratios, or hardware finish, so those points remain unverified.

A three-ply parchment pickguard completes the listed exterior hardware details. The combination of the pickguard, aged green finish, rosewood fingerboard, and tinted maple neck gives the model a distinct appearance on paper. Actual color and aging can be difficult to judge from text specifications alone, and no photographs or finish measurements are included in the data provided here.

Included items and production details

The guitar includes a case but no bag. Fender identifies the run as limited for 2026 and lists the country of manufacture as the United States. The item number is 653311, and the sales unit is one piece. Those details are useful for checking a listing or confirming the exact configuration before purchase. The source information does not specify the case type, included accessories, warranty terms, or production quantity.

What the specifications establish

This model's clearest technical points are its ash body, '60s C-profile maple neck, 9.5-inch fingerboard radius, three hand-wound single-coil pickups, and vintage synchronized tremolo. The 21-fret layout and 648 mm scale are also explicitly stated. Together, these details describe a traditional-style Strat configuration with specific Custom Shop pickup and wiring choices.

The listed price and limited-run status may make confirmation of the exact finish, included case, and production year especially important before ordering. Buyers comparing it with other models should also verify measurements and details directly with the seller, particularly if neck dimensions, setup, weight, or circuit specifics affect their decision. None of those additional figures appears in the supplied specifications.

There are no customer reviews available for this product. This review is therefore a specification-based assessment, not a report of hands-on testing. The published details establish what Fender says is included, but they do not establish how this individual guitar feels or sounds in use.

Fender 61 Strat SHR Aged Surf G 3TSB, front view
8.3/ 10 overall score
$6,299current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • Lightweight, two-piece ash body with an aged Surf Green over three-tone sunburst finish
  • Three hand-wound Fat '60s Custom Shop single-coil pickups, with a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle pickup
  • Includes a case and features a bone nut, vintage-style tuners, and a Custom Shop synchronized tremolo

What bugged me

  • The SSS pickup layout offers less built-in hum reduction than a humbucker-equipped design
  • No gig bag is included, and the listed price places it in a premium category

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

Ideal for players seeking a vintage-inspired Strat-style guitar with hand-wound single-coil pickups, an ash body, and an included case. A strong fit for those who value the specified '60s C neck profile and classic tremolo hardware.

Look elsewhere if

Not for players who require humbuckers or want a gig bag included. Also less suitable for buyers who do not value the premium vintage-inspired appointments.
RockFunkJazz

Suggested level: Intermediate

Fender 61 Strat SHR Aged Surf G 3TSB, $6,299Check today's price →

Specifications

Color
Surf Green
Body
Ash
Top
None
Neck
Maple
Fretboard
Rosewood
Frets
21
Scale
648 mm
Pickups
SSS
Tremolo
Vintage
Incl. bag
No
Including case
Yes
Limited run
2026
Model
1961 Relic
Shape
ST-Style

Before you decide

Questions players ask

What pickups does this guitar have?

It has three hand-wound Fat '60s Custom Shop single-coil pickups. The middle pickup is reverse-wound and reverse-polarity, and the guitar uses a five-way switch.

What are the neck and fingerboard specifications?

The neck is dark-tint maple with a '60s C profile. The fingerboard is 3A rosewood with a 9.5-inch radius, and it has 21 frets.

Does it include a case?

Yes. A case is included; a gig bag is not.

What is the body made from?

The body is a lightweight, two-piece construction made from selected ash. Its finish is aged Surf Green over three-tone sunburst.

Is this model suitable for players looking for humbucker sounds?

It uses an SSS single-coil pickup layout, so it is a better match for players seeking traditional Strat-style single-coil sounds than for those who specifically want humbucker tones.

The last word from the bench

This limited 2026 model combines a lightweight ash body, a maple neck with a '60s C profile, and a rosewood fingerboard with a 9.5-inch radius. Its three hand-wound Fat '60s Custom Shop pickups, five-way switch, and modified Strat wiring provide a range of traditional single-coil sounds. The synchronized tremolo and vintage-style tuners reinforce the period-inspired specification, while the case is included. Consider it if those materials and features justify the premium price for your needs.

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