Fender 61 Strat TCP RW AOLW

Fender 61 Strat TCP RW AOLW review

The Fender 61 Strat TCP RW AOLW is a USA-made Custom Shop guitar based on the 1961 Stratocaster. Its listed price is 4555. The specification sheet identifies an alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, three single-coil pickups, and a vintage-style tremolo. Those details describe a recognizably traditional Strat layout, while the neck dimensions, compound fingerboard radius, and hand-wound pickups give buyers specific points to assess against their playing needs.

There are no customer reviews available for this product. The assessment here is therefore limited to the supplied specifications. It cannot establish how this particular instrument feels, sounds, or performs in person.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is alder, with no separate top listed. The bolt-on maple neck has a 1960s-style oval C profile, measuring 21 mm thick at the first fret and 22 mm at the twelfth. Those measurements provide a more precise reference than the profile name alone, though they do not describe the shape of every part of the neck or substitute for trying it in hand.

The rosewood fingerboard has a compound radius that changes from 184 mm to 241 mm, equivalent to 7.25 to 9.5 inches. The specification indicates a rounder radius near the nut and a flatter one farther up the neck. Whether that arrangement suits a player depends on personal preference and setup. The fingerboard carries vintage clay dot inlays, and the headstock is finished to match the body.

The scale length is 648 mm, or 25.51 inches, and the nut measures 42.9 mm wide. The guitar has 21 vintage-style frets. Fender lists string gauges of.010 to.046. Together, these measurements define the instrument's basic playing dimensions, but fret condition, action, and setup details are not provided.

Pickups and controls

The pickup layout is three single coils. Fender specifies two hand-wound 60/63 Strat pickups in the bridge and neck positions, plus a hand-wound 60/63 Strat pickup with reverse winding and polarity in the middle position. The reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle pickup is a distinct construction detail. The supplied information does not include output readings, frequency measurements, or comparative sound tests, so tonal conclusions beyond the pickup type would be speculative.

Controls consist of one volume knob, two tone knobs, and a five-way selector. This is a familiar three-pickup Strat control arrangement, giving the player access to five pickup selections. The specification does not state which tone control is assigned to each pickup, so buyers who need that detail should confirm it with the seller.

Tremolo, finish, and included case

The hardware includes an American Vintage Strat tremolo, Fender vintage machine heads, and nickel-finished hardware. These descriptions identify the intended style and material finish, but the provided details do not specify bridge setup, tremolo-arm fit, tuning performance, or the machine heads' exact model. A tortoiseshell pickguard is listed as a 1960-style part.

The finish is described as Fender Flash Coat lacquer, and the color is Olympic White. The guitar includes a brown Tolex case. No gig bag is included. The product data does not provide the instrument's weight, case dimensions, finish aging, or details about whether the finish changes appearance over time.

Specifications at a glance

• Model: 1961 Stratocaster, Custom Shop
• Body and neck: Alder body, bolt-on maple neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, clay dot inlays, 21 vintage-style frets
• Neck profile: 1960s-style oval C, 21 mm at the first fret and 22 mm at the twelfth
• Scale and nut: 648 mm scale, 42.9 mm nut width
• Pickups and controls: Three hand-wound single coils, one volume, two tone controls, five-way switch
• Hardware: American Vintage Strat tremolo, vintage-style machine heads, nickel finish
• Finish and color: Fender Flash Coat lacquer, Olympic White
• Included case: Brown Tolex case
• Origin: Made in the USA

Buying considerations

The clearest reason to consider the Fender 61 Strat TCP RW AOLW is its detailed 1961-based specification, including the rosewood fingerboard, period-style inlays, vintage-style frets, and a hand-wound three-single-coil set. The compound radius and stated neck thicknesses also give buyers useful measurements to compare with instruments they already know.

At a listed price of 4555, verify the price currency, current availability, and exact included accessories with the retailer. The listing says the model has been available since September 2024 and gives item number 557548. For an informed purchase, request any missing details that matter to you, particularly weight, setup, pickup-control assignments, and the condition of the specific instrument. The supplied specifications establish what the guitar is built with, but they do not replace an in-person evaluation or a hands-on test.