Fender 62/63 Strat SHR Dakota Red

Fender 62/63 Strat SHR Dakota Red: a spec-based review

The Fender 62/63 Strat SHR Dakota Red is a U.S.-made Custom Shop electric guitar listed as a 1963 Relic model in a 2026 limited run. Its specifications describe a traditional Strat-style layout, with a selected alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, three single-coil pickups, and a vintage tremolo. The Dakota Red finish has a Heavy Relic treatment in nitrocellulose lacquer.

There are no customer reviews available for this product, so this assessment is based solely on the supplied specifications. Those details identify the materials, hardware, and electronics, but do not establish how this individual guitar sounds, feels, or performs. The listed price is 6299, with no currency specified in the product data.

Body, finish, and construction

The body is made from selected alder, with no separate top listed. Alder is a familiar solid-body guitar material, but the specification alone does not establish this instrument's weight, resonance, or tonal character. The body shape is identified as ST-style, and the finish color is Dakota Red.

The Heavy Relic finish is applied in nitrocellulose lacquer. "Heavy Relic" describes the stated finish treatment, but the supplied information does not detail the specific wear patterns or the condition of any individual instrument. Buyers who need to know exactly how the finish looks should request current photos from the seller.

Vintage hardware and a vintage tremolo are specified. The data does not identify the tremolo's exact components, adjustment range, or setup, so those details cannot be assessed here. The guitar has a three-ply mint green pickguard, which gives a more specific visual contrast with the red finish than a plain specification list would.

Neck and fingerboard

The neck is quartersawn maple, paired with a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard. Fender lists the neck profile as a '63 "C," a reference to a C-shaped profile associated with the model's stated period. The profile name gives a useful outline, but it does not provide measured thickness, shoulder shape, or other dimensions that would determine how the neck feels in hand.

The fingerboard radius is 9.5 inches, and the neck has 21 narrow-tall frets. These are concrete points of comparison for players choosing a fretboard shape or fret style. The supplied data does not include fret measurements, nut width, neck depth, or a detailed setup, so it cannot answer questions about string action or playability.

The listed scale length is 648 mm. No alternate scale specification is provided. For a buyer comparing instruments, the fret count, radius, and scale length are more informative than the broad "1963" designation alone, though a hands-on check remains important for judging fit and comfort.

Pickups and controls

The pickup system is SSS, with three hand-wound 60/63 Strat single-coil pickups. This confirms a three-single-coil configuration, but the product data does not provide output measurements, magnet type, or frequency response. It is therefore not possible to make a reliable claim about their volume, noise, or tonal balance from the listed specifications.

The wiring is identified as Vintage Modified #2, with a Tone Saver. No wiring diagram or explanation of the Tone Saver's circuit is included in the data. Buyers who want a particular control response should confirm the circuit details with Fender or the seller rather than infer them from the name.

Included items and buying considerations

A case and certificate are included; a bag is not. The item number is 647794, and the sales unit is one piece. The product is listed as available since June 2026 and as part of a 2026 limited run. These details help distinguish it from standard production models, but the supplied information does not state how many instruments were made.

Overall, the specifications make this a clearly defined Custom Shop instrument: Dakota Red, a Heavy Relic nitrocellulose finish, quartersawn maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, three hand-wound single coils, and vintage-style hardware. The data supports a technical comparison, not a verdict on sound or playing feel. Before purchasing, confirm the currency and final price, inspect finish photos, and ask the seller about setup and the exact wiring if those points matter to your decision.