Fender 63 Strat RW Black Relic HSS

Fender 63 Strat RW Black Relic HSS review

The Fender 63 Strat RW Black Relic HSS is a U.S.-made, ST-style guitar based on the 1963 Stratocaster model. Its specifications combine an alder body and maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, a vintage Strat tremolo, and an HSS pickup layout. The black Relic finish and gold hardware give the instrument a distinct visual specification, while its switching and control arrangement follow a familiar Strat-style format.

There are no customer reviews available for this product. This assessment therefore focuses on the listed construction and hardware rather than reported playing impressions. Fender lists the guitar as available since June 2025, with item number 620279. The stated price is 6099, with no currency specified in the supplied information.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is alder, with no separate top. The bolt-on neck is maple, and the fingerboard is rosewood with white Micarta inlays. The neck profile is described as a 1960s-style oval C. Its listed thickness is 20 mm at the first fret and 24 mm at the 12th, providing more detail than a profile label alone. Those measurements describe the neck's dimensions, but do not establish how it will feel in any individual player's hands.

The fingerboard radius is 241 mm, or 9.5 inches. The guitar has 22 narrow tall frets, a 41.9 mm nut width, and a 648 mm scale, equivalent to 25.5 inches. Together, these figures define the main dimensions of the playing surface. The tall fret specification is worth noting for players comparing fret dimensions, although the supplied data does not give the exact fret height or width.

HSS pickups and controls

The pickup configuration pairs a Seymour Duncan '78 EVH Zebra humbucker at the bridge with two hand-wound single-coil pickups. The middle pickup is a '60/'63 Strat reverse-wound, reverse-polarity model, while the neck position uses a hand-wound '63 Strat single coil. This arrangement gives the guitar a humbucker in the bridge position and single coils in the middle and neck positions. The specifications do not provide output measurements, wiring details, or frequency response, so they cannot establish how the pickups compare in level or tone.

Controls consist of one volume knob and two tone knobs, with a five-way pickup selector. Fender also lists a '68 Strat GBG pickguard. The supplied information identifies the selector positions and control count, but does not specify which tone control is assigned to each pickup or whether the wiring includes any additional switching options.

Tremolo, hardware, and finish

A vintage Strat tremolo is fitted, along with vintage locking machine heads. The locking tuners are a specific hardware choice, but no tuning-stability tests or details about the tremolo's setup are provided. Gold hardware contrasts with the black finish. The finish is identified as Relic, but there is no further description of the aging treatment or its extent, so buyers should rely on product photos and the retailer's listing for its exact appearance.

The package includes a case, but not a bag. Fender lists the model as not being a limited run. These details help clarify what is included and how the product is categorized, without implying anything about availability beyond the listed release timing.

Technical assessment

• Construction: Alder body, maple bolt-on neck, and rosewood fingerboard.
• Neck dimensions: 1960s-style oval C profile, 20 mm thickness at the first fret, and 24 mm at the 12th.
• Playing dimensions: 648 mm scale, 241 mm fingerboard radius, 41.9 mm nut width, and 22 narrow tall frets.
• Electronics: Seymour Duncan bridge humbucker, two hand-wound Strat single coils, one volume control, two tone controls, and a five-way switch.
• Hardware and package: Vintage Strat tremolo, vintage locking machine heads, gold hardware, and an included case.

The Fender 63 Strat RW Black Relic HSS is specified as a 1963 Stratocaster-style instrument with a modern HSS pickup layout and clearly stated neck dimensions. The available data supports a detailed comparison of its materials, measurements, and hardware, but offers no basis for claims about sound, setup, comfort, or reliability. Its main points of distinction are the bridge humbucker, hand-wound single coils, locking tuners, Relic finish, and included case.