Fender 65 Strat BLK Relic

Fender 65 Strat BLK Relic review

The Fender 65 Strat BLK Relic is a U.S.-made, relic-finished electric guitar based on a 1965 Stratocaster model. Its listed price is 4769, and it has been available since November 2024. The specification centers on a bolt-on maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, three single-coil pickups, and a vintage-style synchronized tremolo. Fender includes a deluxe hardshell case, but no bag.

The supplied specifications contain a material discrepancy worth noting before purchase. The general specification lists the body as alder, while the detailed description calls it a two-piece body made from selected ash. These are different woods, so the information does not establish which material is used on this instrument. Buyers should confirm the body wood with Fender or the retailer rather than treating either entry as definitive.

Body, finish, and hardware

The guitar is finished in black with a relic treatment. That describes the stated finish category, but the product information does not explain the degree or pattern of wear. The body has a three-ply parchment pickguard, a traditional visual contrast against the black finish. The shape is identified as ST-style, consistent with the named Stratocaster model.

Hardware is described as nickel, although the source specification contains a spelling error in that entry. The machine heads are vintage-style, and the tremolo is a Custom Shop vintage synchronized design. The listing does not provide details such as the number of tremolo springs, bridge setup, or whether the arm is included. Those points should be checked if they matter to a buyer's preferred setup.

Neck and playing dimensions

The bolt-on neck is made from plain-grain maple and has a profile identified as the 65 Strat "C." The fingerboard is specified as AAA rosewood, with a listed thickness of 9 mm. Its radius is 241 mm, also given as 9.5 inches. The scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches, and the fingerboard carries 21 narrow tall frets in the 6150 size.

A bone nut is specified. The listing does not state the nut width, neck depth measurements, or fret-end treatment, so those dimensions cannot be assessed from the provided information. The combination of a C-shaped profile, a 9.5-inch radius, and narrow tall frets gives a useful outline of the neck, but individual comfort still depends on hand size, setup, and playing preference.

Pickups and controls

The instrument has three hand-wound Custom Shop '65 Stratocaster single-coil pickups. Fender pairs them with a five-way pickup selector, one volume control, and two tone controls. This is a conventional three-pickup Stratocaster control layout. The product data does not give pickup output readings, magnet type, wiring details, or measured frequency response, so claims about exact output or tonal balance would go beyond the available facts.

The SSS configuration identifies the pickup arrangement as three single coils. Players can select the individual pickup positions and the combined positions provided by the five-way switch. How those settings sound will depend on the amplifier, effects, playing technique, and setup. No customer reviews are available for this product, so there are no verified owner reports to add to the specification-based assessment.

What the specifications establish

The strongest points to verify in a hands-on inspection are the disputed body wood, the condition and pattern of the relic finish, and the setup of the neck and vintage tremolo. The stated measurements offer a reasonably clear picture of the neck's basic geometry, while the pickup and control details establish a familiar Stratocaster-style layout. The included deluxe hardshell case is confirmed; a gig bag is not included.

• Model: 1965 Stratocaster, ST-style body
• Neck: Bolt-on, plain-grain maple, 65 Strat "C" profile
• Fingerboard: AAA rosewood, 241 mm radius, 21 narrow tall frets
• Electronics: Three hand-wound Custom Shop '65 single coils, five-way switch
• Included case: Deluxe hardshell case

Bottom line

The Fender 65 Strat BLK Relic is specified as a U.S.-made, black-finished 1965-style Stratocaster with vintage-oriented hardware and Custom Shop '65 single-coil pickups. Its listed neck dimensions and control layout are clear, and a hardshell case is included. The conflicting alder and selected ash body descriptions are a material gap in the product data. Confirming the correct body wood, along with the relic finish details and setup, is advisable before committing to the listed price of 4769.