Fender 68 Strat Relic Black Paisley

Fender 68 Strat Relic Black Paisley review

The Fender 68 Strat Relic Black Paisley is a Custom Shop Stratocaster-style electric guitar listed as a 1968 Stratocaster model. Its specifications identify an alder body, a rift-sawn maple neck, a round-laminated maple fingerboard, three pickups, and a vintage-style synchronized tremolo. The guitar was announced as part of the NAMM 2019 limited run and has been available since April 2019. Its item number is 457324, and the listed price is 5999, with no currency specified in the supplied information.

There are no customer reviews available for this model. This assessment therefore focuses on the published construction and hardware details. The specifications do not provide measurements for weight, neck thickness, pickup output, or setup, so those details cannot be evaluated here.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is made from alder, with no separate top listed. Its graphic Black Paisley finish and matching paper pickguard define the visual specification. The product name includes "Relic," but the supplied details do not describe the finish treatment or the extent of any aging, so no further claims about its appearance are warranted.

The rift-sawn maple neck has a '63 "C" profile and a 9.5-inch fingerboard radius. These are useful identifiers for players comparing neck shapes and fingerboard geometry, but they do not provide a full account of how the neck will feel in hand. The nut is made from bone and measures 42 mm wide. The maple fingerboard is described as round-laminated, and it carries 21 Sanko 6105 frets. The listing gives no fret dimensions beyond that model designation.

The scale length is 648 mm, equivalent to the familiar 25.5-inch Stratocaster scale. This is a long-scale specification, rather than a shorter guitar scale. Together, the scale and nut-width figures give buyers two concrete points for comparing the instrument with other guitars, while details such as neck depth and fret condition are not included.

Pickups and controls

The pickup arrangement is SSS, meaning three single-coil pickups. Fender lists a hand-wound '69 pickup in the neck position, a FAT 50s pickup in the middle, and a Texas Special pickup at the bridge. The positions and pickup models are specified, but there are no output readings, magnet details, wiring diagrams, or independent measurements in the supplied data. The listed pickup names alone should not be treated as a guarantee of a particular sound.

Controls consist of one volume knob, two tone knobs, and a five-way switch. That layout provides the standard control format associated with this model type. The specifications do not say which tone control is assigned to each pickup, nor do they list any additional switching options. Buyers who need those details should verify them with Fender or the retailer before purchase.

Tremolo and hardware

The bridge is a vintage-style synchronized tremolo. This identifies the general bridge design, but the product information does not state the number of springs, setup, adjustment range, or other details that would determine its behavior. Hardware is listed as nickel and chrome. No further finish or component specifications are provided.

The guitar includes a case and a certificate. The separate "including case" entry confirms the case is part of the package, while "incl. Bag" is listed as no. The certificate is also named in the detailed product information. These are the documented accessories; no additional tools or straps are specified.

What the specifications establish

This model's clearest points of distinction are its NAMM 2019 limited-run designation, Custom Shop label, Black Paisley finish, and combination of three named pickups. Its core construction details are also specific: alder body, maple neck and fingerboard, 42 mm bone nut, 648 mm scale, and vintage-style synchronized tremolo.

The published data is sufficient to compare the guitar's basic materials, dimensions, pickup configuration, controls, and included case with other Stratocaster-style instruments. It does not establish the instrument's actual weight, setup quality, finish condition, sound, or individual build variation. With no customer feedback available, those points remain unverified rather than grounds for a performance claim.