Fender 69 Strat Black JM Relic

Fender 69 Strat Black JM Relic review

The Fender 69 Strat Black JM Relic is a U.S.-made Custom Shop guitar based on the 1969 Stratocaster. Its listed specifications describe a traditional ST-style layout, a two-piece selected alder body, a bolt-on maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. The finish is Black with a Journeyman Relic treatment. Fender lists the instrument as available since June 2025, with item number 612560 and a price of 4,899. No currency is specified in the supplied information.

This review is limited to those specifications. No customer reviews or independent measurements are available here, so it cannot establish how this particular guitar sounds, feels, or performs in use. The construction and hardware details do, however, make its intended design clear: a vintage-oriented Stratocaster configuration with Custom Shop pickups and a period-inspired neck profile.

Body, neck, and fingerboard

The body is made from two pieces of selected alder. Fender lists no separate top, so the specifications do not describe a capped or figured top. The bolt-on neck is made from "Plain Grain" maple, paired with a 9 mm AAA rosewood fingerboard. These are the supplied material descriptions; they do not establish the weight, grain appearance, or tonal character of the finished instrument.

The neck has a 1969 "U" profile, a 184 mm (7.25-inch) fingerboard radius, and a 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale. That combination gives the guitar its stated vintage-era neck geometry. The narrow-tall 6105 fret wire is a more specific detail than the basic count of 21 frets: Fender identifies both the fret size and type, but provides no measurements for fret height or width. A bone nut is also specified.

The 25.5-inch scale and 21-fret layout match the stated Stratocaster model description. Actual setup, string action, fret condition, and neck relief are not provided. Those details can affect playability and should be checked on the individual instrument rather than inferred from the model specifications.

Pickups and controls

The pickup system is SSS, with three hand-wound Fender Custom Shop '69 Stratocaster single-coil pickups. The listed controls comprise one master volume, two tone controls, and a five-way pickup switch. This is a conventional three-pickup Stratocaster arrangement. The data does not include pickup output, magnet type, winding measurements, or any switching options beyond the five-way selector.

Those omissions matter when assessing sound. The pickup names identify the intended design, but they do not provide recorded examples or measured results. A buyer cannot use the available information alone to determine noise levels, output balance, or how the guitar responds through a particular amplifier. Any claims about those qualities would require testing that has not been supplied.

Bridge, hardware, and finish

Fender specifies a Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo, vintage-style tuning machines, and nickel hardware. The guitar also has a three-ply white pickguard. These details support the model's vintage-inspired specification, while leaving some practical questions unanswered: the listing does not state the bridge setup, tuning-machine ratio, or whether the tremolo is configured to float or rest against the body.

The Black finish is described as Journeyman Relic. The product data does not define the extent or pattern of the relic treatment, so the precise appearance should be confirmed from photographs or by inspecting the guitar. The finish name should not be taken as evidence of particular wear locations or a specific aging process.

Included items and buying considerations

The supplied information says the guitar includes a Deluxe hardshell case and does not include a gig bag. It is made in the United States. The sales unit is one piece. No information is provided about included paperwork, setup service, warranty terms, or shipping packaging.

At the listed price of 4,899, this is a high-priced, specification-led instrument. Before buying, verify the currency and current price with the seller, then check the individual guitar's condition, setup, finish details, and case. The listed item number, 612560, can help distinguish this model from other Fender instruments.

Technical verdict

The Fender 69 Strat Black JM Relic is specified as a U.S.-made Custom Shop Stratocaster with selected alder, a maple bolt-on neck, a rosewood fingerboard, three hand-wound single-coil pickups, and vintage-style tremolo hardware. Its defining documented details include the 1969 "U" neck profile, 7.25-inch radius, 6105 frets, and Journeyman Relic finish. The available facts support a clear description of its design, but not a verdict on sound or playing feel. With no customer feedback or hands-on measurements supplied, buyers should treat performance as unverified and judge the individual guitar in person where possible.