Fender Elite Strat MN QMT Tiger Eye

Fender Elite Strat MN QMT Tiger Eye: Technical Review

The Fender Elite Strat MN QMT Tiger Eye is a U.S.-made, Custom Shop Stratocaster-style electric guitar listed as available since April 2023. Its specification combines an alder body with a quilted maple top, a roasted birdseye maple neck and fingerboard, and three single-coil pickups. A case and certificate are included. No customer reviews are available, so this assessment is based exclusively on the supplied specifications, not on playing impressions or reported owner experience.

The listed price is 6490, with no currency specified in the product data. The model is identified as an Elite Stratocaster, with item number 516812. Its color is described as Tiger Eye in the detailed specification and as Sunburst in the general listing. Those descriptions may refer to the same finish family, but the information provided does not resolve the naming difference. Buyers should confirm the exact finish with the seller before ordering.

Body and wood selection

The body is alder, a familiar choice for Stratocaster-style instruments. The top is AA-grade quilted maple, giving this model a figured wood surface. The specification does not state the top's thickness or describe how it affects the guitar's weight, balance, or tone, so those qualities cannot be assessed from the listed materials alone.

Both the neck and fingerboard are roasted AAA-grade birdseye maple. This is a notably decorative combination, with the same figured maple treatment used across the playing surface and neck. The guitar has 22 medium-jumbo frets and a 9.5-inch fingerboard radius. These measurements identify the fret count and curvature, but do not establish fret condition, setup quality, or how the neck will feel in an individual player's hands.

Neck shape and adjustment

The neck profile transitions from a modern C shape toward a D shape. That description indicates a changing contour rather than one uniform profile along the neck. No measurements for neck depth or width are supplied, which limits comparisons with other instruments that use similar profile labels.

A thumbwheel truss rod adjustment is listed. This provides an adjustment point at the neck heel area, rather than the conventional headstock access found on many guitars. The source does not explain the adjustment procedure or provide setup details. The instrument should therefore be evaluated for neck relief and playability after arrival, with adjustments handled by a qualified technician if needed.

Pickups, controls, and tremolo

The pickup configuration is SSS, meaning three single-coil pickups. The detailed specification identifies them as three Custom Shop Fat '50s single-coil pickups. A five-way selector is included, along with modern Stratocaster wiring. This establishes the pickup arrangement and switching format, but the supplied data does not list control values, capacitor specifications, or measured output. No tonal claims can be verified from the specification alone.

The bridge is described as a standard tremolo, while the hardware is chrome. The listing also includes the abbreviation "RSD" without explaining what it refers to. Its meaning should not be assumed from the available information. Likewise, no details are given for the tremolo's construction, saddle material, tuning stability, or adjustment range.

What the specification establishes

• Construction: Alder body with an AA-grade quilted maple top.
• Neck and fingerboard: Roasted AAA-grade birdseye maple, with a modern C-to-D profile.
• Fretboard dimensions: 9.5-inch radius and 22 medium-jumbo frets.
• Electronics: Three Custom Shop Fat '50s single-coil pickups, modern Stratocaster wiring, and a five-way selector.
• Included items: Case and certificate. The general listing also confirms that a case is included.
• Origin: Made in the United States.

Buying considerations

The stated specifications make the Fender Elite Strat MN QMT Tiger Eye a distinctive materials-focused configuration, particularly for buyers seeking figured maple on the top, neck, and fingerboard. Its pickup layout and five-way switching follow a recognizable Stratocaster format. The available information is not enough to judge its sound, weight, factory setup, or individual build quality, and there are no customer reviews to fill those gaps.

Before purchase, confirm the finish name, the meaning of "RSD," the currency and current price, and whether the instrument being offered matches the listed Custom Shop details. The supplied data states that there is no limited run designation. It also says the guitar is available with a case and certificate, so those items should be verified as part of the specific sale. On the evidence available, the strongest points are the stated wood and hardware configuration; hands-on assessment remains necessary to establish feel, sound, and setup.