Fender Johnny A. Strat RW SSG

Fender Johnny A. Strat RW SSG review

The Fender Johnny A. Strat RW SSG is a USA-made Custom Shop signature guitar listed at 4599. Its Sunset Glow Metallic finish, rosewood fingerboard, three single-coil pickups, and vintage-style synchronized tremolo place it firmly in classic Strat-style territory. The listed specifications identify Johnny A. As both the artist and model, and give September 2023 as the product's availability date. The item number is 556695.

There is an important specification conflict to resolve before assessing the instrument on paper. One product listing names the body wood as abachi, while the detailed Custom Shop specifications identify it as alder. Those materials are not interchangeable, and the available information does not say whether the discrepancy reflects a revision or a listing error. The body material should therefore be confirmed with the seller rather than assumed.

Construction and playing dimensions

The detailed specifications describe a bolt-on bird's-eye maple neck with a 1965 C profile and a rosewood fingerboard. The fingerboard has a 184 mm (7.25-inch) radius, vintage clay dot inlays, and 21 frets. Its 648 mm (25.5-inch) scale is the familiar long scale used on many Strat-style guitars. The nut measures 41 mm (1.625 inches) across and is made from bone.

These measurements provide concrete guidance about the layout, but they do not establish how the neck feels in a player's hands. A 1965 C profile identifies the specified neck shape, while the radius and scale describe the fingerboard curve and string length. Those figures alone cannot tell a buyer whether the setup, fretwork, or neck dimensions will suit their playing style. The specifications do not provide fret size, neck depth measurements, or action at the factory.

The instrument has a three-ply mint green pickguard and gold-plated hardware. Its finish is described as Fender Flash Coat lacquer, in Sunset Glow Metallic. The color appears in the shorter listing as Sunset Glow, while the detailed specification adds "Metallic." These descriptions are broadly consistent, though the more detailed version is the one that specifies the metallic finish.

Pickups, controls, and tremolo

The pickup layout is SSS, meaning three single-coil pickups. The bridge position uses a Fender Custom Shop hand-wound special-design Strat single coil. The middle and neck positions each use a Fender Custom Shop hand-wound 11/56 Strat single coil. This configuration gives the instrument distinct pickup positions, but the supplied data does not include output measurements, wiring details beyond the switching system, or tonal test results. Any claim about its sound would go beyond the evidence available here.

Controls consist of one volume knob, two tone knobs, and a five-way selector switch. This is a straightforward control arrangement for choosing among the pickup combinations. The guitar also has a Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo and Fender vintage-style tuning machines. The specifications do not state the tremolo's setup, whether the bridge is floating, or how well it holds tuning under use, so those points require inspection or a hands-on test.

What the package includes

The detailed listing says the guitar ships with a strap, certificate, and deluxe hardshell case. A shorter specification also confirms that a case is included, while indicating that no bag is supplied. The stated factory strings are Fender USA 250R nickel-plated steel strings in gauges.010 to.046. These details help clarify what is included, although they do not establish whether the guitar is currently available with the same accessories or string setup.

• Body: Abachi in one listing, alder in the detailed specifications. Confirm the correct material before purchase.
• Neck and fingerboard: Bolt-on bird's-eye maple neck, 1965 C profile, rosewood board, and 21 frets.
• Scale and nut: 648 mm (25.5 inches) scale, 41 mm (1.625 inches) bone nut.
• Electronics: Three Custom Shop single-coil pickups, one volume control, two tone controls, and a five-way selector.
• Included items: Strap, certificate, and deluxe hardshell case are specified. No bag is listed.

Technical assessment

On paper, the Johnny A. Strat RW SSG combines traditional Strat-style dimensions with a named Custom Shop pickup set, a 1965 C neck profile, and gold-plated hardware. Its specifications are detailed enough to identify key construction and control choices, but the body-wood contradiction is a material gap that deserves clarification. The supplied data also does not include customer reviews, independent measurements, or playing impressions. This assessment is therefore limited to the published specifications, not a claim about sound, comfort, build quality, or performance.

For a prospective buyer, the most useful next step is to verify the body wood and inspect the individual guitar's setup, finish, and tremolo operation. The listed 4599 price and USA manufacture establish the product's positioning, but value depends on those unresolved details and on the instrument's condition. The accessory package is clearly described, with a deluxe hardshell case included and no gig bag specified.