Fender LTD 61 Strat SHR GSo3CSB

Fender LTD 61 Strat SHR GSo3CSB: Technical Review

The Fender LTD 61 Strat SHR GSo3CSB is a limited-edition Custom Shop guitar based on a 1961 Relic model. Its listed features include a two-piece selected ash body, quartersawn maple neck, AAA rosewood fingerboard, three hand-wound Fat 60s Strat single-coil pickups, and a Super Heavy Relic finish. The instrument is made in the USA and is listed as a 2026 limited run, with availability beginning in April 2026.

This assessment is based only on the supplied specifications. No customer reviews are available, and the listed information does not establish how this individual guitar sounds, feels, or performs in use. Those questions require hands-on evaluation.

Body, Finish, and Construction

The body is described as selected ash in a two-piece construction, with no separate top. Its finish is Gold Sparkle over a three-color sunburst. That layered color description is more specific than a simple gold finish, while the Super Heavy Relic treatment indicates an intentionally aged appearance. The listing does not describe the relic work in detail, so the extent or pattern of wear cannot be assessed from the specifications.

The ST-style body follows the familiar Stratocaster outline. Ash identifies the body wood, but the supplied data does not provide its weight or any measurements that would establish how this particular instrument balances on a strap. Buyers who are sensitive to guitar weight should confirm the actual instrument's weight with the seller rather than infer it from the wood specification.

Neck and Fingerboard

The quartersawn maple neck has a 1960s-style oval C profile. The fingerboard is AAA rosewood, with a 9.5-inch radius and 21 narrow tall frets, identified as size 6105. A bone nut is also specified. Together, these details describe the neck's materials and geometry, but they do not provide a measured nut width, neck depth, or setup information. There is not enough information here to predict whether its shape will suit a particular player's hand.

The scale length is 648 mm, equivalent to the standard 25.5-inch scale associated with this format. The listing gives the fret count but does not state the fretboard edge treatment or the condition of the frets as delivered. Those are worth checking in person, especially on a premium instrument where an individual setup can affect the playing experience.

Pickups and Switching

The guitar has three single-coil pickups, specifically a set of hand-wound Fat 60s Strat pickups. The middle pickup is reverse-wound and reverse-polarity, a configuration commonly used to reduce hum in certain switch positions. This describes the design intent, not a guarantee that every source of noise will be eliminated. The specifications do not include output measurements or a detailed tonal description, so claims about volume, brightness, or response would go beyond the available evidence.

A five-way switch selects pickup combinations. The wiring is listed as Vintage Modified No. 2 with Tone-Saver Bleed. The product details do not explain the circuit values or switching behavior beyond those names. Players who want to know precisely how the controls behave should ask Fender or the retailer for a wiring diagram before purchase. A three-ply parchment pickguard completes the stated control-area specification.

Bridge and Hardware

The bridge is a Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized tremolo, paired with vintage-style tuning machines. The string tree is described as a wing-style unit with tall metal spacers. These are useful identifiers for buyers comparing the guitar with other Strat-style models, although the listing does not specify the tremolo block material, saddle material, or tuner ratio.

The tremolo's presence means the bridge is designed to move rather than function as a fixed bridge. The available information does not say how the unit is set up, how many springs are installed, or whether it is configured to float. These details can vary with setup and should not be assumed from the model name alone.

Price, Package, and Buying Considerations

The listed price is 6222, with no currency stated in the supplied data. The package includes a Deluxe hardshell case and a certificate of authenticity. Although one summary field says "Including Case: Yes," and another says "incl. Bag: No," these entries are consistent with a hard case being included and a separate gig bag not being supplied.

• Model: 1961 Relic, limited Custom Shop edition for 2026.
• Body and finish: Two-piece selected ash, Gold Sparkle over three-color sunburst, Super Heavy Relic.
• Neck: Quartersawn maple, 1960s-style oval C profile, AAA rosewood fingerboard, 9.5-inch radius, and 21 narrow tall frets.
• Electronics: Three hand-wound Fat 60s single-coil pickups, reverse-wound and reverse-polarity middle pickup, five-way switching, and Vintage Modified No. 2 wiring with Tone-Saver Bleed.
• Included: Deluxe hardshell case and certificate of authenticity.

On paper, the Fender LTD 61 Strat SHR GSo3CSB is defined by its Custom Shop construction, period-inspired hardware, specified pickup set, and heavily aged finish. The specifications are detailed enough to identify its principal components, but they cannot substitute for checking the actual guitar, confirming the price currency, and assessing its setup. With no customer feedback available, a purchase decision should rest on those verifiable details and a direct inspection, not assumed performance or owner impressions.