Fender LTD '65 Dual Mag Strat BIM

Fender LTD '65 Dual Mag Strat BIM: technical review

The Fender LTD '65 Dual Mag Strat BIM is a limited-edition Stratocaster based on the 1965 model. Its specification pairs a two-piece select alder body with a quartersawn maple neck and a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard. Fender lists the guitar as a 2023 limited run, with availability beginning in February 2024. It is made in the USA and is supplied with a hard case and certificate of authenticity.

The listed price is 4,899. No currency is specified in the supplied product information, so the figure should be read as a listing price rather than an assumed amount in a particular currency. There are no customer reviews available for this model. The assessment below is therefore based on its documented construction and features, not owner reports or playing impressions.

Body, neck, and playing dimensions

The body is made from two pieces of select alder and has an aged blue ice metallic finish. There is no separate top layer. The blue finish and three-ply black pickguard give the guitar a distinct visual contrast, while the body retains the familiar ST-style outline associated with the Stratocaster. The listing identifies the finish as blue, with the more specific color name supplied as Aged Blue Ice Metallic.

The quartersawn maple neck uses a '65-style C profile. Fender specifies a rosewood fingerboard with a 9.5-inch radius, 21 narrow-tall frets, and a graphite nut. The scale length is 648 mm. Together, these details describe the neck geometry, fret count, and materials, but they do not establish how the instrument feels in the hand. Neck comfort and fretwork consistency cannot be confirmed from the specification sheet alone.

The 21-fret layout is in keeping with the stated 1965 model reference. The narrow-tall fret shape is a concrete point of distinction from other fret profiles, although the listing provides no additional measurements for fret height or width. Buyers who have strong preferences about fret dimensions should confirm those details with the seller or inspect the instrument in person.

Pickups and circuit

The pickup arrangement is SSS, meaning three single-coil pickups. Fender identifies them as Custom Shop hand-wound Dual Mag II pickups, with a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity middle pickup. That middle pickup configuration is explicitly stated; the sheet does not provide output readings, magnet specifications, or individual pickup resistance values.

The circuit is described as Vintage Modified No. 2 and includes a Tone Saver Bleed. These are the named electronics features, but no wiring diagram or control-by-control explanation is included in the supplied data. It would be premature to claim a particular switching arrangement or describe the tonal effect of the circuit beyond what the specification states. The pickup and circuit names give prospective buyers useful identifiers, while the missing electrical details make a hands-on check worthwhile for anyone choosing the guitar for a specific rig or sound.

Tremolo, hardware, and included items

The guitar has a Custom Shop vintage synchronized tremolo and vintage-style machine heads. The product data does not specify the tremolo's setup, bridge materials, or tuning stability under use. Those outcomes depend on factors that cannot be established from the listed hardware alone, including setup and playing technique.

Fender includes a hard case and certificate of authenticity. A bag is not included, which is less relevant when the case is part of the package but is still stated separately in the product information. The sales unit is one guitar. Its item number is 574449, a useful reference when checking a listing or confirming that a seller has the same version.

What the specifications establish

This model's defining documented features are its limited 1965 Stratocaster basis, select alder body, quartersawn maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, hand-wound Dual Mag II pickup set, and vintage synchronized tremolo. The finish, pickguard, and supplied case are also clearly identified. The combination makes the LTD '65 Dual Mag Strat BIM a specifically configured Fender model rather than an unspecified standard Stratocaster.

The available information does not state the guitar's weight, setup measurements, control layout, or detailed pickup outputs. Nor does it provide customer feedback or independent performance testing. Those omissions matter at this price, since they leave practical questions about the individual instrument unanswered. Before purchase, confirm the exact price and currency, inspect the guitar's setup if possible, and verify that the case and certificate are included. The published specifications provide a clear account of its materials and named components, but not a substitute for evaluating the particular instrument being sold.