Fender Postmodern Strat MN NAB Relic
The Fender Postmodern Strat MN NAB Relic pairs Custom Shop construction with three hand-wound single-coil pickups and a compound-radius maple fingerboard. Confirm the body wood with the seller before buying, since the listing specifies both ash and alder.
★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
Fender Postmodern Strat MN NAB Relic: Technical Review
The Fender Postmodern Strat MN NAB Relic is a limited-run Custom Shop Strat-style guitar, listed as a 2022 model and available since October of that year. Its specifications describe a natural-finish instrument with a maple neck and fingerboard, three single-coil pickups, and vintage-style tremolo hardware. It is made in the United States and includes a deluxe case and certificate. The listed price is 4699; the supplied information does not identify a currency.
This review is based solely on the published specifications. No customer reviews or independent playing impressions are available, so claims about sound, setup, comfort, reliability, or the appearance of the aged finish cannot be verified here.
Construction and finish
There is an important conflict in the body specifications. The summary identifies the body wood as ash, while the detailed description calls it a selected, two-piece alder body. Those are different woods, and the information provided does not resolve which one applies to this particular guitar. Buyers should confirm the body material with the seller or Fender before purchasing, especially if wood choice is a deciding factor.
The detailed construction notes specify a quartersawn maple neck and a round-laminated maple fingerboard. The neck has a '59 D profile, while the fingerboard radius compounds from 9.5 inches to 12 inches. The description also mentions an ergonomically designed neck-to-body area, but gives no measurements or construction details for that contour. A bone nut and 21 frets, identified as 6105, complete the stated neck specifications.
The finish is called Journeyman Relic, and the color is listed as Natural Blonde. "Relic" identifies the finish treatment in the model description, but the supplied data does not describe the specific wear pattern or its extent. The guitar is also described as having a three-ply white pickguard and nickel-and-chrome hardware.
Pickups and controls
The pickup system consists of three hand-wound Dual-Mag II single-coil pickups in an SSS layout. The control description lists one volume control and two tone controls, along with a five-way pickup selector. It also specifies a Strat Blender 1/2 circuit with Tone Saver Bleed.
These details establish the guitar's switching and control layout, but they do not provide pickup output readings, wiring diagrams, component values, or measured frequency response. The specifications therefore do not support precise predictions about its tone or how the controls will behave in practice. Players considering the blender circuit should ask for its wiring details if they need to know exactly which pickup combinations it adds.
Scale length and hardware
The scale length is listed as 648 mm, equivalent to 25.5 inches. The guitar has a vintage-style tremolo and vintage-style tuning machines. No further information is given about the tremolo block, bridge saddles, tuning-machine construction, or factory setup. Those omissions matter to anyone comparing hardware details or looking for a specific setup, but they do not justify assumptions about performance.
The model name includes "MN," and the supplied specifications independently confirm a maple neck and maple fingerboard. The shape is identified as ST-style. Together, those details describe a familiar Stratocaster-style format, though the available information does not give body dimensions, weight, neck thickness measurements, or strap-button placement.
Included items and buying considerations
The detailed description confirms that a deluxe case and certificate are included. A separate summary field also says that a case is included, while its bag field says no. In practical terms, the listing supports a hard case being supplied, not a gig bag. The sales unit is one piece, and the item number is 532382.
- Model: Fender Postmodern Strat MN NAB Relic, Custom Shop, limited run identified as 2022.
- Body: Conflicting listing details name ash and two-piece selected alder. Confirm the exact wood.
- Neck and fingerboard: Quartersawn maple neck, round-laminated maple fingerboard, '59 D profile, and compound 9.5-to-12-inch radius.
- Electronics: Three hand-wound Dual-Mag II single-coil pickups, five-way selector, blender circuit, one volume, and two tone controls.
- Hardware and included items: Vintage-style tremolo and tuning machines, deluxe case, and certificate.
The Fender Postmodern Strat MN NAB Relic has a clearly specified pickup layout, neck profile, fingerboard radius, and control scheme. Its most consequential uncertainty is the conflicting body-wood information. Before committing to the listed price, confirm that detail and request any additional specifications needed to assess weight, setup, or the exact blender wiring. Without customer feedback or independent testing, this is a technical assessment of the listed features, not a report on how the instrument performs in hand.
Shipping and duties
The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.
Scores by area
Where it shines, where it stumbles
What convinced me
- Three hand-wound Dual-Mag II single-coil pickups with a five-way switch offer familiar Strat-style pickup selection.
- The quartersawn maple neck, bone nut, and compound 9.5-to-12-inch fingerboard radius provide a premium playing specification.
- Includes a deluxe case and certificate; made in the USA as a Custom Shop model.
What bugged me
- The listing gives conflicting body wood specifications: ash in the overview and selected alder in the detailed specifications.
- No bag is included, and the vintage tremolo and machine heads favor a traditional design over modern hardware.
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
A good fit for players seeking a U.S.-made Custom Shop Strat with hand-wound single-coil pickups and a compound-radius maple fingerboard. Also suited to buyers who value a relic finish and an included deluxe case.Look elsewhere if
Not a strong match for shoppers who need a gig bag, prefer modernized tremolo hardware, or want confirmed body wood before considering a purchase. The listing's ash-versus-alder discrepancy needs clarification.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Color
- Natural
- Body
- Ash
- Top
- None
- Neck
- Maple
- Fretboard
- Maple
- Frets
- 21
- Scale
- 648 mm
- Pickups
- SSS
- Tremolo
- Vintage
- Incl. bag
- No
- Including case
- Yes
- Limited run
- 2022
- Model
- Postmodern Relic Strat
- Shape
- ST-Style
Up close
Before you decide
Questions players ask
What body wood does this guitar use?
The listing is inconsistent: its overview says ash, while the detailed specifications say selected alder. Ask the seller to confirm the exact instrument's body wood.
What pickups are fitted?
It has three hand-wound Dual-Mag II single-coil pickups, controlled by a five-way switch, one volume control, and two tone controls.
Is a case included?
Yes. The specifications list a deluxe case and certificate. A bag is not included.
What is the fingerboard radius?
The maple fingerboard has a compound radius that changes from 9.5 inches to 12 inches.
Are there customer reviews to consult?
No customer reviews were provided for this product, so there are no review quotes or customer-rating statistics to report.
The last word from the bench
This limited 2022 Custom Shop Strat is equipped with a quartersawn maple neck, a bone nut, and three hand-wound Dual-Mag II pickups. Its five-way switch and Strat Blender circuit provide a range of pickup combinations, while the vintage tremolo and tuners retain a traditional approach. The included deluxe case and certificate add practical value, but the body wood discrepancy should be resolved before purchase. With no customer reviews available, this assessment is based solely on the supplied specifications.
Hanging next to it
Fender Postmodern Strat MN NAB Relic
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