It is no secret that the Fender Custom Shop has been creating the best instruments since 1987. In keeping with the true spirit of Leo’s original vision of the company, each instrument is built with the highest level of care and excellence. Here at Chicago Music Exchange, we have collaborated with the best minds at Fender to build the best instruments from top to bottom, tirelessly going over each spec to ensure that we offer you the best of what Fender has to offer.
Featuring measurements and components we hand-selected from across history, our “Chicago Special” Fender Custom Shop guitars highlight important years in the development of core models like the Stratocaster, Telecaster and more. We capture the energy and essence of their respective eras with iconic fingerboard radii and period-correct plastics, matched headstocks and slab fingerboards, classic finishes and not-so-classic colorways. But that’s just the beginning of what makes our Fender Custom Shop guitars so special. We take customization a step further with rift sawn necks for added resonance and expanded control sets for tonal versatility, and every “Chicago Special” Fender Custom Shop guitar features our own custom Chicago Special pickups, designed in conjunction with Fender Custom Shop Vice President of Product Development Mike Lewis.
"Chicago Special" Strat pickups:
- Calibrated set - bridge to neck - for balanced output
- Each pickup as custom AlNiCo 5 magnet stagger for optimum output balance string-to-string 42 gauge enamel wire for round highs
- Potted in shellac for open wide range frequency response
Serial Number#: R117566
Weight: 8lbs 1oz
Body Material: Alder
Body Color: Black
Relic/Aging Level: NOS (New Old Stock)
Neck Material: Roasted Rift Sawn Maple
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Scale Length: 25.5
Fingerboard Material: AAA Indian Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dots
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
Number of Frets: 21
Nut Width: 1.65" (42mm)
Nut Material: Bone
Factory Tuning: E Standard (E-A-D-G-B-E)
Tuning Machines: Vintage with Fender Logo
Hardware Color: Gold
Bridge: American Vintage Strat Bridge
Neck Pickup: Fender Hand-Wound Chicago Special
Middle Pickup: Fender Hand-Wound Chicago Special
Bridge Pickup: Fender Hand-Wound Chicago Special
Controls and Switching: Master Volume, 2 Tone, 5-Position Blade
Electronics Notes: Fat 50s Strat Half Blender
Case: Hardshell Case
