Fender Custom Shop Classic Relic Stratocaster HBS-1

This Custom Shop Classic HBS-1 Stratocaster combines an unconventional pickup arrangement with a less-common wiring arrangement to produce some of the sweetest Stratocaster tones we have heard. The relic finish will divide opinion as it always does, but the sounds available on-board will have the player exploring all the options.

The pickup arrangement is as standard on this model: the single-coil pickups (neck and middle) are Custom '69 pickups; the bridge humbucker is a Seymour Duncan SH4. The S-1 switch in the centre of the volume control acts as a coil-split on the humbucker, so already there is a variety of classic sounds available in combination with the five-way switch. The first tone control acts as a master tone, but the second tone control blends the neck pickup with the other two pickups. This means (for example) the player can select the bridge humbucker on the five-way, and then soften the brightness by adding some neck pickup signal. It all serves to provide the player with a wider tonal palette than conventional Stratocasters, while still being unmistakably a Strat.

The finish is a factory heavy relic, with paint lost from the body and lacquer removed from the fingerboard and the back of the neck. Nonetheless the guitar plays excellently. The frets are level, crowned and polished, allowing the guitar to be set up with a very low action. The tuners and vintage tremolo keep the instrument in tune and the intonation is spot on.

The body is ash, and the maple neck has a slight classic 'V' profile, which will be familiar to those used to classic Stratocasters, but is not so severe as to put off players used to 'C'-profile necks. The neck radius is 9.5-inches, not the 7.25 inches found on the dedicated reproductions. Modern players are likely to prefer this flatter radius, as it reduces the risk of notes choking when string bending.

The case is in excellent (non-relic) condition. There is a faint remnant of having carried some stickers, but it needs to be inspected closely to see these marks.

If you are looking for a focussed vintage Stratocaster, you may pass this by for one of the more dedicated Fender Custom Shop reproductions, but you will be foregoing an instrument that does the vintage 60s sound and feel very well and adds a lot of great Strat sounds that are beyond the ability of the dedicated models. With this ability, and the full Custom Shop playing experience, this guitar represents excellent value.