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Key Features
Product Ref: 108464
The Fat Strat is defined by its "Fat" tonality. While this usually means a humbucker in the bridge position, with this 1956 Custom Shop Strat, the "hot" tones come courtesy of the hand-wound '60s single-coil pickups. These deliver a vintage-pushed sound and give you an over-wound tonality for a classic tone with more bite. The pickups are wired with '50s wiring. This gives you enhanced bloom while making sure the volume and tone control adjustments have a more natural taper. The volume control is also modified so that it doesn't remove treble frequencies as you roll it down. This electronic configuration gives you all the classic Stratocaster tones with the capability of pushing your amp harder and creating a stinging sound for hotter-blues, rock, and more.
This 1956 Fat Strat has a roasted alder body with a maple neck. When combined with the birdseye maple fingerboard, this gives a wonderfully dark hue which really complements the 'aged' aesthetic. The roasting process is a modern touch that helps remove impurities in the wood and leaves you with an incredibly consistent instrument with enhanced sustain and resonance - these types of guitar simply feel more 'alive' in the hands and will convey every nuance of your playing. The thin nitrocellulose lacquer helps the tonewoods breathe and ensures that you'll be getting the most nuanced Stratocaster tone possible.
The Custom Shop Fat Strat has an aged finish which gives the authentic look of a guitar that's been played over several decades. The neck also has an aged finish, leaving you with a smooth playing surface and an incredibly 'worn in' playing feel. The guitar is finished in period-correct nitrocellulose lacquer which means it will continue to age gracefully - should you play this instrument regularly, it will accumulate your natural wear and tear to complement the pre-aged look.
The guitar also features aged white plastics, alongside a gold-anodized scratch plate for a wonderful sheen and a distressed look- this isn't a period-correct feature, but with such a stand-out visual, only die-hard purists will find fault with its inclusion.
This Strat is an enigma of contrasts. Looks-wise, the guitar is firmly from the last century. However, the jumbo frets and 9.5'' radius are modern touches that gives a familiar feel for today's players and will enable easy string bends and solo techniques. The vintage-style synchronized tremolo gives a more vintage feel, alongside the low-friction period-correct bone nut and vintage-style tuning machines.
This guitar comes complete with a luxury hard case, strap, and certificate of authenticity. As a limited-edition guitar, the 1956 Fat Strat has its own collectability within the range and the anodized scratch plate really makes it stand out from the rest. As a player's guitar, the Custom Shop Fat Strat gives you everything you could want from a vintage guitar, without buying the real thing. This instrument will become a collector's item in its own right, and is ready for you to add your own authentic aging to its pre-aged vintage look.