Description
The Fender Custom Shop 1956 Hardtail Stratocaster Heavy Relic in Super Aged Lake Placid Blue captures a lesser-seen side of early Strat history; one that trades the shimmer of a tremolo for a more direct, grounded feel. Built as part of the Time Machine Collection, this model leans into the raw, resonant character of a mid-'50s Strat while adding a level of aging that makes it feel like a lifelong companion from the very first note.
The two-piece alder body is lightweight and lively, finished in a nitrocellulose Lake Placid Blue that has been pushed far beyond subtle wear. The Heavy Relic treatment combined with the "Super Aged" look gives the guitar a deeply broken-in feel, with exposed wood, softened contours, and natural checking throughout. It has the visual story of a guitar that has spent decades on stages and in studios, while the hardtail design enhances sustain and gives each note a more immediate, focused response.
Tonally, this Strat delivers classic mid-'50s character with added punch. A trio of hand-wound '56 Strat pickups provides clear, bell-like highs, warm lows, and a balanced midrange that responds beautifully to picking dynamics. The RWRP middle pickup allows for hum-canceling in positions two and four, making it just as usable in modern settings as it is authentic to the era. Without the floating trem system, the string energy transfers more directly into the body, giving chords a bit more weight and single notes extra definition.
The maple neck features a substantial 10/56 "V" profile, offering a full, vintage-correct feel that naturally fills the hand. It is paired with a compound 7.25 to 9.5 inch radius and vintage upgrade frets, blending early Strat ergonomics with improved playability for bends and lead work. The dark tint relic finish adds to the worn-in feel, making it feel like a neck that has been played for decades.
Hardware stays true to the period with vintage-style tuners, a hardtail Strat bridge, and aged chrome and nickel components throughout. The parchment guard and classic control layout keep the look grounded in '50s tradition, while the relic treatment ties everything together into a cohesive, road-worn aesthetic.
At Cream City Music, we see this 1956 Hardtail Strat as a unique take on a familiar formula. It offers all the chime and clarity of a great Strat, but with a slightly firmer, more immediate response that comes from the hardtail design. For players who want vintage Strat tone with a different feel under the fingers, this one stands out in all the right ways.
Specifications:
- Body: 2-Piece Alder (Off-Center Seam, Lightweight Sorted)
- Body Shape: Stratocaster
- Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer, Heavy Relic Super Aged Lake Placid Blue
- Neck Material: Maple (Plain Grain)
- Neck Shape: 10/56 "V" (.900" - .980")
- Neck Finish: Dark Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Relic)
- Fingerboard: Maple (One-Piece)
- Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" - 9.5" Compound
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Number of Frets: 21
- Fret Size: Vintage Upgrade (45085)
- Inlays: Micarta Black Dot (.250")
- Nut Material: Bone
- Nut Width: 1.650"
- Truss Rod: Vintage Style
- Bridge: Hardtail Vintage Strat Bridge (Relic)
- Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo (Relic)
- Hardware Finish: Chrome/Nickel (Relic)
- Pickguard: '56 Strat Parchment (Relic)
- Control Knobs: Vintage Strat White (Relic)
- Neck Pickup: Hand-Wound '56 Strat (Relic)
- Middle Pickup: Hand-Wound '56 Strat RWRP (Relic)
- Bridge Pickup: Hand-Wound '56 Strat (Relic)
- Pickup Configuration: SSS
- Controls: Vintage Strat Wiring (Master Volume, 2 Tone)
- Switching: 5-Position Blade
- Strings: .010-.046
- Case: Fender Custom Shop Tweed Hardshell
Sku: 9235700223
The two-piece alder body is lightweight and lively, finished in a nitrocellulose Lake Placid Blue that has been pushed far beyond subtle wear. The Heavy Relic treatment combined with the "Super Aged" look gives the guitar a deeply broken-in feel, with exposed wood, softened contours, and natural checking throughout. It has the visual story of a guitar that has spent decades on stages and in studios, while the hardtail design enhances sustain and gives each note a more immediate, focused response.
Tonally, this Strat delivers classic mid-'50s character with added punch. A trio of hand-wound '56 Strat pickups provides clear, bell-like highs, warm lows, and a balanced midrange that responds beautifully to picking dynamics. The RWRP middle pickup allows for hum-canceling in positions two and four, making it just as usable in modern settings as it is authentic to the era. Without the floating trem system, the string energy transfers more directly into the body, giving chords a bit more weight and single notes extra definition.
The maple neck features a substantial 10/56 "V" profile, offering a full, vintage-correct feel that naturally fills the hand. It is paired with a compound 7.25 to 9.5 inch radius and vintage upgrade frets, blending early Strat ergonomics with improved playability for bends and lead work. The dark tint relic finish adds to the worn-in feel, making it feel like a neck that has been played for decades.
Hardware stays true to the period with vintage-style tuners, a hardtail Strat bridge, and aged chrome and nickel components throughout. The parchment guard and classic control layout keep the look grounded in '50s tradition, while the relic treatment ties everything together into a cohesive, road-worn aesthetic.
At Cream City Music, we see this 1956 Hardtail Strat as a unique take on a familiar formula. It offers all the chime and clarity of a great Strat, but with a slightly firmer, more immediate response that comes from the hardtail design. For players who want vintage Strat tone with a different feel under the fingers, this one stands out in all the right ways.
Specifications:
- Body: 2-Piece Alder (Off-Center Seam, Lightweight Sorted)
- Body Shape: Stratocaster
- Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer, Heavy Relic Super Aged Lake Placid Blue
- Neck Material: Maple (Plain Grain)
- Neck Shape: 10/56 "V" (.900" - .980")
- Neck Finish: Dark Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Relic)
- Fingerboard: Maple (One-Piece)
- Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" - 9.5" Compound
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Number of Frets: 21
- Fret Size: Vintage Upgrade (45085)
- Inlays: Micarta Black Dot (.250")
- Nut Material: Bone
- Nut Width: 1.650"
- Truss Rod: Vintage Style
- Bridge: Hardtail Vintage Strat Bridge (Relic)
- Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo (Relic)
- Hardware Finish: Chrome/Nickel (Relic)
- Pickguard: '56 Strat Parchment (Relic)
- Control Knobs: Vintage Strat White (Relic)
- Neck Pickup: Hand-Wound '56 Strat (Relic)
- Middle Pickup: Hand-Wound '56 Strat RWRP (Relic)
- Bridge Pickup: Hand-Wound '56 Strat (Relic)
- Pickup Configuration: SSS
- Controls: Vintage Strat Wiring (Master Volume, 2 Tone)
- Switching: 5-Position Blade
- Strings: .010-.046
- Case: Fender Custom Shop Tweed Hardshell
Sku: 9235700223
