Description
The Fender Custom Shop Bigsby Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Limited Edition in Walnut is one of those rare Custom Shop builds that immediately feels different in the best possible way. Combining the unmistakable comfort and tone of a mid-'60s Strat with the smooth shimmer of a Bigsby vibrato system, this model leans into a more expressive, roots-inspired side of Fender history while still feeling unmistakably Stratocaster at its core.
The two-piece select ash body gives the guitar a lively, resonant character with a slightly firmer attack and enhanced clarity compared to alder-bodied Strats. Finished in nitrocellulose lacquer, the transparent Walnut finish highlights the grain beautifully, giving the instrument a rich, understated elegance that pairs perfectly with the black pickguard and nickel hardware. The Journeyman Relic treatment adds tasteful aging throughout, making the guitar feel naturally broken in without pushing into excessive wear.
Tonally, this Strat is loaded with personality. A trio of Custom Shop hand-wound Fat '60s pickups delivers everything players love about vintage Strat tone, but with a touch more midrange push and fullness. Clean tones stay glassy and articulate, while overdriven sounds take on a thick, vocal quality that works beautifully for blues, roots rock, indie, and classic soul-inspired playing. The custom wiring setup includes a unique 1/2 blend control, opening up additional pickup combinations and tonal textures that go beyond traditional Strat wiring.
The maple neck features Fender's comfortable '66 Oval C profile, paired with a premium 3A rosewood fingerboard, 9.5 inch radius, and Jescar vintage frets. The result is a neck that feels smooth and familiar, blending vintage-inspired ergonomics with modern playability. Chords ring clearly, bends feel effortless, and the nitro finish gives the neck a naturally worn-in touch.
Of course, the centerpiece here is the Bigsby B5 vibrato system. Beyond the obvious visual appeal, it gives the guitar a completely different feel under the hand, adding smooth, subtle vibrato and a slightly softer attack that pairs beautifully with the ash body and Fat '60s pickups. Fender smartly paired it with an RSD Jaguar/Jazzmaster-style bridge for improved tuning stability and intonation, creating a setup that feels far more refined than a simple aftermarket Bigsby installation.
At Cream City Music, we love guitars that take familiar formulas and push them into fresh territory without losing what made them special to begin with. This Limited Edition Bigsby Stratocaster does exactly that; classic Strat feel and tone, reimagined with extra elegance, expression, and character.
Specifications:
- Body: 2-Piece Select Ash
- Body Shape: Stratocaster
- Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer, Journeyman Relic Walnut
- Neck Material: Maple
- Neck Shape: 1966 Oval "C"
- Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Fingerboard Material: 3A Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
- Scale Length: 25.5"
- Number of Frets: 21
- Fret Size: Jescar Vintage (45085)
- Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot (7 mm)
- Nut Material: Bone
- Nut Width: 1.650"
- Truss Rod: Early '60s Style
- Bridge: Bigsby B5 Bridge and Tailpiece with RSD Jaguar/Jazzmaster Bridge
- Tremolo Arm: Vintage-Style Bigsby Arm
- Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
- Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
- Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
- Control Knobs: Aged White Plastic
- Switch Tip: White
- String Tree: American Vintage '59-'64
- Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat
- Middle Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat
- Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat
- Pickup Configuration: SSS
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone, 1/2 Blend
- Switching: 5-Position Blade
- Potentiometers: 250K 10% Taper Split
- Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046)
- Case: Deluxe Hardshell Case
Sku: 9235700193
