West Lancashire, United Kingdom
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Fender Classic Player ’60s Stratocaster 2008 – Custom Shop Designed – Custom ’69 Pickups – Rosewood – Proper Player’s StratDescriptionThis is one I’m genuinely sorry to see go.My 2008 Fender Classic Player ’60s Stratocaster has been with me for many happy gigs and has been played as a good Strat should be. It therefore shows genuine cosmetic wear from use, all of which I've tried to show clearly in the photographs.If you're looking for a pristine case queen, this isn't it.If you want a fantastic-playing, great-sounding early Classic Player ’60s Strat that already has some honest battle scars and doesn't need treating with kid gloves, keep reading.A particularly good era of Fender MexicoThe Classic Player ’60s wasn't simply another Mexican Standard Strat.The model was designed by Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Greg Fessler, combining the look and character of a 1960s Stratocaster with some very sensible modern player upgrades. Fender specified an alder body, maple C-profile neck, rosewood fingerboard with a flatter 12" radius, 21 medium-jumbo frets, three Custom ’69 Strat pickups and a two-point vintage-style tremolo. The Classic Player ’60s remained in Fender's range from 2006 until 2019, with the earlier guitars such as this 2008 example receiving a genuine rosewood fingerboard rather than the Pau Ferro used from 2017 onwards. That's part of what makes these early examples increasingly interesting.The original Fender ideaFender's concept for the Classic Player series was essentially to take a classic instrument and give it the sort of thoughtful modifications a knowledgeable player might actually want.On the ’60s Strat, that meant classic sixties looks, but with a 12" fingerboard radius, medium-jumbo frets and two-point tremolo alongside the trio of Custom ’69 pickups. It feels familiar if you love vintage Strats, but is considerably less precious and extremely comfortable to actually play.Custom ’69 pickupsThese are a huge part of this guitar for me.The factory specification includes three Fender Custom ’69 single-coil Stratocaster pickups. Fender currently sells its Custom Shop Custom ’69 pickup set separately for £309, describing their sound as the full, punchy late-’60s blues-rock sound associated with the era from Monterey to Woodstock. Fender also highlights their clarity and transparency and their ability to work particularly well with pedals. And they absolutely suit this guitar.It has that open, expressive Strat character: lovely neck-pickup sounds, hollow in-between tones and plenty of bite when you want it.Factory specificationModel: Fender Classic Player ’60s StratocasterYear: 2008Series: Classic PlayerCountry of manufacture: Mexico BodyBody: AlderBody finish: PolyesterBody shape: Stratocaster NeckNeck: MapleProfile: C shapeFingerboard: RosewoodFingerboard radius: 12" / 305 mmScale length: 25.5" / 648 mmFrets: 21 medium jumboNut: Synthetic boneNut width: 1.650" / 42 mmNeck finish: Gloss urethane ElectronicsPickups: 3 x Custom ’69 Single-Coil Strat pickupsConfiguration: SSSSwitching: 5-position bladeControls: Master Volume, Tone 1 neck, Tone 2 middle HardwareBridge: Vintage-style two-point synchronised tremoloSaddles: Vintage-style stamped steelTuners: Vintage-styleHardware: ChromePickguard: 3-ply mint greenControls: Aged-style knobs and switch tipNeck plate: “Fender Custom Shop Designed” ConditionI'm describing the guitar as Fair because I want to be completely transparent with the next owner.This is a 2008 guitar that has been gigged, and consequently there are cosmetic marks, dings and signs of playing wear.Please look carefully through all the photographs, as I have deliberately shown the cosmetic condition rather than trying to disguise it.But there's an important distinction here:It looks like a guitar that has been played because it has been played.And there's a reason it got played.It plays superblyForget the cosmetic marks for a moment and this is simply a great player's Strat.The combination of the 12" radius, medium-jumbo frets and C-profile neck makes it noticeably more accommodating than a strict vintage-spec Strat, while the Custom ’69 pickups retain the classic Fender sound.This guitar has done plenty of gigs with me and carries plenty of good memories, which is why I'm genuinely sorry to see it go.But guitars are there to be played, and I'd rather it went to somebody who will carry on doing exactly that.The sensible way to look at the wearPeople pay serious money for Custom Shop guitars that have been artificially aged to look like they've spent years being played.There's nothing artificial about this one.Every mark has been earned honestly.I'm certainly not pretending that makes it a Custom Shop guitar, because it doesn't. But if you're somebody who likes the look and feel of a Strat that's already lived a life, there's something rather cool about having the real thing rather than worrying about putting the first mark on a pristine guitar.And crucially, the cosmetic wear is reflected in the asking price.That's where I think this guitar becomes particularly compelling.You're getting a 2008 rosewood-board Fender, originally designed by Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Greg Fessler, with Custom ’69 pickups, 12" radius, medium-jumbo frets and two-point tremolo, but at the price of a much less interesting Strat. In summary2008 early Classic Player exampleGenuine rosewood fingerboardDesigned by Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Greg FesslerCustom ’69 Strat pickupsAlder body12" fingerboard radius21 medium-jumbo fretsTwo-point tremoloCustom Shop Designed neck plateProperly played and giggedLoads of characterFantastic playerCosmetic wear honestly photographed and reflected in the priceIf you want immaculate, this probably isn't the Strat for you.But if you want a great-playing, great-sounding Fender with proper specification, genuine history and a price that means you can actually take it out and play it without worrying about it, I think this represents tremendous value.People pay good money for relicing. This one's earned its scars honestly. At the asking price, I think it's an absolute steal.I'm genuinely sorry to see it go after so many happy gigs, but it deserves to be played rather than sit around.
Price£600
+ £25 Shipping
