Pre Owned Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Carlos Lopez 1956 Stratocaster Relic 2-Tone Sunburst With OHSC

We are fortunate enough to have some of the coolest Fender Custom Shop guitars out there - as a Showcase level dealer, we really enjoy working with the Masterbuilders to create unique pieces.  We've had some crazy stuff.  Yet, sometimes one comes in that is a straight up classic with a pure vintage style.  This is that.

 

Here we have a Masterbuilt Carlos Lopez 1956 Stratocaster Relic.  Expertly crafted by one of the most well-regarded builders in recent years, this everything you'd want out of a classic Strat.  For those that don't know, Carlos Lopez was one of the Masterbuilders with the highest request rate for a period, until he left a few years ago to start his own company, Castedosa Guitars.  Due to this, his Fender creations have become high in demand, and hard to find.  This one was built in 2021, towards the end of his time at the Fender Custom Shop.

 

There's also a special connection here - Carlos grew up in Los Angeles, coming to Truetone since he was a kid just figuring out how to build guitars.  So, we were thrilled when to see him become a Masterbuilder and all of the success he's had since.  Now, it's a please to have this guitar here, available for the first time in the U.S. (originally, it was shipped to Europe).

You're notice the the aesthetic right away - this has the look of one of the most iconic guitars of all time, a mid-50's Strat in 2-Tone Sunburst.  The alder body and maple neck were given a Relic treatment to create a true vintage vibe and feel.  We noticed right away how resonant it is, even unplugged.  It's also super light (6.6 lbs).   Carlos absolutely nailed this one.

The neck carve is a period correct 10/56 "V", which has become a favorite for a lot of players that love the feel of a mid-50's Strat.  While you'll see plenty of Custom Shop guitars out there with the modern tweak of a flatter radius and bigger frets, Carlos kept it real on this one - it has the period correct 7.25 radius and vintage frets.  It's still comfortable to play and bending is easy.

For tone, Carlos went with a Handwound '56 Strat set, to give it the iconic tone of the era.  Leo Fender perfected it back in the day, and for anyone that wants a real Strat sound, this is it.  These pickups give you the classic 50's chime and crystal clear tone.  It's a calibrated set, with Alnico 5 magnets and formvar wire, and a custom low G stagger.  Also, the middle pickups is Reverse Wound - Reverse Polarity, reducing hum and noise in positions 2 & 4.   For those that want THE sound, with plenty of clarity, this is the epitome of the classic Strat tone.  The modern tweak is that the guitar has a 5-way switch.

Other features includes vintage tuners and bridge, and a bone nut.  You get a single ply Eggshell pickguard and matching pickup covers and knobs - it's a great looks for an old school sunburst Strat.

The original owner is a long-time client and local collector - he played it a few times but for the most part it was kept safely locked away, so it's essentially in new condition. It comes with the original hardshell case, Certificate of Authenticity and other paperwork.  The guitar has been setup to play perfectly by the techs in our shop.

If you're looking for something that is both classic and that is rarely found, this is it.  Come to Truetone Music to try it out, or make it yours right here now!