Fender Stratocaster 63 Hardtail Relic Masterbuilt Kyle McMillin (2023)

Kyle McMillin belongs to the younger generation of masterbuilders at the Fender Custom Shop. Before he earned this prestigious title he had already worked at Fender for 15 years and was eventually trained by senior masterbuilder Yuriy Shishkov. He is usually known for his sometimes extreme aging techniques, but he has taken a slightly more restrained approach with this hardtail, resulting in a super authentic appearance. When you first open the case, you might actually think you have a real vintage guitar in your hands. There are a wide variety of hairline cracks and corresponding quirks and paint-free areas in exactly the characteristic places. In addition, the “Faded/Aged 3-Tone Sunburst” finish has a wonderfully matt vintage patina. When you pick up the hardtail and start playing, you immediately notice how fantastic it is to play. A glance at the spec sheet reveals that Kyle has opted for what is probably the most popular combination of specifications: a “60 Style Oval C” neck profile, 9.5" fretboard radius and Narrow/Tall frets ensure the very best playability. No wonder it just glides! Of course the Stratocaster also offers the significant advantages of a hardtail: for one thing, these guitars are usually lighter than tremolo Strats (this one weighs only 3070 grams!) and for another, the direct connection between the bridge and the body gives you an extra dose of sustain, attack, and tone. You can hear this right from the first chord as the Strat immediately captivates you with its voluminous resonance. Josefina handwound pickups are used: “Handwound 65” at the neck, “Handwound Fat 60s” in the middle (including RWRP to suppress noise) and “Handwound Texas Special” at the bridge, controlled by a half-blender with treble bleed. The sound is incredibly balanced in every position with just the right mix of brightness, warmth, attack, and transparency. Even the bridge pickup has no shrill highs – pure enjoyment throughout! We are delighted to offer you this absolutely exceptional Strat in mint condition.

• Includes original case, certificate, spec sheet, strap, case candy
• Weight: 3070 grams