Fender Custom Shop 1965 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic, Aged Inca Silver #R135827

Full Description

Vintage-correct craftsmanship

The Fender Custom Shop 1965 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic is built with a meticulous eye for vintage accuracy, paying homage to one of the most iconic years in Stratocaster history. Every detail has been carefully considered, from the two-piece alder body to the vintage-correct 7.25-inch fingerboard radius. The Journeyman Relic finish strikes a perfect balance between well-worn character and structural integrity, offering a lightly aged look that feels broken-in but not overly distressed. This attention to period detail ensures that the guitar captures the visual and tactile charm of a genuine mid-'60s Strat, ideal for collectors and those who appreciate true vintage character. On stage or in the studio, it delivers the charisma of a beloved classic brought back to life.

Premium tonewood selection

Built from select tonewoods, this Stratocaster delivers the resonance and tonal response expected from a top-tier Custom Shop build. The two-piece alder body is a time-tested choice for its balanced tonal profile—offering warmth, punch, and clear articulation. Complementing this is a quartersawn maple neck that provides exceptional stability and dynamic response to your playing. The AAA-grade dark rosewood fingerboard adds visual elegance while also softening the top-end, lending a mellow, rounded quality to the guitar’s tone. Each wood component has been hand-selected not only for its beauty but also for how it shapes the Strat’s iconic sound, ensuring a refined and expressive vinatge-inspired voice.

Hand-wound pickup configuration

This guitar is loaded with a carefully curated combination of hand-wound Custom Shop pickups that bring out the best of vintage-inspired tone. In the neck position is a '69 Strat Relic pickup, offering bell-like clarity and lush lows. The middle and bridge positions feature '65 Strat Relic pickups, which bring punchy mids and sparkling trebles with excellent dynamic response. Combined with a modern five-way selector switch, this trio offers a versatile palette of sounds—from glassy cleans and expressive leads to rich, bluesy textures. Each pickup is individually calibrated to produce authentic vintage tone while maintaining consistency and reliability for any performance setting. The result is a guitar that sounds just as good as it looks.

Neck designed for vintage comfort

One of the standout features of the 1965 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic is its custom neck profile, designed to emulate the feel of a well-loved mid-’60s Strat. The '65 “C”-shaped profile has been crafted for comfort and familiarity, with a rounded contour that feels natural in the hand and accommodates both rhythm comping and lead work with ease. At the first fret, the thickness measures 0.820”, tapering to 0.974” at the 12th, giving a substantial yet agile feel throughout. Narrow tall 6105 frets provide a modern playing advantage without sacrificing the guitar’s vintage integrity, while the vintage-style truss rod and aged headstock details round off the authentic vibe. Combined with the smooth nitro lacquer finish and a carefully tinted hue, the neck delivers an inspiring blend of heritage and playability.

Custom Shop attention to detail

As with every instrument to come out of the Fender Custom Shop, the 1965 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic showcases a level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that sets it apart. From the parchment relic pickguard to the aged white control knobs and vintage-style tuners, every component has been aged and finished to perfection. The relic process applied here is subtle—providing just enough wear to evoke decades of honest use without compromising the guitar’s reliability or performance. The instrument includes a vintage-style hard case, certificate of authenticity, and is strung with Fender’s classic 10–46 gauge set to complete the package.

Specifications

• Product Name: Fender Custom Shop 1965 Stratocaster Journeyman Relic, Aged Inca Silver
• Product Code: 9238014815 #R135827

Body

• Body Material: 2-piece alder
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
• Finish Package: Journeyman Relic
• Colour: Aged Inca Silver
• Body Style: Right-handed Stratocaster
• Back Plate: Strat parchment (Relic)
• Pickguard: 63–76 Strat parchment nitro (Relic)
• Pickguard Shape: 63–69 Strat

Neck & Fretboard

• Neck Type: Custom '65 Strat "C"
• Neck Material: Quarter-sawn maple
• Neck Finish: Nitro lacquer with medium tint
• Neck Thickness: .820" (1st fret), .974" (12th fret)
• Fingerboard: AAA rosewood, 9 mm, dark sorted
• Fingerboard Radius: 7.25"
• Number of Frets: 21
• Fret Wire: Narrow tall / 6105
• Nut Width: 1.650"
• Neck Butt Width: 2.200"
• Headstock: Small style, 0.575" thick
• Truss Rod: Early '60s style
• Face Dots: Mother of pearl 7 mm
• Side Dots: Mother of pearl 3/32"
• Dot Spacing: Narrow
• Neck Plate: R-serial vintage style (Relic)
• Tuners: Vintage with Fender logo (Relic)
• Decal: 1965 Strat T-Gold with OCB & Patent number

Hardware & Electronics

• Bridge: American Vintage Strat bridge (Relic)
• Tremolo Arm: Upgraded 60s vintage style (Relic) with white tip
• Strap Locks: Not included
• Output Jack: Vintage Strat style (Relic)
• Control Assembly: Strat modern (Relic)
• Knobs: Small font white Strat knobs (Relic)
• Pickup Selector: 5-way CRL lever switch
• Switch Tip: White (Relic)
• Pickups:
  • Neck: Custom Shop '69 Strat (Relic)
  • Middle: Custom Shop '65 Strat (Relic)
  • Bridge: Custom Shop '65 Strat (Relic)
• Potentiometers: 3 × 250K, 10 taper, split shaft
• String Gauge: 10–13–17–26–36–46
• Case: Fender Custom Shop Strat/Tele black case