Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Austin MacNutt 1962 Stratocaster, Super Aged Lake Placid Blue

Full Description

Masterbuilt craftsmanship from Austin MacNutt

The Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Austin MacNutt 1962 Stratocaster is a masterclass in craftsmanship. Built by one of Fender’s most celebrated Masterbuilders, Austin MacNutt, this beauty carries with it an elite level of detail, quality control, and custom nuance that simply can't be replicated. Every contour, component, and finish element has been meticulously applied by hand to ensure this Stratocaster is brimming with life, offering a playing experience that's smooth and seamless. MacNutt’s approach balances tradition with innovation, honouring the spirit of early ’60s Strats while enhancing their playability to meet modern expectations. The build process involves select cuts of tonewood, hand-shaped neck profiles, and precise relic techniques that simulate decades of loving wear. With MacNutt’s signature on the back of the headstock, you know you’re holding something extraordinary – a true collector's piece that's capable of delivering a professional performance.

Stunning super aged Lake Placid Blue finish

One of the standout features of this Stratocaster is its breathtaking Super Aged Lake Placid Blue finish. This colour, originally introduced by Fender in the early 1960s, has become one of the most iconic hues in the brand's palette, and here it’s presented in its most dramatic and visually compelling form. The Custom Shop’s Super Aged Relic treatment delivers an aesthetic that captures the essence of a guitar that has seen stages and studios for over 60 years. The faded blue tones blend seamlessly with natural checking, subtle finish wear, and areas of exposed alder, giving the impression of a life well-played. Every chip, ding, and scratch has been purposefully placed to create a road-worn authenticity. What's more, the nitrocellulose lacquer finish allows the wood to breathe and age gracefully, improving tonal response through time.

Premium tonewood selection and neck profile

This Stratocaster features a two-piece alder body and a quartersawn maple neck, chosen for their balanced tonal character and stability. Alder has long been favoured by Fender for its strong mids and excellent sustain, while quartersawn maple adds strength and a snappier response. Topping it off is an AAA-grade rosewood slab fingerboard, CITES-compliant and hand-selected for a dark, rich appearance that complements both the tone and aesthetic. The neck sports a large “C” profile that’s substantial yet incredibly comfortable in hand. Measuring .875" at the 1st fret and .950" at the 12th, it offers a reassuring grip that'll mould to your playing preference. Combined with the 9.5” radius and jumbo 6100 frets, it blends vintage feel with modern playability, making bends effortless and chords ring with clarity. This neck feels wonderfully worn in, maximising comfort and vintage appeal at once.

Handwound Tomatillo pickups and Strat Blender wiring

One of the most defining sonic aspects of this Strat is its trio of Handwound Tomatillo pickups, exclusive to the Fender Custom Shop. These pickups are carefully voiced to deliver a sweeter, rounder version of the classic ’60s tone – less glassy than traditional Strat pickups but still rich in harmonic content and articulation. Each one is handwound to precise specifications, ensuring balance across all positions. They deliver that unmistakable bell-like Strat chime with a touch more warmth, making them particularly musical for blues, roots, and vintage rock styles. The addition of Strat Blender wiring adds another level of tonal flexibility, allowing you to blend the neck pickup into the bridge or bridge and middle positions. This opens up a wider tonal palette that’s normally inaccessible using a standard 5-way switch. It’s a subtle but powerful feature that expands your creative possibilities.

Authentic vintage hardware and finishing touches

From top to bottom, this Strat is kitted out with period-correct hardware that reinforces its vintage authenticity. It features an American Vintage Stratocaster bridge with aged saddles, vintage-style tuners with the Fender logo, and a white relic pickguard that mirrors the aesthetic of early-’60s models. Even the knobs, trem arm tip, and string tree are relic’d to match the body’s wear patterns, creating a cohesive aged appearance throughout the instrument. The guitar is strung with .010-.046 gauge strings, offering a familiar tension suited to a variety of playing styles. Fender’s Micarta white dot inlays and side markers add subtle contrast to the dark rosewood board, while the neck plate and truss rod access retain the vintage spec feel. Even the case – a brown Fender Custom Shop hardshell – reflects the instrument’s era, adding a layer of collectible prestige. Together, these features make this Strat not only a phenomenal instrument but a piece of vintage-inspired artistry.

• Product Name: Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Austin MacNutt 1962 Stratocaster, Super Aged Lake Placid Blue
• Product Code: 9218002898

Body

• Body Wood: 2-piece alder
• Body Style: 1960 Stratocaster
• Top: No top
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer, Super Aged Relic
• Top Colour: Lake Placid Blue (Super Faded)
• Contours: 60s-style with vintage radius and heel
• Bridge Holes: American Vintage spacing
• Neck Pocket: 4-bolt mounting
• Pickup Routing: HW Tomatillo NK/MID/BRG Relic
• Control Configuration: Strat Blender with Saver (Relic)

Neck & Fretboard

• Neck Wood: Quartersawn 5/4 maple
• Fingerboard Wood: AAA CITES rosewood slab board
• Neck Shape: Large "C" (.875" 1st fret, .950" 12th fret)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
• Number of Frets: 21
• Fret Size: Jumbo / 6100
• Nut Width: 1.650"
• Butt Width: 2.200"
• Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
• Truss Rod: Standard
• Headstock: Small, 60s-style, reverse headstock
• Tuners: Vintage with Fender logo (Relic)
• Inlays: Micarta white face dots and side dots
• Decal: 1961–63 Stratocaster (two-patent number style)

Hardware & Electronics

• Bridge: American Vintage Stratocaster Bridge (Relic)
• Bridge Saddles: Vintage-style (Relic)
• String Tree: Vintage upgraded '60s (Relic)
• Output Jack: Vintage-style Strat
• Trem Arm: Vintage-style with white tip (Relic)
• Pickguard: '62 Stratocaster mint green (Relic)
• Strings: .010–.046 gauge
• Knobs: Strat small flat-top white (Relic)
• Selector Switch: 5-way CRL lever switch
• Switch Tip: White (Relic)
• Controls: Strat Blender with Tone Saver (Relic)
• Potentiometers: 250k, 10 taper split
• Pickups: Handwound Tomatillo set (NK, MID, BRG – all Relic)