SOLD - Fender Masterbuilt Todd Krause Wildwood 10 '59 Stratocaster Relic Brazilian Board - USA 2008

The Fender Custom Shop has produced no shortage of exceptional Stratocasters over the years, though every now and then a build emerges that feels particularly special - a guitar where the spec sheet, feel and overall aesthetic align in a way that immediately resonates with serious players and collectors alike. This Wildwood 10 ‘59 Stratocaster Relic Masterbuilt by Todd Krause is one of those guitars.

Built in 2008 as part of an ultra-premium Wildwood specification run, this example combines a lightweight alder body with a thin skin lacquer finish in beautifully faded 3-Tone Sunburst. The subtle arm wear, lightly aged hardware and restrained relic treatment give the guitar an authentic played-in feel without appearing overdone. It is vintage-inspired, though refined in all the right places for the modern player.

The standout feature here is the neck. Based on the same shape and thickness as John English’s famed ‘59 master design, the maple neck features a comfortable medium ‘60 Style Oval C profile with a slab Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, 10” radius and 6105 fret wire. The result is an incredibly balanced playing experience - vintage in spirit, though fast and effortless under the fingers. At just under 7 3/4 lbs as specified on the original traveller sheet, the guitar feels lively, resonant and extremely responsive acoustically.

Tonally, the guitar delivers everything you would hope for from a top-tier Custom Shop Strat. The handwound John Cruz Limited pickups produce glassy neck tones, punchy and articulate in-between positions and a bridge pickup with notably more authority thanks to the modern wiring and Tone 2 bridge configuration. There is plenty of classic Strat chime and compression here, though with a richer midrange character and slightly more refined top end than many production Custom Shop examples.

Todd Krause’s reputation speaks for itself. Known for building instruments for Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and countless top-level professional musicians, Krause-built guitars consistently sit at the very top of Fender Custom Shop desirability. Combined with the Wildwood 10 specifications and Brazilian rosewood slab board, this is a seriously high-end Custom Shop Stratocaster that delivers equally as a player and collector-grade instrument.

Includes original Fender Custom Shop case, COA and original shop floor traveller sheet.

Specs:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.75mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 22.13mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 24.99mm

Nut Width: 41.95mm

Width at 12th Fret: 51.47mm

Weight: 3305g

Model: Wildwood 10 ‘59 Stratocaster Relic Masterbuilt

Masterbuilder: Todd Krause

Year: 2008

Finish: Faded 3-Tone Sunburst

Body: Alder

Finish Type: Thin Skin Lacquer Relic

Neck: Maple

Neck Profile: ‘60 Style Oval C

Fingerboard: Slab Brazilian Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius: 10”

Frets: 21

Fret Wire: Sanko 6105

Scale Length: 25.5”

Nut Width: 1.650”

Pickups: Handwound John Cruz Limited Strat Pickups

Controls: Volume, Tone, Tone, 5-Way Selector

Bridge: American Vintage Strat Relic

Tuners: Vintage Fender Logo Relic

Pickguard: Mint Green Nitro Relic

Hardware: Chrome/Nickel Relic

Case: Original Fender Custom Shop Case

COA: Included

Accessories: Original Shop Floor Traveller Sheet