SOLD - Fender John Cruz Master Built ‘64 Stratocaster Relic – USA 2013

SOLD

From Fender Custom Shop: 

John Cruz joined Fender in 1987, rising to the rank of Master Builder at the Fender Custom Shop in 2003. His most well-known creations include reproductions of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s famous ‘Number One’ Stratocaster, the Jeff Beck Esquire Relic, the replica of Yngwie Malmsteen’s ‘Duck’ Stratocaster, the John Mayer Limited Edition Black 1 Stratocaster, and the Gary Moore 1961 Fiesta Red Stratocaster. 

Cruz is widely recognised for his exceptional guitar building skills. As a former master builder for Fender, he possesses a deep understanding of guitar construction, design, and tone. Cruz is known for his meticulous attention to detail, precise craftsmanship, and ability to create instruments that offer superb playability and tone. His guitars are sought after by professional musicians and collectors due to their exceptional quality and craftsmanship. 

Cruz parted ways with Fender in 2020, making his Master Built guitars like this example, even more sought after. 

This guitar radiates that certain aura only his guitars seem to have. From the body cut to the otherworldly smooth edges of the neck & headstock, every small detail has been accounted for. There's not much more that can be said about the attention to detail Mr. Cruz put into every Fender guitar he made. Its beauty must be seen, felt and heard to truly be appreciated. 

This guitar presents as it did on the day it was born – in mint condition with a moderate relic treatment. So, this is a ten-year-old, amazingly detailed replica of a 59-year-old iconic guitar. No modifications, no visible fret wear. 

We have a number of Masterbuilt Teles & Strats here at PREMIER GUITARS in Sydney, and they all have that something special that makes a good guitar great. But this John Cruz built '64 Strat is something extra special again. It’s possibly the lightness of this guitar at 7.18lbs, maybe it’s the subtly unique and wonderful neck carve, or maybe the killer custom wound pickups.  

But it all adds up to a fabulous and most collectable instrument. These John Cruz Strats are definitely going up in value, because they are quite exceptional in build, unique to Cruz’s take on the final execution, and he’s not making any more, for Fender at least anyway. 

Extras and case candy are present along with Certificate of Authenticity. 

Comes in its Fender Custom Shop HSC in excellent condition. 

Specs: 

Scale length: 25.5” 

Fretboard Radius: 9.5” 

Finish: 3-tone Sunburst 

Weight: 3.26kg / 7.18lbs 

Action at 1st fret: 0.50mm 

Action at 12th fret: 2.0mm 

Neck depth at 1st fret: 22.6mm 

Neck depth at 12th fret: 24.5mm 

Neck profile: Large “C” 

Nut Width: 41.81mm 

12 fret width: 51.58mm 

Nut Material: Bone 

Neck material: Maple 

Fretboard inlays: Micarta Black Dot 

Body Material: Alder 

Front Pickup: 5.7kHz 

Middle Pickup: 5.9kHz 

Bridge Pickup: 5.6kHz 

Tuners: Single Line Vintage Fender 

Pickguard: 3-ply ‘64 Strat 

Bridge: American Vintage Strat Tremolo 

Case: OHSC