Fender Stratocaster Closet Classic 56 Gastelum neck Custom Shop

Quite an interesting Fender Custom Shop Strat from the early days of the time machine series. Now twenty two years old and remaining in very good overall condition. This is a very faithful re issue of a 56 Strat with the period correct radius and fretwire. When we opened this one up we realised it's got a 'Gastelum' neck stamp. Herbie Gastelum was a Fender employee of significance, often regarded as the Abigail Ybarra of necks. He worked at Fender from the 1960s and retired in 2017 after 56 years at the company. The now legendary John Cruz worked under Herbie and claims to have gained much knowledge and teaching from him in the process of neck making. Interestingly the neck on this one does feel extremely nice and has been finished in whats feels like a very very thin coat of lacquer, which adds to it's authentic 50s feel. Not the lightest strat we've ever seen but it has killer tone, looks and playability. A classic colour and over a fantastic instrument.