Fender Custom Shop Postmodern Thinline Stratocaster Natural Blonde/Journeyman (NOS, 2024)

The unique combination of appointments featured on the Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic with Closet Classic hardware brings both vintage enthusiasts and modern players together.

The first time we encountered a thinline Stratocaster was via an Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster. While it's unusual to think of a thinline outside of the Telecaster world, it was also a bit of a "duh" moment. "A thinline Strat. Of course, why wouldn't that be a thing?"

Well, it should be and we're glad the Fender Custom Shop feels the same. New for 2024, the FCS has released a Thinline Postmodern model (Eric Johnson vibes and all). Tastefully crafted with a lively and resonant select ash thinline body, quartersawn maple neck, a super comfortable ’60-style Oval “C” back-shape, and Hand-Wound Master Design "Bone-Tone" pickups, this Postmodern Strat offers a different flavor of Strat tone and feel. Being 6lbs 14oz, this is a remarkably lightweight guitar that balances perfectly and is loud acoustically, for those practice sessions where an amp isn't available (or desired).

To our ears, the thinline body adds a subtle touch of bass and low mid to single note runs. It's hard to pinpoint unless you're a/b'ing this guitar with a solid body Strat, but it's there for sure. It's also tricky to divorce the tones we were getting from the difference in feel that the thinline body brings to the table. Again, it's subtle, but the responsiveness is a little different than a solid body. It's a difference we absolutely love.