Fender's "Mod Shop" allows players to spec out their perfect guitar while keeping the lead times and pricing lower than a Custom Shop build. It's a cool concept and allows for some fun customizations.

Think slightly hot-rodded 70s Strat and you'll be in the ballpark of what this well-cared for Mod Shop Strat's vibe is all about: alder body, walnut stain, black 3-ply guard, 2 post trem, locking tuners, 22 fret rosewood neck, and Texas Special pickups.

The satin finished rosewood neck, with it's 9 1/2" radius and narrow/tall frets, provides an instantly comfortable playing experience. There's no fret wear to speak of and the fresh setup yields a slinky, great playing guitar.

Even with plenty of trem usage, we didn't encounter any tuning issues that concerned us - quick the opposite actually. The locking tuners and two-post trem work beautifully together to keep tuning well in check.

Plugged in, the Texas Special pickups deliver slightly hotter, balanced Strat tones. When we say hotter, they're not overly so - going too hot with pickup output can lead to overly compressed tones that can be uninspiring. These pickups simply deliver classic, glassy Strat tones with a touch more output - great for players who like the guitar to do a bit of the work (vs digging in hard with your right to get what you want out of the guitar).