This beautiful LTD 1959 Strat brilliantly melds beauty with performance and that classic '50s tone.

In mid-1959, Fender introduced a key update to the Stratocaster neck, transitioning from a one-piece maple construction to a two-piece design with a thick rosewood fingerboard—famously known as the "slab board." This beautiful 1959 Stratocaster Custom Shop Stratocaster represents the first half of 1959 before these changes took place, which is cool to think about, right?

Specs include a 2 piece Alder body, AAA Birdseye maple neck, large C neck profile (.85-.98"), 9 1/2" radius, 6105 narrow/tall frets, bone nut 1.65", and a trio of Fat 50s single coil pickups.

We immediately loved this Strat the moment we sat down with it. The birdseye neck is a highlight both for its beauty and also it's profile (it reminds us a touch of a Lentz neck though a bit narrower than a Lentz). It's a loud and snappy guitar acoustically with a great top-end clarity.

Plugged in, the Fat 50s meld with the alder body and aforementioned neck to create that awesome 50s Fender tone we've experienced on vintage examples. There's a really open, broad quality to the tone that leans more toward chimey, a la a great Telecaster. It makes for a great rhythm guitar and Tele-inspired single note runs. Either way, we have a feeling the new owner is going to be mighty pleased.