This Fender Custom Shop L-Series Strat nails the look and the feel, complete with a '63 C neck, Fat '64 pickups, and one of the best-playing necks we've had in the shop this year. Vintage-style tones with a little more punch, all wrapped in a finish that screams 1964.

If we’re being honest, Fender had us at Aged Surf Green. The color alone evokes a sun-soaked California day in 1964, and it's every bit as cool in person as it sounds. But beyond the eye candy, these LTD L-Series Stratocasters have been a hit with both customers and staff alike - and for good reason.

At the top of the list? The neck. The ’63 C profile (.82–1.00") feels just right - substantial but not bulky - with smooth, rolled edges and beautifully executed 6105 frets. The sanded, unfinished back gives it a fast, broken-in feel, and the highly polished frets make everything play effortlessly. It’s one of the most comfortable Fender Custom Shop necks we’ve had in lately.

At 7lbs 14oz, this alder-bodied Strat is incredibly resonant unplugged - snappy, lively, and surprisingly loud. Plugged in, the Fat ’64 pickups deliver exactly what you'd hope: that signature Strat clarity with a touch of compression and a bit more push than a standard vintage-voiced set.

We’re big Strat fans around here (well…those of us that aren't Tele diehards), and we’d happily add this one to the collection. If a ‘60s-style Strat is on your radar, this one’s hard to beat.