This is innovation that doesn’t shout - it plays. And it’s a total joy to experience.
Let's consider this for a minute: You’re a Master Builder at the Fender Custom Shop, which is about as top-tier as it gets. So how do you come up with something new? Strats, Teles, Jazzmasters, Jaguars… they’ve all been reimagined every which way, right?
Well, not so fast. Kyle McMillin has taken the arguably perfect Stratocaster design and given us something completely new and original - an offset Strat.
Visually, this guitar stops you in your tracks. The Sage Green Metallic finish with a black guard, white plastics, rosewood board, block inlays, and gold hardware feels both elegant and fresh. It’s sharp. It’s tasteful. It’s just… cool.
But the real magic reveals itself when you sit down to play it. Strats are known for comfort and ergonomics - that’s baked into the design. And somehow, Kyle has taken that to the next level. The guitar balances effortlessly and feels almost short-scale in how the body sets the neck: slightly elevated, slightly shifted right. It puts your fretting hand right where it wants to be. Cowboy chords are closer. Upper fret access is effortless. The deep scoop in the lower horn clears the way. It just feels right.
Plugged in, a set of Josefina-wound '60s Strat pickups delivers tones that live between eras: the airy chime of a great '50s Strat, paired with the warm low mids of a good '60s set. Every position on the 5-way switch shines. And with the blend control on the second tone knob, you can fine-tune your bridge pickup’s midrange to perfectly suit your amp and playing style.
__________________
About Kyle:
Kyle McMillin brings over 15 years of hands-on experience to the Fender Custom Shop, including a five-year apprenticeship under Master Builder Yuriy Shishkov, where he helped craft nearly 1,000 guitars. A longtime member of the Fender team, Kyle now steps into the spotlight as a Master Builder, joining the ranks of some of the most skilled and respected luthiers in the world.
Body
Hardware
Neck
Other