Only a handful of guitar builders worldwide can call themselves Fender Custom Shop Master Builders, a title reserved for the absolute elite in bolt-on guitar making. And then there's Ron Thorn. With an almost superhuman level of craftsmanship, Thorn's luthiery talent is so exceptional that Fender created a new title especially for him: "Principal Master Builder." This is a first in Fender's 75-year history!

Only the most skilled and talented guitar builders work in the Fender Custom Shop. The "Dream Factory," as it's affectionately known, truly creates dream guitars. This Stratocaster with a Candy Apple Red finish was built by master luthier Ron Thorn and is truly a sight to behold!

The foundation of this guitar is a 1963 Fender Stratocaster, with an alder body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. While many classic '63 specifications have been retained, there are also some modern refinements. The 9.5" radius fingerboard improves playability and easily prevents "choke outs" during bending. The pickups in this Strat are also not what you might expect. Instead of staying true to the '60s vibe, this guitar is equipped with hand-wound Fat '50s pickups. These deliver a punchier and brighter sound, with less of the warm, mellow character typical of '60s Stratocasters.

This 2021 Masterbuilt is still in excellent condition. The aging makes it difficult to see where the relic ends and the playwear begins, but it's clear that the previous owner took good care of this instrument!

Comes in a hardshell case with a TFOA passport.