1955 Stratocaster Relic Ash Masterbuilt by John Cruz

The Fender Custom Shop 1955 Stratocaster Relic Ash Master Built by John Cruz will please any Strat fan fortunate enough to strap it on. Close inspection reveals the remarkable workmanship and relic treatment for which Mr. Cruz is known. It's available in a vintage combination of Strat specs with a contoured ash body with a 54 maple neck sporting a "U" back shape. The fingerboard is maple with 21 vintage frets with a custom/compound radius. Gold hardware, a Vintage Strat tremolo bridge, a one-ply parchment pickguard and three handwound '50s pickups come together to produce a fantastic look and classic Strat tone.

John Cruz
John Cruz came to Fender in 1987, joined the Custom Shop in 1993 and became a Master Builder in 2003. Custom guitars are his passion, and he is the man behind several famous Custom Shop instruments, including the replica of Stevie Ray Vaughan' famous œNumber One Stratocaster guitar.

Cruz also built the limited-run Moto guitar and amp sets, worked on the '49 Woody amp project and developed all production processes for the Rory Gallagher and Muddy Waters tribute guitars. Further, his meticulous work was essential to all aspects of the initial Custom Shop Relic guitars and basses, and he initiated the Custom Shop' quality assurance program.

Cruz has built fantastic guitars for players such as Doug Aldrich (Dio, Whitesnake), Dave Amato and Bruce Hall (REO Speedwagon), Mick Mars (Motley Crue), Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Bono (U2), Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses), Ike Turner and Brad Whitford (Aerosmith).