Blue Note Music
1956 Relic Custom Shop Fender Stratocaster
1956 Relic Custom Shop Fender Stratocaster
BLUE NOTE MUSIC
AUTHENTICATION REPORT
Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic
Instrument: Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic
Serial Number: R27758
Documented Build Period: 2005
Certificate of Authenticity Date: January 25, 2006
Country of Manufacture: USA — Fender Custom Shop, Corona, California
Instrument Type: Electric Guitar / Stratocaster
Authentication Status: AUTHENTIC — HIGH CONFIDENCE
2005 Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic — R27758 — Fender Custom Shop, Corona, CA. Includes Fender Certificate of Authenticity dated January 25, 2006. Original-appearing factory Relic finish and period-correct Custom Shop construction. May 2, 2005 production marking documented.
1. IDENTIFICATION
Based upon examination, the accompanying Fender Certificate of Authenticity, serial-number evidence, construction details, markings, hardware, electronics, and comparison with documented Fender Custom Shop production from the same period, this instrument is identified as:
Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic — Serial Number R27758 — manufactured in 2005.
This is not an original 1956 Fender Stratocaster. It is a modern Fender Custom Shop recreation of a 1956 Stratocaster, built as part of Fender's Time Machine Relic program.
Fender's 2005 Custom Shop price documentation specifically lists a "'56 Stratocaster Relic, maple" among its Time Machine models. Fender described the Relic finish concept as intentionally reproducing the appearance of decades of use, including worn finish, aged hardware, and aged plastic components. (Jedistar)
2. PRIMARY AUTHENTICATION EVIDENCE
A. Serial Number
The neck plate is clearly stamped:
R27758
The same serial number appears on the Fender Certificate of Authenticity:
Model: 1956 Stratocaster Relic
Serial #: R27758
This matching serial number between the physical instrument and factory documentation is one of the strongest pieces of evidence in the examination.
B. Fender Certificate of Authenticity
The certificate identifies the instrument as:
Fender — Certificate of Authenticity
Model: 1956 Stratocaster Relic
Serial #: R27758
Date: 01/25/06
The certificate describes the instrument as having been custom built by Fender's craftsmen and identifies the Fender Custom Shop/Corona, California connection.
The certificate is highly significant because it independently identifies the specific model and serial number corresponding to the instrument.
C. Production Marking
Photographs show a production/date marking of:
MAY 2 2005
along with a marking consistent with:
56 Strat
This is particularly important because Fender itself explains that production dates placed on individual components—especially necks—can help establish a production period, although a component date is not necessarily the exact date the completed guitar was assembled. (Fender Support)
The May 2, 2005 marking is therefore entirely consistent with the instrument being a 2005 Custom Shop guitar.
3. DATE ANALYSIS
Established chronology
|
Evidence |
Date |
|
Component/production marking |
May 2, 2005 |
|
Custom Shop model documented in 2005 |
Yes |
|
Fender Certificate of Authenticity |
January 25, 2006 |
|
Serial number |
R27758 |
There is no contradiction between the May 2005 production marking and the January 2006 certificate.
The most reasonable interpretation is that the guitar was manufactured during 2005 and the Certificate of Authenticity was issued or processed later.
Fender specifically cautions that its production system was modular and that component dates and serial numbers should be used together rather than assuming either one alone represents the exact completion date. (Fender Support)
Blue Note conclusion:
Production year: 2005 — strongly established.
4. MODEL VERIFICATION
The guitar's construction is consistent with a Fender Custom Shop recreation of a 1956 Stratocaster.
Observed characteristics include:
- Stratocaster body shape
- Fender headstock
- One-piece maple neck/fingerboard
- 21 frets
- Black dot position markers
- Three single-coil pickups
- Vintage-style tremolo
- Six-saddle bridge
- Vintage-style tuners
- Traditional Stratocaster control layout
- Relic treatment
- Aged plastic components
- Vintage-style wiring and electronic construction
- Fender Custom Shop documentation
Documented 2005 Custom Shop examples show the same general model family and construction philosophy, including one-piece maple necks, 21 vintage-style frets, three Custom Shop single coils, vintage tremolo hardware and vintage-style tuners. (Bigfoot-Guitars)
The existence of the model in Fender's actual 2005 Custom Shop catalog documentation further supports the identification. (Jedistar)
5. NECK AND FINGERBOARD
Observed
- One-piece maple construction
- Maple fingerboard
- 21 frets
- Black dot inlays
- Vintage-style fret construction
- Fender headstock shape and logo
- Vintage-style tuner arrangement
- Neck production marking corresponding to May 2, 2005
- Additional marking consistent with "56 Strat"
Assessment
Consistent with a 2005 Fender Custom Shop '56 Stratocaster Relic.
The neck evidence is particularly compelling because the physical production marking corresponds chronologically with the documented 2005 Custom Shop model.
6. BODY
The body has the correct general Stratocaster configuration and exhibits extensive intentional Relic treatment.
Observed
- Stratocaster body contours
- Heavy simulated finish wear
- Exposed wood in worn areas
- Aged/relic finish
- Vintage-style bridge and tremolo configuration
- Vintage-style pickguard and aged plastics
- Correct control arrangement
Body Wood
Not conclusively established.
This distinction is important.
Documented 2005 Custom Shop '56 Relics exist with both ash and alder bodies, depending upon the particular run/specification. For example, a documented 2005 '56 Relic is listed with an ash body, while other 2005 examples are documented with alder. (Bigfoot-Guitars)
Therefore, Blue Note does not certify the body as alder or ash.
Blue Note classification:
Body wood: Unverified from examination.
This does not affect the authentication of the guitar as a Fender Custom Shop instrument.
7. FINISH
The finish is a heavily reliced blue/green-greenish custom-color appearance.
Blue Note classification:
Finish: Original-appearing Fender Custom Shop Relic finish; exact factory color designation not independently verified.
8. PICKUPS
The guitar contains three Stratocaster-style single-coil pickups.
Photographs of the pickup assemblies show:
- Vintage-style construction
- Black fiber/former-style pickup components
- Cloth-covered wiring
- Construction appropriate to a Custom Shop vintage recreation
The pickups appear highly consistent with the type of pickups used in Fender Custom Shop '50s-style instruments of the period.
Pickup originality: Appears original/period-correct; exact factory pickup designation not independently verified.
9. ELECTRONICS
The electronics visible in the supplied photographs are consistent with the construction expected from a Fender Custom Shop instrument of this period.
Observed:
- CTS-style potentiometers
- Cloth-covered wiring
- Vintage-style soldering
- Orange molded-style capacitor
- Traditional Stratocaster wiring architecture
- Five-way selector switch
- Master volume
- Two tone controls
The five-way switch should not be considered evidence against authenticity.
Documented 2005 Custom Shop '56 Relics exist with five-way switching, while other examples were equipped with or supplied with period-style three-way switching. There was some variation among Custom Shop examples. (Bigfoot-Guitars)
Potentiometer codes
The pot codes cannot be read with sufficient certainty to certify exact date codes without removing existing original solder.
Therefore:
Electronics: Period-consistent and apparently appropriate; exact component originality/date codes remain unverified.
10. HARDWARE
Tuners
Vintage-style six-in-line Fender/Stratocaster tuners.
Assessment: Consistent with the model.
Bridge/Tremolo
Vintage-style synchronized Stratocaster tremolo with six saddles.
Assessment: Consistent with a 1956-style Custom Shop recreation.
Pickguard
Aged/relic single-ply-style pickguard.
Assessment: Consistent with Fender's Time Machine Relic concept.
Plastic Components
Knobs, pickup covers, switch tip and other plastic components exhibit appropriate aging/relicing.
Assessment: Consistent with intentional Fender Custom Shop Relic treatment.
11. RELIC FINISH AUTHENTICITY
The degree and style of wear are consistent with Fender's Time Machine Relic concept rather than naturally occurring 1950s wear.
Fender's 2005 Custom Shop documentation explicitly describes the Relic finish package as reproducing the appearance of heavy use, including worn finish, aged hardware and aged plastic parts. (Jedistar)
12. CASE
Fender-style vintage tweed hardshell case with:
- Tweed exterior
- Red/plush interior
- Fender identification hardware/plaque
- Vintage-style construction
The case is highly appropriate for the instrument and period.
However, the examination alone cannot prove that this exact case was the case originally supplied with serial R27758.
Blue Note classification:
Case: Period-correct Fender-style case; originality to serial R27758 not independently proven.
13. SERIAL NUMBER ANALYSIS
The serial R27758 is important because Fender Custom Shop instruments have used special/non-standard serial-number formats.
Fender's own current dating documentation specifically notes that many U.S. Custom Shop instruments fall outside the normal mainstream serial-number patterns and lists R-prefixed numbers among its non-standard/custom-shop numbering references. (Fender Support)
Therefore, the fact that R27758 does not behave like a conventional American Standard Z5-series serial number is not evidence of a counterfeit instrument.
The physical serial number also matches the serial number printed on the supplied Fender Certificate of Authenticity.
Public database note
A current public web search did not locate an independently indexed Fender factory record specifically for R27758.
This is not considered negative evidence.
Fender's serial-number system has historically included special runs, Custom Shop numbering, non-sequential numbering and incomplete public records. Fender itself cautions that serial numbers are not always definitive dating tools. (Fender Support)
14. AUTHENTICATION RED FLAGS
During the examination of the supplied photographs, the following potential red flags were specifically considered:
|
Examination Point |
Result |
|
Serial number mismatch |
None observed |
|
COA/model mismatch |
None observed |
|
Impossible production date |
None observed |
|
Incorrect Stratocaster construction |
None observed |
|
Incorrect Fender headstock |
None observed |
|
Inconsistent neck construction |
None observed |
|
Inconsistent Relic treatment |
None observed |
|
Non-period electronic construction |
None obvious |
|
Hardware inconsistent with model |
None obvious |
|
Suspicious serial placement |
None observed |
|
Evidence of obvious counterfeit assembly |
None observed |
15. ORIGINALITY ASSESSMENT
Based strictly upon the available evidence:
Neck
Verified/Strongly Supported Original
The neck carries the appropriate production marking and is consistent with the documented model.
Body
Appears Original / Not Fully Verified
Construction and Relic treatment are consistent, but internal body markings and complete construction history have not been independently examined.
Finish
Appears Original Fender Custom Shop Relic Finish
No obvious evidence of an aftermarket relic conversion was observed.
Pickups
Appears Original / Period Correct
Exact pickup identification and factory installation status remain unverified.
Electronics
Appears Original / Period Correct
No obvious aftermarket modifications were identified from the photographs, but exact component-level originality cannot be certified without clearer code documentation.
Hardware
Appears Original / Period Correct
Case
Period Correct; Originality to Instrument Unverified
Certificate
Strong Documentary Evidence
The COA serial matches the instrument's neck plate.
16. AUTHENTICATION CONCLUSION
AUTHENTIC — HIGH CONFIDENCE
After consideration of the physical evidence, factory documentation, serial-number correspondence, production markings, construction details and comparison with documented Fender Custom Shop production from the same period, Blue Note Music's opinion is:
The instrument is an authentic Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic, serial number R27758, manufactured in 2005.
The evidence strongly supports that this guitar was built by the Fender Custom Shop as a factory Relic recreation of a 1956 Stratocaster.
The combination of:
- Matching R27758 serial number
- Fender Certificate of Authenticity
- Certificate identification as "1956 Stratocaster Relic"
- May 2, 2005 production marking
- "56 Strat" production marking
- Correct Custom Shop construction
- Period-appropriate hardware
- Period-appropriate electronics
- Authentic Fender Relic construction
- Documented existence of the model in Fender's 2005 Custom Shop program
provides a strong and internally consistent authentication chain.
17. BLUE NOTE CERTIFIED CLASSIFICATION
BLUE NOTE AUTHENTICATION GRADE
Instrument: Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic
Serial: R27758
Production: 2005
Authentication: AUTHENTIC — HIGH CONFIDENCE
Originality: Appears substantially original based upon supplied evidence
Factory Documentation: Fender Certificate of Authenticity present
Modifications: No obvious aftermarket modifications identified
Exact Finish Name: Not independently verified
Body Wood: Not independently verified
Exact Pickup Model: Not independently verified
Recommended inventory description:
2005 Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic — R27758 — Fender Custom Shop, Corona, CA. Includes Fender Certificate of Authenticity dated January 25, 2006. Original-appearing factory Relic finish and period-correct Custom Shop construction. May 2, 2005 production marking documented.
18. FINAL PROFESSIONAL OPINION
Blue Note Music considers this instrument to be an authentic 2005 Fender Custom Shop 1956 Stratocaster Relic, serial number R27758.
The available evidence is substantially stronger than a typical used Custom Shop instrument because the guitar is accompanied by a matching Fender Certificate of Authenticity and contains a corresponding production marking.
The absence of a currently searchable public factory record for R27758 should not be represented as evidence against authenticity. Fender's own documentation recognizes non-standard Custom Shop serial-number systems and explains that serial numbers alone are not always definitive. (Fender Support)
Authentication confidence: HIGH
Blue Note Music Authentication Status: CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC
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