Fender Custom Shop 1959 Stratocaster Heavy Relic
Masterbuilt by Vince Van Trigt
The Fender Custom Shop 1959 Stratocaster Heavy Relic in black, built by Masterbuilder Vince Van Trigt, is a meticulous recreation of one of the most influential guitars in blues history. Modeled after late-1950s Stratocasters, this instrument captures the feel, tone and visual character of a guitar that has spent decades on stage. With hand-wound pickups, vintage-correct construction and an aggressively worn nitrocellulose relic finish, this Stratocaster delivers the dynamic response and expressive tone that blues guitarists have relied on for generations.
Manufacturer and Model Background
Fender introduced the Stratocaster in 1954. By 1959 the model had already become one of the most important electric guitars ever built. Late-1950s examples are particularly valued because of their combination of alder bodies, rosewood fingerboards and refined pickup voicing. The Fender Custom Shop recreates these historic instruments with modern craftsmanship while preserving the character of the originals.
This particular instrument was built by Vincent van Trigt, one of Fender's most respected Masterbuilders. Masterbuilt guitars are produced individually by a single luthier rather than on the standard Custom Shop team build line, allowing exceptional attention to detail throughout every stage of construction.
Vincent van Trigt represents a rare distinction within the Fender Custom Shop — he is one of the very few European Master Builders to have worked there. Van Trigt grew up surrounded by music and developed his craft entirely from within Fender, learning every aspect hands-on. This makes the instrument not only a high-end Custom Shop piece, but also part of a very select lineage of guitars built by individual master builders rather than team-built production.
Why This Guitar Matters in Blues
Few guitars shaped the sound of electric blues more than the Fender Stratocaster. Its three single-coil pickups provide a wide tonal palette that works perfectly with tube amplifiers. The Strat's clarity allows subtle phrasing and pick dynamics to translate directly into sound.
The combination of the neck and middle pickups produces the glassy tone that defines many blues recordings. The bridge pickup adds cutting attack for Texas blues leads. For blues guitarists the Stratocaster became the ideal tool for expressive playing — responsive to every nuance of touch.
What Respected Blues Guitarists Did With It
Many of the most influential blues players relied heavily on Stratocasters. Stevie Ray Vaughan turned the Strat into the defining sound of Texas blues. His tone relied on the powerful midrange bite and dynamic response of vintage-style Strat pickups. Buddy Guy used Stratocasters to achieve explosive dynamics and expressive feedback.
Robert Cray built his entire career around Strat tone, using its clarity and articulation to produce precise, soulful phrasing. John Mayer later carried that tradition forward, emphasizing the Strat's glassy high end and touch sensitivity. These players demonstrated how the Stratocaster reacts to the smallest changes in pick attack and guitar volume.
Sound Profile
A late-1950s style Strat like this produces a remarkably balanced tone across all five pickup positions.
What Makes It Special
Several elements make this instrument particularly desirable. First, the Masterbuilt construction. Each guitar is built start to finish by one luthier, allowing exceptional attention to detail at every stage. Vincent van Trigt is among the most respected Masterbuilders to have worked at the Fender Custom Shop.
Second, the Josefina Campos hand-wound pickups. These pickups are highly respected for their vintage-accurate response and musical dynamics. Third, the heavy relic finish — while primarily aesthetic, it also gives the instrument the broken-in feel of a guitar that has been played for decades. Finally, the modernized neck radius and fret size make the guitar far easier to bend and play than original vintage Strats.
A key detail that sets this guitar apart further is its Master Built status. Unlike Team Built instruments, a Master Built guitar is crafted start to finish by a single builder, giving it a unique consistency in feel, resonance and response. In this case, that builder is Vincent van Trigt, whose background as a player and hands-on learner strongly influences the dynamic and musical character of the instrument.
For Gerbman this Stratocaster represents the core of his blues sound. The guitar reacts extremely well to the type of signal chain he uses, including Tube Screamers, Bluesbreaker-style overdrives and transparent boosts. When paired with Fender amplifiers such as a Deluxe Reverb or Bassman, the instrument produces the articulate, singing tone associated with Texas blues.
The dynamic response allows Gerbman to control gain using his pick attack and volume knob rather than relying solely on pedals. That responsiveness is essential for expressive blues playing during live jams and performances.
For Gerbman, there is also a personal layer. Knowing that this guitar is built by a Dutch Master Builder adds a sense of pride and connection. It reflects not only his sound, but also his identity as a European blues player working within a tradition that is often dominated by American builders and artists.
Rarity and Availability
Masterbuilt Fender guitars are produced in extremely small quantities. Because each instrument is individually built by a single Masterbuilder, annual production numbers are limited. Vincent van Trigt guitars in particular have developed a strong reputation among collectors. Availability on the market is therefore relatively low and prices typically range between €7,000 and €12,000 depending on specification and condition. Rarity classification: somewhat rare, approaching collectible.
Variants and Alternatives
- 1956 / 1960 Custom Shop Stratocaster reissues — other vintage-spec CS models
- Team Built Custom Shop Stratocasters — Custom Shop quality at a lower entry point than Masterbuilt
- Suhr Classic S — boutique alternative with similar vintage-inspired voice
- Nash S-Series relic Stratocasters — hand-aged alternatives with strong following among blues players
- Fender American Professional Stratocaster — budget-accessible modern Strat
- Original 1959 Fender Stratocaster — the vintage reference, extraordinarily valuable
Builder Note
Vincent van Trigt was one of the very few European Master Builders at Fender and became known for his relic work and deep understanding of vintage-style instruments. He developed his craft entirely within Fender, starting with basic setup work and growing into one of the highest-ranking builders in the Custom Shop.
Vincent van Trigt is no longer working at Fender, which makes instruments built during his time there increasingly interesting from a collector's perspective.
Vincent van Trigt — Fender Custom Shop Master Builder
