Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Wildwood 10 1955 Stratocaster by Jason Smith – Heavy Relic

Sonic Evaluation

When I first plugged in this Strat, I almost instinctually started (very loudly) playing the riff from Jethro Tull's Locomotive Breath, and it was awesome (for me, at least!). That's not particularly pertinent, but it does illustrate what a joy it is to play this marvelous Masterbuilt Jason Smith Strat. It has quite a rude disposition, and it sounds so downright burly that fun rhythm guitar parts practically force you to stank face. It has a springy attack with a fast response time, and I got bored waiting to see when a big Emin chord would stop ringing. Having sustain for days also makes playing lead a such a blast that you might decide to bust out a twenty-minute version of Purple Rain at the gig.

The lows are muscular and sculpted, the mids are vocal and warm, and the highs positively sizzle. The bridge position sounds surprisingly meaty, and it has a lovely jangle to it. The middle position is quite muscular and punchy without losing the sparkle, and the neck position is fat, throaty, and rich yet clear enough for chord work. The in-between positions had me flying on Little Wings, too!

All in all, this Strat is a supremely resonant monster that put me in touch with the joy of loud rock and roll, and I have a feeling it will inspire you to riff away and get lost in your creative pursuits.

Masterbuilt Mojo

When a master craftsman builds an instrument by hand all by themselves from start to finish, it imbues the instrument with a special brand of magical mojo that is easy to see, hear, and feel but hard to quantify. They reflect the individual personality of the builder so much that they attain distinctly human quality that makes them feel like an old friend from the moment you pick them up. It’s almost as if they have souls of their own, and nowhere is this soulfulness more evident than in our collection of Fender Masterbuilt instruments.

Each of the instruments you see on this page is the product of decades of hard work and an endless supply of passion. The people who currently hold the title of Masterbuilder have all spent years learning the ropes from the masters that came before them until they climbed the ranks and reached the upper echelon of elite guitar builders. They are some of the most adept craftspeople in the industry, and their skilled hands imbue the instruments they build with the sort of dynamic response and expressiveness that you normally only find in vintage instruments.

This guitar has been built to the exacting standards of Jason Smith, one of the most meticulous craftspeople in the world, and it has a heart and soul that reflects the personality of its builder. We’re proud to present this Masterbuilt Wildwood 10 1955 Stratocaster by Jason Smith, and we know its timeless tone and superior playability will provide you with years and years of musical joy.

The Perfect 10

Years ago, we approached our friends at the Fender Custom Shop with a proposal: would they build us guitars that combined the mojo of a true-to-vintage reissue with modern handfeel and comfy modern ergonomics? They were enthused about the idea, and the Wildwood 10 was born. Thanks to the Custom Shop’s incredible craftsmanship and artistry, these guitars look gorgeous, sound killer, and play like butter.

Each of these Custom Shop creations features a thin fifties-style nitrocellulose finish, which allows the voice of the resonant hand-selected tonewoods to shine through. They also have hand-wound Custom Shop pickups that are sure to inspire you to reach new heights on your sonic journey. Wildwood 10s feel great in your hands, too. Their modern 10” radius is suitable for a wide variety of styles and techniques, and their 6105 narrow-tall frets allow you to expend less energy with your left hand, especially when bending strings. To top it all off, they come with a limited edition Dealer Select Wildwood 10 hardshell case and a certificate of authenticity.

Phenomenal Fifty-Fives

Fender first introduced the Stratocaster in 1954, but they didn't really hit their stride until 1955 when they locked in the perfect formula for optimum sonic horsepower and good looks. The Wildwood 10 1955 Stratocasters pay homage to these legendary original Strats by replicating crucial details like the one-ply pickguard, dot inlays, resonant ash bodies, and maple necks. Many have also been lovingly relic'd by the masterful Custom Shop team, so they have oodles of vintage vibe. Nevertheless, they feel every bit as good as any modern guitar thanks to their Wildwood-exclusive 10" radius and 6105 frets. We invite you to experience the new-age comfort and fifties mojo of the Wildwood 10 1955 Stratocaster. Once you do, we're sure you'll fall head over heels in love.