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

Sonic Evaluation

Playing a top-tier Strat first thing in the morning is better than a cup of coffee, and after sitting down with this Masterbuilt marvel from the bench of Jason Smith, I'm filled with vim, vigor, and enthusiasm. What a delightful experience it is to play this guitar! Even unamplified, its powerful resonance and openness are impossible to miss. When you plug in, that translates to a H U G E, lush, three-dimensional sound. The attack has a vintage-style squeeze to it that allows you to really dig in and make the note bloom after the pick attack.

However, I think the magic of this serial really lies in its expressive, vocal qualities. Some Strats sound like female blues singers, and this serial sings like Etta James! It's the kind of quality that makes you want to take a six-hour-long guitar solo (I know I was sorely tempted to!). The lows pack a focused, woody boom, and the mids and trebles have a beautiful crunch and sparkle when you play full chords. The neck pickup sounds fat but not os much so that it can't assume rhythm guitar duties, the middle position is quite muscular, and the bridge position is a one-way ticket to Jangle City. The in-between positions have that signature chirp and quack in spades, too!

All in all, this Strat is a pure joy to play, and I have no doubt it will act as sonic caffeine for you as it did for me.

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.