Greg Fessler Master Builder Custom Shop NOS 1959 Fiesta Red Stratocaster review
This incarnation of the 1959 Stratocaster is a limited run guitar, with some of its features based on the 1959 Stratocaster that British instrumental guitar player Hank Marvin of the Shadows played from 1959-late 1961.
If you're not familiar with Hank's playing, he is worth checking out for his signature guitar sound and technique that launched thousands of bands in the 1960's. See more pictures and info on Hank's guitar below this review.
Hank B. Marvin of the Shadows in 1960
with his famous 1959 Fiesta Red Stratocaster
This Greg Fessler 1959 Master builder Stratocaster is a great looking guitar, supplied in variation on the original style tweed case with red plush lining. It looks like the guitar that British guitarist Hank Marvin played between 1959 to 1961, which helped create the demand for Fiesta red guitars outside of the US in the 1960's and is certain to appeal to players emulating his style.
When you open the case you're greeted by an eyeful of a glorious fiesta red paint, Birdseye maple and gold plated parts. Much the same amazement ensues as when Hank opened the case of his 1959 for the first time over 60 years ago.
The guitar is in NOS - New Old Stock finish, so looks 'as new' but brought forward to the modern day. Like you just opened the case on a 1959 guitar.
When you open the case you're greeted by an eyeful of a glorious fiesta red paint, Birdseye maple and gold plated parts. Much the same amazement ensues as when Hank opened the case of his 1959 for the first time over 60 years ago.
The guitar is in NOS - New Old Stock finish, so looks 'as new' but brought forward to the modern day. Like you just opened the case on a 1959 guitar.
This is it! the complete package from the Fender Custom shop
now includes a build sheet in a Custom Shop embossed folder (front).
now includes a build sheet in a Custom Shop embossed folder (front).
The basic shopping list starts with a 2 piece Alder body, finished in Fiesta Red cellulose, a 2AA Birdseye Maple neck in a light honey tint lacquer which is not too dark and looks great, not too much 'pippiness' to the Birdseye Maple and there are lovely shimmers of flame in the Maple too.
The fiesta red has the right colour shade which takes on different hues
in different lights, just like the original guitars from the era.
The shade for the 59 was replicated from the original DuPont paint Coral Red colour.
in different lights, just like the original guitars from the era.
The shade for the 59 was replicated from the original DuPont paint Coral Red colour.
Gold hardware abounds from screws to metal parts which gives it that look of quality and the gold really sets off the red and the maple neck.
The neck is a 21 fret vintage style but augmented with medium frets which are easy to play and features a 9.5" radius, not 'vintage' but easier to play and that enhances the playing experience.
The 2AA Maple is attractively finished in a light honey tint cellulose lacquer which has a deep shine. The profile is described as '1960 oval' (which is similar to the modern Stratocaster 'C' shape), derived from a revised shape introduced in late 1958 superceding the 'V' boat hull shape neck of the earlier 56-57 Stratocasters and is a playing improvement over the chunkier feel of the earlier necks.
The neck is a nice and easy play, the fretboard looks visually flatter than a true 1958 7.5" radius and playing is easier than a V shape or a sharper 7.5" radius vintage profile board, so the trade off is valid, why make life harder?
(The 1956 Custom shop Stratocaster in contrast features a really chubby D section neck and is not as comfortable to play which is why I sold mine. It was ok as a guitar, but this 59 has just a much easier playing neck and quite a few people have identified the 56 neck as less easy to play.)
(The 1956 Custom shop Stratocaster in contrast features a really chubby D section neck and is not as comfortable to play which is why I sold mine. It was ok as a guitar, but this 59 has just a much easier playing neck and quite a few people have identified the 56 neck as less easy to play.)
Strings are Fender 10's and I changed these right away for D'Addario 10-46's which are lighter string tension and what I fit to quite a few of my guitars and changed again to 9-42 D'Addario strings which has improved the guitar for me, I also use their 9-42 sets on other Stratocasters I own. I find this make and also the Ernie Ball 10's strings do very well and last.
Classic appointments from the pre-CBS era
The electronics are taken care of with a set of Fat 50's pickups which are slightly hotter than the standard 50's set. The fitment of a 5 way switch from standard is much welcome, (the 1956 Custom shop in contrast I owned was fitted with a 3 way switch as standard and includes a 5 way in the accessories, a measure that means it is often changed right away). A vintage tone circuit with modification is fitted to the 1959.
Soundwise, these pickups are very close to the originals, they give a great sound and that is what it is all about.
Out of the box:
For a big ticket guitar this one wasn't set up much at all which was a disappointment for a guitar of this price level, however I was able to do the work. The neck was right but the rest of it needed adjustment. So, off came the strings and on with the D'addario 10's. I had to adjust the bridge height and the saddle heights, plus cut the nut slots deeper to get the strings lower at the first fret.
The bridge now has the 2-3mm height from the body and the trem works nicely.
The 10's felt a bit inflexible so I changed them for D'Addario 9-42's and this has improved the guitar all round, the neck relief is better and the string heights are lower. The guitar plays very nicely now.
The 10's felt a bit inflexible so I changed them for D'Addario 9-42's and this has improved the guitar all round, the neck relief is better and the string heights are lower. The guitar plays very nicely now.
Do remember to insert the small spring from the spare springs pack in the brown envelope in the case pack into the Trem arm hole as this helps push the trem arm upwards and loads the arm end against the threads so the arm doesn't droop. Otherwise the arm winds in too far before you get resistance and wears the block threads out quicker.
Build quality:
The build quality is very good, the finish is vey good and there is really nothing to fault here.
Hardware:
Its the usual appointments here, but the gold plated metal parts really set it off. The machine heads are Fender stamped Kluson type units and you can see they have been greased, which the Mexican 50's and 60's guitars don't show any evidence of greasing. The machine heads are smooth in action.
Value for money:
A matter of opinion to some but this is a big ticket buy for many people and it has obvious appeal to certain players. It is not a cheap guitar but people who are likely to buy this are doing if for the Hank Marvin look and sound.
Overall evaluation:
A nice re-creation of a 1959 style guitar with some modern updates. Not a cheap guitar, but it is likely to appeal to some for what it portrays - a replication of Hank Marvin's original guitar (albeit not publicised as such). It has the look and a great sound which is the ideal combination. Mine should have been set up better but at least I was able do that. The poor set up may be detrimental in some people's view, but is fixable and was an oversight by the guitar shop. No real problem as I was able to do the adjustment.
Would I buy this again?
Yes. It is the perfect guitar I was after back in 1983 - Hank Marvin's Stratocaster, replicated in almost every respect. That's why I bought this one and chose it from the 7 on offer because it closely matched the wood grain on the original guitar, besides the colour etc.
The flatter board makes playing easier, although I do find that the modern Mexican reissues from 2015 onwards have very nice necks and play almost as well.
The lack of set up was not a big issue, I was able to do the work and it now plays like it should, it sounds and looks the part and I am very pleased with it.
Most will likely buy for the Hank Marvin / Shadows connection, or for the look, the colour combination here is excellent.
Would I buy this again?
Yes. It is the perfect guitar I was after back in 1983 - Hank Marvin's Stratocaster, replicated in almost every respect. That's why I bought this one and chose it from the 7 on offer because it closely matched the wood grain on the original guitar, besides the colour etc.
The flatter board makes playing easier, although I do find that the modern Mexican reissues from 2015 onwards have very nice necks and play almost as well.
The lack of set up was not a big issue, I was able to do the work and it now plays like it should, it sounds and looks the part and I am very pleased with it.
Most will likely buy for the Hank Marvin / Shadows connection, or for the look, the colour combination here is excellent.
The original 1959 guitar:
Cliff Richard (now Sir Cliff Richard), a British pop singer from 1958 organised the purchase of a 1959 Fender Stratocaster for Hank Marvin the lead guitarist of his backing band the Shadows.
This guitar literally launched a thousand bands or more. Thanks to the generosity of Cliff Richard, the fortunes of Fender instrument sales mushroomed in Europe and beyond. It also launched the Shadows into a career that would last for decades.
This guitar literally launched a thousand bands or more. Thanks to the generosity of Cliff Richard, the fortunes of Fender instrument sales mushroomed in Europe and beyond. It also launched the Shadows into a career that would last for decades.
When guitarist Hank Marvin combined the guitar with a VOX AC15 amplifier and Meazzi echo machine, a signature sound was born.
Immediately upon the release of the Shadows' single 'Apache' in June 1960 which went to Number 1, it heralded the launch of an instrumental pop music boom in the UK.
It also inspired players like George Harrison, Brian May, Mark Knopfler and many others who would become famous in their own right years later, to take up the guitar.
Immediately upon the release of the Shadows' single 'Apache' in June 1960 which went to Number 1, it heralded the launch of an instrumental pop music boom in the UK.
It also inspired players like George Harrison, Brian May, Mark Knopfler and many others who would become famous in their own right years later, to take up the guitar.
From this seed many players would follow Hank's technique, learning from his recordings.
The original Hank Marvin Stratocaster guitar like our 59 here was Fiesta Red with a Birdseye Maple neck and fitted with gold hardware.
The guitar was a sensation, it was said to be the first Stratocaster in private hands in the UK at the time. The importance of Cliff Richard's generosity in the gift of that guitar is immeasurable.
Cliff was also instrumental so to speak in pushing their A&R man and producer Norrie Paramor into having the Shadows cut an instrumental single of their own, the resulting A side, 'Apache' written by Jerry Lordan, changed guitar history and is said to be the best guitar instrumental piece ever recorded and one of the most recorded guitar instrumentals.
Hank Marvin enjoyed a career that still continues, living in Australia has curtailed the Shadows performances away from his home there, but he still plays live over there.
Recapture the magic with this new creation of his 1959 guitar in all but signature version!
The guitar was a sensation, it was said to be the first Stratocaster in private hands in the UK at the time. The importance of Cliff Richard's generosity in the gift of that guitar is immeasurable.
Cliff was also instrumental so to speak in pushing their A&R man and producer Norrie Paramor into having the Shadows cut an instrumental single of their own, the resulting A side, 'Apache' written by Jerry Lordan, changed guitar history and is said to be the best guitar instrumental piece ever recorded and one of the most recorded guitar instrumentals.
Hank Marvin enjoyed a career that still continues, living in Australia has curtailed the Shadows performances away from his home there, but he still plays live over there.
Recapture the magic with this new creation of his 1959 guitar in all but signature version!
A rare picture of Cliff Richard with Hank's original 59 Stratocaster
Cliff was being measured for this pink jacket in a Soho tailor's in 1958 when he formally met Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch, who went on to play with Cliff for decades until 2009.
Jet Harris (left) and Hank with Hank's original 59 Stratocaster
from the Shadows first album LP cover
From the Shadows to the fore EP cover -
These record covers served as free advertising for Fender!
