The latest release in Fender’s strictly limited Rarities series is the stunning Quilt Maple Top Stratocaster.
And it is unquestionably another worthy addition to a series that has already delivered the immaculately figured Red Mahogany Top Telecaster, Flame Ash Top Stratocaster and Flame Maple Top Stratocaster.
Like the latter, the Quilt Maple Top Stratocaster has a solid one-piece rosewood neck in a soft 1960s C shape with a 9.5-inch radius fretboard and narrow-tall frets for a contemporary feel. The eponymous quilted maple cap sits atop a two-piece roasted alder body and is protected by a single-ply gold anodised aluminium pickguard.
The pickup configuration sees three Vintage 65 single-coil Stratocaster pickups in neck, middle and bridge positions that are controlled by a five-way blade selector switch with a master volume and two tone knobs – one for the neck pickup, the other for the bridge and middle.
Other vintage details include a bone nut, a six-point synchronised tremolo and deluxe hardshell case. The controls are aged plastic. The whole thing is exquisite.
The Rarities Quilt Maple Top Stratocaster is available now for $2,499/£2,249/€2,599. See Fender for more info.
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