The latest release in Fender’s strictly limited Rarities series (opens in new tab) 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 (opens in new tab), Flame Ash Top Stratocaster (opens in new tab) and Flame Maple Top Stratocaster (opens in new tab).
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 (opens in new tab) for more info.
