Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Question

[teddy boy]

Gents,

Just received a terrific secondhand 2005 NOS '65 TimeMachine Stratocaster. It feels good and plays well. The pickups are great!!! They should offer these as a replacements.

I have on query though. It is a NOS, yet the tremolo cavity has RELIC imbedded in it (see pic). Is this normal? Do all CS Strats have this?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/teddyboy1977/65.jpg

[jtw]

I'm pretty sure all Time Machine models have RELIC stamped somewhere on them, as eventually some of the bodies obviously end up as relics. The bodies all start out as NOS though, so they stamp them in advance of them being relic'd.

[clothwiring]

Normal. Seen many like that. My Cunetto Era has it as well. It's to keep down on fraud.

[clothwiring]

Here's how my Cunetto is..

http://www.chickenbone.net/music/stratrelic.jpg

[teddy boy]

Thanks guys!

I was getting a little worried there...

[Digitalman]

Yep - RELIC stamp on my NOS CS Strat as well...

[rickc007]

yes to the above as well

on 1960 strats, all, or most say 61 on the neck as well

you probably should say NOS in the neck pickup cavity

P.S. is that the ony eye candy you can give us of your new strat :-)

[teddy boy]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow! Thanks for the help! This one is sweet!!

[HeeHaw]

My 66' is a closet classic and it has "relic" stamped on it as well.