Fender Custom Shop Empire 59 Transition Stratocaster NOS - Candy Apple Red #19128

~Guitar pictured is the actual guitar that you will receive~

“For over 25 years, the Strat has been my go-to. The look, sound, and versatility of the Stratocaster, and the iconic heroes who play them, has been at the foundation of my experience as a musician. The Empire ‘59 Transition Strat draws on everything I love about the most expressive guitars ever made. Players will appreciate the familiar played-in neck and body feel, and the maturity and sweetness of our hand wound ‘59 pickups. These Strats are among the best I’ve played, and are a tribute to the deep connection between the Fender Stratocaster and the musicians who play them” - Justin, Empire Music

1959 was a turning point for the Fender Stratocaster. Fingerboard materials shifted, pickguards evolved, and the Strat’s voice matured into what would define the next era of music. Inspired by that moment in time — the bridge between the ’50s and ’60s — we wanted to deliver a guitar that feels inspiring, vintage-familiar, and player-ready today. With its hand-shaped neck, rolled fingerboard edges, and custom-wound pickups, the Empire ‘59 Transition Strat is a guitar that feels broken-in from day one and delivers all the clarity and responsiveness players demand today. 

The Look and Feel 
The Empire 59 “C” sits in the sweet spot of neck thicknesses, thin enough to be approachable and familiar, and ever so slightly fuller up top – a nod to the legendary oval-to-rounded neck profiles of the late 50s. It’s a neck that instantly feels like home in the hands of any player. Rolled edges on either maple or rosewood fingerboards create a seasoned, comfortable, and broken-in feel that's a hallmark feature of these guitars. A roasted quartersawn maple neck provides stability and an unmistakably distinguished look. Finally, a deliberately thin nitro finish enhances the breathability and resonance of the lightweight alder body. This upgraded finish feels broken-in from day one and carries the played-in neck feel through the entire experience of the guitar. 

The Sound 
The Empire ‘59 Hand Wound Pickups offer all the dynamic response and sweet character you’d expect from a 50’s pickup, but without overabundant brittleness and harshness – all wrapped in just enough warmth to give a vintage tonal experience. Over the course of a long development process that included many subtle tweaks to numerous pickup prototypes, we worked with the Fender Custom Shop to find this unique sonic lane, and achieve a Strat pickup that sounds responsive, lively, and mature. Expect defined low end, slightly scooped midrange, and sweet rounded top end chime. A half blender system allows the neck pickup to be rolled into the bridge and middle pickup positions (positions 1-3), injecting additional warmth into traditionally bright Strat sounds. 

Final Details 
Final features include an easy access top-adjust truss rod, a contoured neck heel, and a 7.25” to 9.5” compound radius. These final touches will accommodate the demands of the discerning modern player. 

Shaped by years of listening to players and guiding countless custom builds, we worked closely with the Fender Custom Shop to get this build right. The result is a Stratocaster that feels timeless on day one and only grows more inspiring with every note you play. 

Our Custom Shop Authorized technicians complete a full professional factory-spec setup and inspection before shipping or in-store pickup, ensuring an extraordinary playing experience!