Are you looking for a sassy relic Strat that won’t kill your bank account? In this Fender Road Worn 60s Vintera Strat review, I tell you everything you have to know to decide if this guitar is for you.
You can use the table of contents below to take you to the area that interests you. Click on the little box to open it, and then click on the section of the article you want to read, or you can read from start to finish if you want the full Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat experience!
Click here to go directly to the cheat sheet, or click here if you want the spec sheet.
What Is The Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat?
Fender developed the Vintera (Vintage Era) series in 2019 to celebrate the impact guitars like the Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Precision Bass had on the ’50s, ’60s’ and ’70s. Each guitar has period-correct classic colors and other unique features to look and sound like the decades that helped design them.
The Vintera Road Worn series is a limited edition that features aged nitro finishes and hotter custom period-correct pickups.
Notably, the Vintera Road Worn 60s Stratocaster exemplifies what was happening musically in that decade and tries to capture a bit of the mojo of players like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, and Pete Townshend.
Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat – Cheat Sheet
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ☆ 9.6 Out Of 10
Street Price $1,200
The limited edition Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat is Fender’s take on a guitar that has all the mojo of that era with an aged nitro finish and hotter custom period-correct pickups.
If you want to go directly to the guitar’s specs then click here.
PROS
✅ Mid ’60s C-Shaped Neck Is Easy To Play
✅ Hand-Distressed Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish
✅ ’60s Style Hot Single-Coil Pickups
CONS
❌ Hardware Not ’60s Reliced
❌ No Left-handed Models
❌ No Hardshell Case
Design
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
9.5 Out Of 10
Overall Quality
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
9.6 Out Of 10
Functionality
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
9.8 Out Of 10
Price
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆
9.7 Out Of 10
Fender Company Profile
Unless you just started playing the guitar today, you are undoubtedly familiar with the Fender brand. These guitars have literally helped define rock n’ roll and blues history. Their original factory was in Fullerton California.
Fender guitars are now made in many parts of the world, with the American-made and Custom Shop guitar lines still made with pride in the USA.
The Fender Broadcaster was first introduced in the autumn of 1950. It became known as a “Nocaster” after the Broadcaster label was removed from the headstock to avoid a trademark lawsuit from Gretsch over their “Broadkaster” drum set. The guitar was re-branded the Telecaster and the rest is history!
Fender has also led the way with amplifiers. Their “K&F” (Doc Kauffman and Leo Fender) series were the very first Fender amps, made by the K&F Manufacturing Corporation. These amps formed the basis of the Woodie, Tweed, Blonde, Brownface, Blackface, and Silverface series.
Fender makes an extensive line of pickups for all their guitars and bass guitars. Their Custom Shop pickups are hand-wired with hand-beveled magnetic pole pieces and period-correct wire and bobbins.
Who Is The Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat For?
This guitar is for players who want a ’60s-era Stratocaster that looks lovingly played and sounds like it got better with age without sending you to the bank to take out a mortgage on your home.
If you lived through the ’60s, you would particularly appreciate what Fender has done with the Vintera line. Remember the original Woodstock Festival? I was too young to attend, but that’s the sound!
If you’re looking for a lightly reliced guitar, a bit more of a relic than Fender’s “Closet Classic” line, the Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat might be your ticket.
Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat – Specifications
The Road Worn 60s Vintera essentially adds an aged nitro finish and hotter pickups to the non-Road Worn Vintera version of this guitar.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Body | Alder |
| Shape | Strat with rear contoured upper bout “comfort carve” |
| Colors | Fiesta Red and Firemist Gold |
| Neck | 4 Bolt-on Mid ’60s C-Shaped Neck |
| Branding | Traditional ’60s Fender logo on the headstock |
| Fingerboard Material | Pau Ferro |
| Fingerboard Specs | 7.25 Inch fingerboard radius with 25.5-inch scale length & dot inlays |
| Nut | Synthetic Bone with a 1.65-inch nut width |
| Frets | 21 Vintage Tall |
| Transport | Deluxe Gig Bag |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Vintage-Style 6-Point Synchronized Tremolo |
| Tuners | Vintage-Style Tuning Machines with a single string tree |
| Neck Plate | Four Bolt-On |
| Electronics | |
| Neck Pickup | Calibrated Vintage-Style ’60s Hot Strat Single-coil |
| Middle Pickup | Calibrated Vintage-Style ’60s Hot Strat Single-coil |
| Bridge Pickup | Calibrated Vintage-Style ’60s Hot Strat Single-coil |
| Controls | 1 x master volume, 1 x middle tone, 1 x neck tone |
| Switching | 5-way blade pickup switch |
| Miscellaneous | 3-Ply Mint Green Pickguard And Backplate Weight: Approximately 7.5 pounds Deluxe Gig Bag included Strings: Fender 0.009 – 0.046 |
| Cost | $1200 (street) |
Features And Benefits
Vintage-Style Six-Point Synchronized Tremolo
This tremolo bridge sounds great sitting flat against the body or set to float up and down in both directions. The note sustain is average to above-average. It’s a blast from the past!
Three-Ply Mint Green Pickguard And Backplate
The pickguard material from the ’60s turned a mint green as it began to age, an unexpected but coveted side effect of the manufacturing process among collectors. It looks great with both body finishes.
Vintage-Style Tuning Machines
These tuners are quick and easy to use because the string end goes inside the tuning post, eliminating the need to “lock” the strings when you wind them. They also do away with the messy “string ends sticking out everywhere” on the headstock and stay in tune.
I remember thinking how cool this was when I got my first Strat, and I still love them all these years later!
Available In Lake Placid Blue And Firemist Gold
Lake Placid Blue is ’60s period correct, while Firemist Gold is a newer color that ups the ante. Both colors are spectacular to behold. I have a Tele in Lake Placid Blue, and it looks great!
Here is a video from Fender that demonstrates both the 50s and 60s Vintera Road Worn Strats.
What I Like About It
There’s a lot to like about the 60’s Road Worn Vintera Strat, but here are my favorite three features.
Mid ’60s C-Shaped Neck
This is my favorite neck shape on a Strat because it’s very comfortable to play for extended time periods.
The 7.25-inch fingerboard radius plays and feels like a ’60s Strat, and the 21 vintage tall frets make bending strings fun and pleasantly tactile.
Alder Body & Hand-Distressed Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish
These finishes look great, with simulated areas of worn-off paint, dings, and scratches. Since they are hand-distressed, each one looks a little different.
Don’t expect the relic job to be on par with a Fender Custom Shop guitar, but you definitely get what you pay for.
If you’re not a fan of the distressed finish, you can go with the regular Vintera 60s Strat, but you’ll be sacrificing the hotter pickups.
Calibrated Vintage-Style ’60s Single-Coil Hot Strat Pickups
These pickups are one of the best features of this guitar! They feature enamel-coated wire with flat-top Alnico 5 magnets and are hotter than the non-road worn Vintera Strats.
Still, they have that vintage ’60s crisp and articulate sound, but they can push the front-end of a good amp into a subtle but sublime overdrive!
The 5-way pickup selector switch can combine the neck and middle pickups or the middle and bridge pickups to create out-of-phase sounding but balanced tones with just the right amount of “quack.”
The aged pickup covers (and knobs) look great against the mint green pickguard!
What You Might Not Like About It
There are a few things to consider when looking at this guitar, but none of them are a deal-breaker.
Hardware Is Not ’60s Reliced
The tuners, tremolo bridge, and input jack are not distressed, which is what you would expect for a guitar that has been played for that amount of time. Still, you get a lot for your money, and Fender put the relic in the body finish, where it would show the most.
You can always purchase the guitar and relic the hardware yourself, but be aware that this will void the warranty. For more info, see How To Relic Guitar Hardware – DIY With Awesome Results!
No left-Handed Models
If you’re a lefty, you’re out of luck, but you can always reverse the nut and turn the guitar upside down. See, Can You Change A Right Handed Guitar To Left Handed? for more info.
No Hardshell Case
This is my usual gripe about guitars in this price range. It does come with a deluxe gig bag, but if you gig the guitar a lot, you might want to get a hardshell case, especially if you travel a lot.
You might want to bargain with the salesperson for a free (or reduced charge) hardshell case upgrade at the point of sale.
Other Things To Consider
Here are some of the things that might factor into your decision to purchase this guitar.
What Sets The Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat Apart From Its Competitors?
Fender has captured the look and sound of a 60s Strat and taken it up a notch with the limited edition hand-distressed nitro finish and hotter pickups.
There really isn’t another guitar in this price range that will give you the same vibe and playability.
What Makes This Version Different From The Vintera 60s Strat?
Unlike the limited edition Vintera Road Worn version, The Vintera 60s Strat does not have the hand-distressed nitro finish and hotter pickups.
Comparable Products To Consider
I would check out the Fender Vintera 60s Strat (non-road worn) and the Vintera 60s Stratocaster Modified.
The “modified” version has a 9.5″ fretboard radius, medium jumbo frets, an upgraded tremolo bridge, and the S-1 switching system.
Key Decision Making Factors
The key factors to consider here are the road-worn hand-distressed finish and the hotter pickups. If you can live without these, go for the regular Vintera 60s Strat. In my opinion, the upgraded pickups alone are worth it.
Also, because this guitar is a limited edition, it’s more likely to have a higher resale value, especially if you keep it a while.
User Reviews
The user reviews on places like Amazon, Sweetwater, and Guitar Center are generally favorable. I couldn’t find any major issues, although one reviewer said the guitar came packed poorly and was damaged when he received it.
I think this guitar is an excellent value for the money. It delivers all that it promises and a lot more.
Beware Of Availability
Fender released the Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat as a limited-edition guitar. Finding a new one may be challenging since it is not currently available.
Your best bet is to check the online music stores, Reverb.com, or eBay. Alternatively, you can snag a used one and save some money.
Is The Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat Legit?
This guitar has all the essential ingredients necessary to take you back to the sounds of the ’60s, where the guitar solo was king!
It will give you an era-correct delightful playing experience and has enough simulated road-wear to make it look legit. You can play the heck out of it and add your own dings and dents.
The overall sound of this guitar will make it a “daily player,” and you’ll love the bite these pickups can produce. Just add a distortion box, lava lamp, and black light posters, and you’re in business!
If you’re interested in grabbing one for yourself, click the button below to check availability, user reviews, and current pricing. They won’t last long, and I highly recommend them!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions I get asked about Fender Vintera guitars.
If your question does not appear here, please put it in the comments, and I will get right back to you with an answer.
When Did Fender Vintera Start?
The Fender Vintera line of guitars was started in June 2019. It encompasses a line of ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s vintage-inspired instruments, including the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Mustang, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Jazz Bass, and Precision Bass.
Where Are Fender Vintera Guitars Made?
The Vintera line is made in Mexico. Although they are assembly line-produced, Fender’s limited edition Road Worn Vintera guitars feature a “hand-distressed” nitrocellulose finish, giving them special attention.
Is Vintera Better Than Player?
No, not necessarily. It depends on what you are looking for in a guitar. The Fender Player (and Player Plus) series offers a modernized version of their classic guitars, whereas the Vintera series emphasizes instruments that are ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s period-correct with upgraded features.
Can You Play Metal On A Vintera Strat?
Yes, you certainly can, but you will need a high-gain amp and/or a distortion pedal, which are ideally optimized for playing metal.
Final Thoughts
The Fender Vintera Road Worn 60s Stratocaster is a limited edition guitar that features hand-distressed nitro finishes and hotter custom period-correct pickups than the regular Vintera series.
The pickups offer great clarity and really sing when you overdrive your amp! It is an excellent choice for players on a budget that want a ’60s-era Stratocaster that looks well-played (mild relic) and sounds like it got better with age.
Although the body finishes look great, I would have preferred it if the hardware was distressed to match the rest of the guitar. Also, be aware that this guitar is not available in a left-hand model.
If you enjoyed the music of the ’60s and want the Strat sound of that era, then you owe it to yourself to check out this guitar!
Tell Me What You Think
Please leave a comment below if you enjoyed this Fender Vintera Road Worn 60s Strat review, have any questions about this product, or want to leave your own review. I will be happy to help you.
- Do you already own a Fender Stratocaster? Which one?
- Would the hand-distressed nitro finish and hotter pickups make you go with the road-worn version over the regular 60s Vintera Strat?
- What do you like best about this guitar? Least?
- What else is on your mind?
I am looking to buy a guitar for quite a while now. Never played one ( or any other instrument for that matter).
I asked one of my friends who plays guitar and he recommended me the fender brand. The problem is I don`t know each model to go for.
I would go for either a Vintera or Telecaster. But given the 9.8 out of 10 Functionality, the Vintera has the upper hand.
Hi, Valentin
Thank You for your comments.
That’s great that you want to begin playing the electric guitar!
Fender guitars are outstanding instruments. The Fender “Vintera” is a product line, not a guitar. You can buy a Telecaster (which is a model of Fender guitar) in their Vintera series. This article you are commenting on is about a Fender Vintera Stratocaster (specifically from their Road Worn limited edition line), but Fender also makes a Vintera Telecaster.
If you don’t want to spend $1,200 as a beginner, you can get a more entry-level Telecaster, for example, a Fender Squier Telecaster.
I hope this helps you, and thanks for coming to my website! Playing the guitar will be one of the most enjoyable things you’ll ever do. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Frank
I learned more about Fender guitars than I had before. Actually, a specific type. The Fender Vintera. I have always wondered what actually makes the sound of the guitar. To me, it is the strings, the rigidity of the structure, and the pickup. In my opinion, the shape of the wooden part can be anything. I am sure I have made many incorrect assumptions. If you can correct me I’d much appreciate it.
Here is why I came to that conclusion. An acoustic guitar is seriously influenced by the soundbox that is part of the body. Have I got that correct?
Thanks for writing an interesting article to help buyers looking for the Vintera.
Edwin
Hi, Edwin
I’m thrilled that you commented on my article!
You have it mostly correct, but the body shape and wood type/thickness definitely make a difference in the sound and sustain of the instrument.
For example, with electric guitar bodies, ash is brighter and more “biting,” while alder is more balanced, and mahogany is on the mellower side (very generally speaking). A single-cutaway body shape sounds and plays different than a double-cutaway. When evaluating the sound of an electric guitar, the first thing to do is to play it acoustically to hear how it really sounds and then plug it into an amp.
With acoustic guitars, even the simplest thing, like the type and configuration of the internal bracing, can change the sound. The “soundbox” is very important, specifically the top, which resonates most. Wood type/thickness and body shape/size also dramatically affect the sound coming out of the hole.
When I build a guitar, I never know how it will truly sound until I play it. I always tell guitarists that if they love the sound of their instrument, not to change a single thing. Even something as simple as the method you use to wind the strings on the tuning pegs can make a slight but perceptible difference.
Frank