Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster – Road Worn 3-Color Sunburst w/ Deluxe Case

The Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster brings the unmistakable sound, feel, and road-worn character of Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready's iconic Stratocaster to a player's instrument built for the stage. Finished in Road Worn 3-Color Sunburst and equipped with a slab rosewood fingerboard, slim "C" maple neck, custom Mike McCready '60s Strat pickups, vintage-style synchronized tremolo, and Deluxe Brown Hardshell Case, this signature Strat is designed for guitarists who want classic Fender tone with the attitude and character of a well-loved vintage instrument.

Created in collaboration with Mike McCready, the guitar takes inspiration from his treasured 1960 Stratocaster and the instrument's decades of touring and performance. Fender's heavily aged Road Worn nitrocellulose lacquer finish recreates the look and feel of a guitar that has already spent years on the road, while the alder body, rosewood fingerboard, and vintage-inspired electronics deliver the familiar Stratocaster response players know and love. 

For Pearl Jam fans, classic rock players, and guitarists looking for a Stratocaster with a more authentic vintage character, the Mike McCready Stratocaster is an especially compelling choice.

A Stratocaster Built Around Mike McCready's Sound

Mike McCready is known for his expressive lead playing, powerful rhythm work, soaring bends, and unmistakable combination of vintage Stratocaster clarity and rock aggression. This signature Fender is designed around those characteristics.

The guitar features three custom Mike McCready '60s Single-Coil Strat pickups, voiced to recreate the vintage single-coil character associated with Mike's original Strat. The result is the classic Strat combination of articulate highs, punchy mids, dynamic response, and the distinctive "quack" of the in-between pickup positions. 

A traditional 5-position blade switch provides access to the bridge, bridge/middle, middle, middle/neck, and neck pickup settings, giving the guitar everything from bright, cutting rhythm tones to warm neck-pickup leads.

The electronics also include a treble bleed circuit, helping preserve high-end clarity as the master volume is rolled back.

Road Worn 3-Color Sunburst Finish

One of the defining features of the Mike McCready Stratocaster is its heavily Road Worn nitrocellulose lacquer finish.

Rather than simply applying an artificial-looking relic treatment, Fender designed this finish to evoke the battle scars and played-in appearance of McCready's own well-traveled Stratocaster. The Road Worn treatment gives the guitar an immediately broken-in aesthetic while allowing the alder body and classic 3-Color Sunburst finish to remain unmistakably Fender. 

The aged finish extends onto the neck as well, contributing to the vintage-inspired appearance and tactile feel of the instrument.

Alder Body & Vintage-Inspired Stratocaster Construction

The Mike McCready Stratocaster features an alder body, one of Fender's classic tonewoods. Alder is known for its balanced response, punchy midrange, clear highs, and solid low end, making it an excellent foundation for a versatile three-single-coil Stratocaster.

The combination of alder, maple, and rosewood gives this signature model a familiar Fender tonal foundation while the custom McCready pickups provide its distinctive voice.

Slim "C" Maple Neck & Slab Rosewood Fingerboard

The neck profile is a Slim "C" shape, based on the feel of Mike McCready's treasured 1960 Stratocaster. It offers a comfortable, familiar profile that works equally well for rhythm playing, chord work, bends, and lead guitar.

The slab rosewood fingerboard features a comfortable 9.5" radius and 21 Jescar Medium Vintage frets. The 25.5" Fender scale length provides the familiar string tension and response expected from a Stratocaster, while the bone nut and vintage-inspired construction reinforce the instrument's classic character. 

Vintage-Style Tremolo With Bent Steel Saddles

For expressive vibrato, the Mike McCready Stratocaster is equipped with a 6-saddle vintage-style synchronized tremolo with bent steel saddles and a cold-rolled steel tremolo block.

This traditional Fender tremolo design provides everything from subtle pitch movement to more dramatic vibrato effects while retaining the feel and appearance of a classic Stratocaster bridge. 

The bridge uses a vintage-style six-screw mounting system, while Fender vintage-style tuning machines complete the classic hardware package.

Mint Green Pickguard & Vintage Details

The 3-ply mint green pickguard, white pickup covers, aged-white control details, vintage-style tuners, and nickel/chrome hardware complement the Road Worn 3-Color Sunburst finish.

Additional vintage-inspired appointments include aged white dot inlays, a bone nut, butterfly string trees, a four-bolt serialized neck plate, and a vintage-style butt-adjust truss rod.

Every detail is designed to reinforce the character of McCready's beloved vintage Stratocaster without sacrificing the playability and reliability expected from a modern Fender Artist Signature instrument. 

Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster: A Player's Guitar With Vintage Character

The Mike McCready Stratocaster isn't simply a signature guitar with a famous name on the headstock. Its specifications are purpose-built around the characteristics that make McCready's playing so recognizable.

The custom '60s-style single-coil pickups deliver the dynamic response needed for expressive rock playing, while the Slim "C" neck and 9.5" radius rosewood fingerboard provide a comfortable platform for bends, vibrato, chords, and lead work.

The Road Worn lacquer finish adds the visual and tactile character of a guitar that has lived a life on stage, making this Strat feel far removed from a generic new-production instrument.

Whether you're a longtime Pearl Jam fan, a Mike McCready gear enthusiast, a Stratocaster collector, or simply looking for a distinctive Fender for rock, blues, alternative, and classic guitar tones, this model offers a compelling combination of vintage inspiration and modern playability.

Deluxe Brown Hardshell Case Included

This Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster includes a Deluxe Brown Hardshell Case, providing secure protection for the guitar at home, in the studio, and on the road. Fender also includes the appropriate saddle-height adjustment wrench. 

Specs

Model: Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster®
Series: Artist Signature
Color: Road Worn 3-Color Sunburst
Body Shape: Stratocaster®
Body Material: Alder
Body Finish: Road Worn® Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Shape: Slim "C"
Neck Finish: Road Worn® Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Fingerboard: Slab Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Jescar Medium Vintage (47095)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Position Inlays: Aged White Dot
Pickup Configuration: SSS
Bridge Pickup: Custom Mike McCready '60s Single-Coil Strat®
Middle Pickup: Custom Mike McCready '60s Single-Coil Strat®
Neck Pickup: Custom Mike McCready '60s Single-Coil Strat®
Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1 (Neck Pickup), Tone 2 (Middle Pickup)
Switching: 5-Position Blade
Special Electronics: Treble Bleed Circuit
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles
Tremolo Block: Cold Rolled Steel
Tuners: Fender Vintage-Style
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Pickguard: 3-Ply Mint Green
Strings: Fender USA 250R Nickel Plated Steel, .010-.046
Orientation: Right-Hand
Case: Deluxe Brown Hardshell Case
Country of Manufacture: Mexico

Why Choose the Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster?

Mike McCready Signature Model
Designed in collaboration with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready and inspired by his iconic vintage Stratocaster.

Road Worn 3-Color Sunburst
A heavily aged nitrocellulose lacquer finish recreates the character of a guitar that has spent years on the road.

Custom Mike McCready Pickups
Three custom '60s-style Strat single-coils deliver vintage-inspired clarity, dynamics, and classic Stratocaster tones.

Slim "C" Neck
Based on the neck feel of McCready's treasured 1960 Stratocaster for comfortable playing and expressive bends.

Slab Rosewood Fingerboard
A 9.5" radius rosewood fingerboard provides a familiar balance of vintage feel and modern playability.

Vintage-Style Tremolo
The six-saddle synchronized tremolo features bent steel saddles and a cold-rolled steel block for classic Fender performance.

Treble Bleed Circuit
Helps retain clarity and high-end response when rolling back the guitar's volume.

Deluxe Hardshell Case Included
Comes complete with a Deluxe Brown Hardshell Case for secure storage and transportation.

What's Included

• Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster – Road Worn 3-Color Sunburst
• Deluxe Brown Hardshell Case

Why Shop at Metz Music?

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