ToneShaper Hotrod Stratocaster x4899

ToneShaper Hotrod Strat – Featuring Cayenne Pickups
At Tone Shapers, we build pro-level, hot-rodded guitars that play and sound like dream machines — at prices that make sense. Each build showcases the high-end components we sell, and this one was put together to demo our new Cayenne pickups.

Buy the parts, assembly is free! Read more on the pricing tab.

The Build
We’re suckers for a great Strat, and this Hotrod hits every mark. It pairs a genuine Fender maple neck with a pau ferro fretboard to a Japan-made alder body in classic Olympic White — a timeless look with top-tier playability.

Neck

• Genuine Fender neck with 22 jumbo frets and a 12" radius — for low action and effortless bending.
• Professionally leveled, crowned, and polished frets ensure ultra-smooth playability and minimal buzz.
• The result? A neck that plays brilliantly, with best-case action and a fast, modern feel.

Body

• Alder body made in Japan, distributed by Allparts.
• Flawless fit and finish — better than most aftermarket options, and every bit as good as Fender’s own.
• The Olympic White finish shines beautifully, and the contours are 100% to vintage spec.

Wiring

Pickups
Our Tone Shaper Cayenne pickups capture classic Strat sparkle, chime, and clarity — built with traditional 1950s materials and methods, and priced sanely.

• Made to our specs in Korea.
• RWRP middle pickup for hum-canceling in positions 2 & 4.
• Tone that rivals boutique brands like Fralin, Lollar, and Suhr — at half the price.

Check out the demo video — these pickups sound fantastic while leaving more of your hard-earned cash in your pocket.

Electronics
This Strat features our SSS1 Blender Wiring, built entirely from scratch using premium components: CTS pots, CRL switch, and Switchcraft jack — wired with the care and precision that’s become our signature.

Blender wiring adds expanded tonal range without clutter. Traditional Strats can’t combine neck + bridge or run all three pickups — but ours can. The bottom tone knob acts as a blend control, letting you mix in pickups like a volume knob, unlocking subtle new tones while keeping the stock look. All three pickups on? Neck and bridge together? No problem. Maximum versatility, minimal fuss.

Parts

Hardware
For the bridge we went straight to the best — Bill Callaham. This build features a Callaham Vintage Narrow tremolo, known for its unmatched fit, finish, and tone. The tighter arm design eliminates play and delivers buttery-smooth action.

• Gotoh nickel jackplate matches the bridge’s finish perfectly.
• Fender locking tuners keep tuning rock-solid and make string changes fast.
• Fender hardware & plastic: pearloid pickguard, white accessory kit, F-logo neck plate, strap buttons with felt washers — all the right details.

Case
We’re including a Fender FE920 gray denim gig bag — lightweight, well-padded, and ready for the road. We prefer gig bags over cases for their comfort and practicality, and this one’s a great balance of quality and value.

Pricing

Specs

• Weight: 7.4 lbs
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Fretboard Radius: 12"
• String spacing: 2-1/16", identical to modern American Standard Strats.
• All-new components, each carrying the original manufacturer’s warranty.
• Fully set up and dialed — this guitar plays and sounds as good as anything from PRS, Anderson, or Suhr.
• Ready to gig.

Buy the parts — get the labor free!
If you’ve ever priced out a custom build, you know how costs add up fast. A Warmoth project can run $1,500–$2,000 in parts alone — before paying a tech to finish and assemble it.

Our builds are done by seasoned pros. Only 10% of shops are in the top 10%, right?
We’re in that 10%. And when you buy from us, you’re getting that level of craftsmanship — for free.

What could be better?