Relic Hybrid Stratocaster

One‑Off Barnwood Guitar – Salvaged, Rewired, Reborn

A Rat Bait Guitars Original: Some guitars roll off a production line but this one crawled out of wreckage and abuse—rebuilt, reimagined, and reborn with more attitude than any factory relic could dream of.

This is a one‑off barnwood resurrection, wearing its history proudly: a rust‑stained scratchplate salvaged from a battered vintage guitar, a reverse headstock that flips convention on its head, and a tone that lands somewhere between retro swagger and shed‑built rebellion. It looks raw, sounds alive, and feels like something that has already lived a life before you even plug it in.

A Guitar Built From Stories, Not Blueprints

At its core sits a Telecaster silhouette, but the soul is unmistakably Stratocaster. The body is a Frankenstein of reclaimed materials:

• an Ikea bookcase reborn as tonewood,

• reclaimed Beech with scars intact,

• and the shattered remains of a Mahogany Strat body that simply refused to die.

Every piece has been chosen not for perfection, but for character. Every mark is earned. Every detail is intentional. This is the Rat Bait ethos—imperfection as identity.

If you want a guitar that looks like it’s been through something—and is ready to go through a lot more—this barnwood beast is waiting. 

Specs & Features

Body

• Reliced Tele-style shape

• Strat routing

• Built from reclaimed timber and a broken Strat body

• Natural barnwood finish with honest wear, old paint traces, and subtle nitro highlights

Neck

• Reverse headstock for that unmistakable silhouette

• 22‑fret maple neck

• Light nitro finish for a soft, vintage feel

• Sourced from a new 2025 guitar

Electronics

• Three single‑coil pickups

• 5‑way selector

• Strat‑style scratchplate with genuine relic patina—rust, wear, and history included

Hardware

• Hardtail bridge

• New 10mm machine heads

• Strap buttons installed and ready for stage or studio

Dimensions

• Scale length: 25.5″

• Nut width: 42mm (1.656″)

• Body thickness: approx. 44mm (±0.5mm)

Build Notes

• Hand‑assembled from recycled materials and new‑old‑stock parts

• Mid‑range single coils that punch far above their weight—expect vintage twang with attitude

• Finish is unapologetically rustic: barnwood grain, scars, and lived‑in charm

• Built for players who value soul over symmetry, story over sterility, and feel over flash

Why This Guitar Matters

This isn’t a clone, a copy, or a tribute, it’s a one‑off artefact, shaped by hand, born from salvage, and wired with defiance. It carries the Rat Bait Guitars signature: raw honesty, reclaimed materials, and a refusal to play by the rules.

The Relic Hybrid Barnwood Telecaster is a unique, handmade solid‑body electric guitar crafted in the United Kingdom from reclaimed materials. Featuring a black‑and‑natural barnwood body, a 22‑fret maple neck, and classic 6‑string configuration, it delivers a striking aesthetic with an eco‑conscious ethos. Supplied with a gig bag and designed for right‑handed players, this guitar offers a distinctive blend of sustainability, style, and vintage‑leaning tone.