Fender Custom Shop History

The Fender Custom Shop began in 1987, under the supervision of then-CEO Schultz. The initial staff comprised only two Master Builders (John Page, Michael Stevens). The current roster of Fender masterbuilders include: Dale Wilson, Paul Waller, Jason Smith, Yuriy Shishkov, Todd Krause, Dennis Galuszka, Greg Fessler, Kyle McMillin, Vincent Van Trigt, Austin MacNutt, Andy Hicks, David Brown and Ron Thorn.

The primary intent of the Fender Custom Shop was to create instruments in the tradition of Leo Fender and his staff at the original Fender facilities in Fullerton, CA, while accommodating famous endorsers and other discerning players who wanted the accuracy, detail, and quality - as well as customization and personal touches - that were widely perceived as lacking during the “CBS era”, and not available from regular production instruments. Currently, the Fender Custom Shop employs over fifty craftsmen and produces both custom one-off projects and limited-edition production runs.

Fender Custom Shop Guitars of Note

The Fender Custom Shop has produced a wide variety of instruments, often limited in number, which reflect its original mission as a link between the needs of specific players and the established designs of the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

First and foremost, the Custom Shop creates unique products specifically designed to meet the needs of artists. Examples include Artist signature models and Limited Edition Tribute instruments, which are a direct result of collaborations with players. Some of these models are designed to be near-exact replicas of a noted player's trademark instrument - including the "relic" treatment and the various degrees of distress (patterns of wear, modifications, stickers and abuse) - such as the Jeff Beck Tribute Esquire, Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” Stratocaster, and a replica of Stevie Ray Vaughan's iconic Number One Stratocaster. Other signature models for artists like Johnny A, David Gilmour, Albert Collins, Rory Gallagher, Merle Haggard, Yngwie Malmsteen and John 5 (among others), are built to specifications stipulated by the artist but are not necessarily an exact replica of a particular vintage instrument. While Tribute model replicas are typically extremely Limited (and expensive), the Artist Series signature models are often available at the Team Built level, as well as Masterbuilt. You can actually order an artist signature model which has been crafted by the same Masterbuilder who personally builds these guitars for the endorsee.

Models, such as the Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang and the Courtney Love Venus model, were designed by the Custom Shop but manufactured by Fender or Squier in their various production facilities. Other models are available from the Custom Shop, as well as more budget friendly production variants.

The Time Machine Series, which has its roots in the “Cunetto Era” Relic Series of the late 1990s, includes Fender's forays into replicating the look of authentic vintage instruments. The Relic models feature a distressed finish package and aspire to perfectly replicate vintage instruments, both in terms of the parts, design and finishes used, as well in the varying degrees of wear typically found on a 40 to 50-year-old instrument. Fender tarnishes metal parts, purposely marks and scratches paint jobs, yellows and patinas the plastic parts, and sometimes even includes cigarette burn marks on the headstock. The Relic process is controversial among players who question the logic of paying a premium for a deliberately distressed instrument, but Fender offers varying degrees of wear and tear in the relic series, from shiny and brand new looking (NOS), to lightly distressed (Closet Classic), to heavily distressed (Relic, Heavy Relic, etc…). Regardless of the level of distress of lack thereof, any Relic wear and tear is strictly cosmetic and does not affect the functionality or playability of the instrument.

The Fender Custom Shop is also known for creating limited and one off 'Art' guitars and basses. Generally shown off at the annual NAMM trade shows or featured in Calendars and other marketing assets, these instruments are generally geared more towards guitar collectors and are often created to tie in with other industries as collector items. Some examples include Ford Mustang, Lexus, and Harley Davidson themed instruments, Marilyn Monroe Playboy Stratocasters, the Violinmaster Telecaster, and other unique and Limited Edition art pieces. Many of the Art guitars created by the Custom Shop vastly expand upon Leo Fender's original vision. The Fender Custom Amp Shop, a subset of the Custom Shop, has produced several limited-run amplifiers during its existence.

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Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster

The Fender Custom Shop was established in the late 80s, initially to produce high-end, custom-built guitars for professional musicians and discerning collectors. The Stratocaster has endured as one of Fender's most popular models, and the Custom Shop has crafted a wide range of amazing Strat models over the years.

One of the earliest Custom Shop Stratocasters was the '54 Stratocaster, which was modeled after the original Stratocaster from 1954. This model was built with vintage-style materials and construction methods to recreate the look, feel, and sound of the original instrument.

Other notable Custom Shop Stratocaster models include the '57 Stratocaster, the '62 Stratocaster, and the '69 Stratocaster, all of which were designed to replicate specific years in the Stratocaster's history.

The Custom Shop has also produced signature models for a number of famous guitarists, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and David Gilmour. These models are built to the exact specifications of the artist, and often feature unique finishes, pickups, and other custom features.

In addition to these vintage and signature models, the Custom Shop has also produced a wide range of one-off custom Stratocasters, built to the exact specifications of individual customers. These guitars can feature a wide range of custom options, including different woods, finishes, pickups, and hardware.

Overall, the Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster has become a highly coveted instrument among guitarists and collectors alike, thanks to its combination of vintage styling, high-quality craftsmanship, and unique custom features.