An Expert Team
Fender Custom Shop produces team-built guitars such as the Time Machine, Artisan, and Postmodern series. These guitars are the height of Fender's 'standard' product lines and provide a lifetime of peerless tone and playability.
The teams also build Limited Edition reissues from specific time periods such as the 1962 Stratocaster and 70th Anniversary Broadcaster with its Nocaster Blonde finish.
Meticulous (re)Creations
More unique are the Limited Edition Signature guitars designed in collaboration with Fender artists. These go beyond Fender's standard production signatures by recreating every detail of a master player's most distinctive instrument. This includes period-accurate components as well as all the modifications and road-wear these workhorses have picked up through decades of professional use.
The pinnacle of Fender Custom Shop is the chance to design a completely-custom creation to be 'master-built' by a single artisan from initial drafting through to final setup and calibration.
Masterbuilt instruments are works of art equally at home inspiring generations of players as they are hanging on a gallery wall.
The Finish
Custom Shop finishes complete the look and feel of a premium instrument. Aside from the modern nitrocellulose lacquer found on Fender's regular product lines, the Custom Shop offers 'Relic'd' finishes that replicate the various conditions a guitar might be found in after decades of life.
New Old Stock
(N.O.S.) guitars look brand new. They use period-accurate parts, paints, and lacquers as though you stepped back into the 1950/60s and grabbed one off the shelf.
Closet Classics
These guitars look they've been sitting unplayed for the past 50 or so years. They have very light scratches, yellowed plastic, and lightly-tarnished hardware.
Journeyman
Journeyman Relic guitars look well cared for but also well played. They have light scratches, dings, and dents, as well as lacquer 'checking' (cracks where the finish has shrunk).
Relic'd
Relic guitars look like they've spent their life on tour. In addition to dings and scratches, they may carry burn marks and have the lacquer worn off in high-use areas.
Heavy Relic
Heavy Relics mimic the hard-working tools of the hardest-working musicians. They are well-worn in all the right places with bare wood around their tarnished fretboards.
Let's Build It
If you're ready to start designing your dream guitar, download the Fender Custom Shop Design Guide and begin choosing your components. Speak to our guitar experts in store if you'd like to discuss pairing options for your ideal tone. Your completed design guide can then be submitted to your local store for a quote and estimated build time. You can then rest assured that one of the most amazing guitars on the planet is going to be handcrafted in your name.