Fender Custom Shop - 20 Years Strong

"From the beginning, the Custom Shop built some of the most stunning guitars ever produced," 

The Fender Custom Shop was opened in 1987 in a small, 850-square-foot space next to the main Fender factory. The first instruments drew rave reviews, and Stevens and Page soon found themselves the shp was deluged—more than 600 orders poured in that summer.

The operation was expanded immediately. Offerings were expanded to include special limited-edition and price-list models, making the Custom Shop a viable marketing option in addition to being a true custom operation.

New master builders were gradually enlisted. Builders were "in the trenches"—working with artists hand-in-hand on a day-to-day basis, keeping Fender on the cutting edge and producing instruments of unbelievable beauty and startling originality.

The Custom Shop embodied a new attitude at Fender—a commitment to responsiveness and to meeting the needs of the customer, be it a Clapton, a Beck, a Vaughan, or the man on the street. Indeed, features and production techniques that were devised in the Custom Shop for the greats sometimes found their way to Fender's lower-price production lines, improving quality across the board.

Today, the Fender Custom Shop continues its rich tradition of the finest craftsmanship and personal attention to detail. Its team-built and master-built guitars are among the most sought-after instruments on the market; indeed, many are considered "instantly collectible."

"The Custom Shop was created to push the envelope for Fender," said Mike Eldred, Custom Shop marketing manager. "We build dreams—we take your dream and transform it into a guitar."

- taken from "http://www.fender.com/customshop/aboutus/history.php"

This lens will highlight some of the Fender Custom Shop guitars.