Your email will only be used for these alerts. Cruz launched the guitar brand with a video posted on YouTube. 347K likes. • Signed Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass in Black - $2,500 That awe-inspiring acrylic Fender, conceived by H.E.R. Please refresh the page and try again. This guitar was made by Master Builder Dennis Galuszka and is stampped "DG" in the tremolo cavity. The guitar’s two-piece ash body has a redwood burl top features custom hand-engraved artwork with silver lace inlay, green diopside stone and diamonds, as well as a NOS nitro lacquer finish. Waller also had some hand-wound Abigail Ybarra pickups in his back pocket. Both Master Builders will also sign the back of the headstock they worked on. The guitar features a two-piece ash body; a single-piece quartersawn maple neck with a 10/’56 'V' profile and 9.5”-radius fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets. • American Professional Stratocaster Signed by Jeff Beck - $3,300, You can check out the five Custom Shop creations below, along with the full specs behind each one from Fender…. This guitar includes a deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity. These are as follows: • Signed Eric Clapton Stratocaster in Pewter - $7,500 “Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen … With rare reverence, Joel takes us through this brand new master built Carlos Lopez Fender Custom Shop model, detailing its significance as a lost legend, and how Carlos Lopez brought it back. I started with Fender in 1987, the custom shop in 1993 and became a Master Builder in 2003. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Alongside these five beauties, an allstar cast of Fender signature artists have signed models to be sold on the Reverb store too. “Abby” hand-wound Fat ’50s pickups feature five-way switching and Vintage Modified #2 wiring. Josefina hand-wound Tele pickups feature three-way switching and modern Tele wiring. Both Master Builders will also sign the back of the headstock they worked on. Josefina hand-wound Twisted Tele pickups feature three-way switching and modern Tele wiring. Over the last decade or so, he built a reputation for building impeccable-playing double-cutaways with gorgeous figured-maple tops stained in a huge array of colors. During the first part of the 2020 global pandemic lockdown, Thorn and fellow Fender Custom Shop artist Paul Waller were both eager to collaborate, so Waller worked as a socially safe guest at Thorn’s home and home workshop. I finally have saved enough money for a MB strat just few days before I heard the sad news about what happened to JC. Dale Wilson and Greg Fessler collaborated on this classic “meat-and-potatoes” Telecaster. These are the best luthiers in the Fender Corporation and they work years to get to the master builder level. We are vintage Stratocaster specialized shop in Tokyo, Japan. The chambered ash body has a figured tamo ash top and an NOS lacquer finish. I spent six years out on the production floor doing American Vintage and American Standards. After only eight months there, Galuszka was promoted to Master Builder. Designed by Fender Custom Shop master builder Ron Thorn, this guitar receives some exquisite appointments, including a flame maple neck with pearloid inlays and a modern-performance cut tele bridge. During his tenure, he was best known for his reproductions of classic instruments, including Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Number One’ Stratocaster, Jeff Beck’s Esquire Relic, Gary Moore’s 1961 Fiesta Red Stratocaster, and most recently the Precision Bass from Phil Lynott. The single-piece AAA birdseye maple neck features silver lace inlay, green diopside stone, diamonds; ivoroid nitro binding; a large C profile; and a 9.5”-radius fingerboard with medium jumbo frets. Among many diverse projects with English, Smith worked on a pair of double-neck Stratocaster guitars for Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dean DeLeo. They decided both were ideal for the project at hand. Fender's Master Builders worked in teams of two on each of the five stunning guitars. Josefina hand-wound pickups feature five-way switching and modern Strat wiring. 2004 Fender Custom Shop "50th Anniversaty '54 Stratocaster" by Master Builder Youri Shishkov. Ron Thorn – The First Ever ‘Principle Master Builder’ for Fender...Very few luthiers in the world will get to call themself a Fender Custom Shop Master Builder, which is a title that is reserved for the best in the bolt-on biz. This is the OFFICIAL Fender® Custom Shop Facebook page! If you are looking for a vintage flavoured Fender with vibe by the bucket load, Dale is your man! Fender has terminated its relationship with Custom Shop Master Builder John Cruz. Guitarists like Jeff Beck, Jimmie Vaughan, Yngwie Malmsteen, Slash, Carlos Santana, John Mayer and bassists of the stature of Duff Mc Kagan use their instruments. Other features include a three-ply white nitro pickguard; a Custom Classic Strat tremolo; “Build at Home” neck plate by Fender Custom Shop Principal Master Builder Ron Thorn; vintage-style tuners with brown-shell buttons; a bone nut and wing string tree. I had the opportunity to have Dale Wilson give me a tour of the Custom Shop last year. Each element, detail and custom appointment was executed with the highest degree of attention, even as the instrument took shape outside the physical walls of the Fender Custom Shop. Indeed, the desire to help stage crew personnel near and far is the driving force behind this distinctive collaboration. Inspired to help raise funds to support the hard-working, behind-the-scenes crews of the artists they love, Fender Custom Shop’s Jason Smith and Dennis Galuszka teamed up for this distinctively classy build. Your dreams are what make the Fender Custom Shop the reality it is today. 100% original in Near Mint condition, body still keep shining!! Now, he has launched John Cruz Custom Guitars.” Strat-Talk.com is an independent, member supported forum and is not affiliated with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. ). All rights reserved. Fender's Master Builders worked in teams of two on each of the five stunning guitars. Seventeen years ago, he began working in the Fender Custom Shop, where he is now known as a senior master builder. That’s exactly what they did, even as both craftsmen were separated by lockdown in their respective homes. I was dreaming of getting a strat built by JC for years: compound fingerboard, shell pink over 2TSB, wild flame maple, etc. During his tenure, he was best known for his reproductions of classic instruments, including Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Number One’ Stratocaster, Jeff Beck Esquire Relic, Gary Moore’s 1961 Fiesta Red Stratocaster and, most recently, Phil Lynott’s Precision Bass . John Cruz, a former master builder for the Fender Custom Shop, has launched his own brand of guitars: John Cruz Custom Guitars. American Professional Telecaster. • Signed Tom Morello Stratocaster - $2,600 (already sold at time of writing) The Custom Shop, known also as “The Dream Factory,” produces extremely limited runs of period-correct touchstones from the Fender catalog, as well as special one-offs featuring experimental, ground-up design and appointments. I realize there are other builders and I certainly RESPECT their work and dedication but I gotta tell you, there's value alone (and this is just me) in an American Made Fender guitar.Now, maybe not a $4k one but if the workmanship is superlative as the title "Master Builder" would imply, I … and brought to life (amazingly) in under a week by Custom Shop Master Builder Scott Buehl, is just one of the artist’s striking Strats. Accept NO substitutes! MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. It also has a single-piece tinted flat-sawn maple neck with a ’52 'U' profile, 9.5” fingerboard radius and 21 medium jumbo frets. Shishkov created the body artwork, in which the classic Fender Stratocaster headstock intertwines with heart and scrolled-silver inlay work to illustrate Fender’s dedication to its struggling partners in the music world. I am sure the dream will never come true. Our pick of the best Fender Stratocasters. The guitars are now on sale at The Official Fender x Crew Nation Reverb Shop, Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. Fender Custom Shop. Fender's Master Built electric guitars are always worth players' attention the Custom Shop team have really pushed the boat out here to benefit Live Nation's Crew Nation appeal – a global relief fund for live music crews. Our best price is 456,000 JPN+shipping or US$4350+shipping. Master guitar builder John Cruz describes the guitar he is working on for rocker John Mayer at the Fender Custom Shop in Corona. They have the greatest reputation and the finest instruments, for both players and collectors. To contact the forum owner hit the Contact Us link. Thank you for signing up to Musicradar. Email Frequency. BA1 1UA. John has made guitars and basses for many of the best rock musicians. The YouTube video below holds a wealth of really useful, practical information on what to look out for when buying a guitar. The five one-of-a-kind guitars are on sale now at the Official Fender x Crew Nation Reverb Shop with 100% of the net proceeds going to help touring and venue crews who depend on live music to make a living. Before coming to work in the Fender Custom Shop, Ron Thorn ran his own custom guitar workshop from home. Although Fender confirmed to us that he is no longer with the company, a spokesperson said that Fender would issue no further comment “as a matter of policy”. When it comes to customizing guitars, John Cruz has heard it all. There was a problem. Rock music and Fender are part of his DNA. The tinted AAAA flame-maple neck has a flat-lam AAAA maple fretboard with a 9.5” radius and 21 narrow tall frets. A hallmark of this build is the simple aesthetic of colour contrast and combining an ash body with a single-piece maple neck (a favourite Krause combination). Fessler and Wilson wanted to keep it simple and bring it on home with tried-and-true appointments allowing their colleagues to use their talents on exotic woods and such. Dale is the best at relic work. Learn more about Fender electric basses. One of the last pieces of tamo ash available in the shop—which was being saved for a special occasion such as this—was used along with a highly-figured maple neck and Josefina hand-wound pickups. 0 . Sales will benefit Crew Nation – Eric Clapton, Flea, Tom Morello and Duff McKagan have also signed signature models too. In this Master Builder Tips segment, Fender Custom Shop's Paul Waller shows how to float a bridge. • Signed Flea Signature Active Jazz Bass in Shell Pink - $3,500 We already set up more details on our websight, please check out!! Lopez apprenticed with Krause for many years, so both craftsmen find an easy workflow just like old times. For those of you who think the Masterbuilt program is nonsense, you simply are uninformed. Yuriy Shishkov is well known for his beautiful instruments and intricate inlay work, and has worked with some of the biggest names in rock music. Fender literally wrote the book on electric basses, laying the foundation for musical innovation and evolution. Ron Thorn: The same goes for me. From its inception in 1987, the Custom Shop has grown from two builders to over fifty artisans—a veteran band of builders, each a specialist dedicated to their own area of expertise—working together to build your ideal Fender to your exact specifications. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Other features include a ’52 parchment Tele pickguard; ’58-’63 Tele bridge; 'Build at Home' neck plate by the Fender Custom Shop Principal Master Builder Ron Thorn; vintage-style tuners; a bone nut and disk string tree. Filter. The guitar’s korina body has an NOS lacquer 'walnut burst' finish. Discussion in 'Stratocaster Discussion Forum' started by CoryPapaya, Oct 15, 2020. Watch as Fender Custom Shop master builder Paul Waller builds a '61 Sunburst hardtail heavy relic Strat for Grooveyard recording artist, Johnny Hunkins. The guitar was custom ordered and NOT an of the shelf Relic. He eventually ended up as a senior master’s apprentice at Gibson, and then a Fender Custom Shop senior master builder before branching out on his own. If that isn't your thing, you should go with someone else. The result is a simple-but-stunning build any player would find irresistibly inspirational. • Signed Brad Paisley Road Worn Telecaster - $2,450 Fender has parted ways with one of its most renowned Custom Shop Master Builders, John Cruz, seemingly following his sharing of a controversial facebook meme. John Cruz joined Fender in 1987, and was appointed Master Builder of the Custom Shop in 2003. Other features include an American Vintage Strat tremolo; 'Build at Home' neck plate by Fender Custom Shop Principal Master Builder Ron Thorn; vintage-style tuners; a bone nut and wing string tree. Cruz joined Fender in 1987, and landed the position of Master Builder at the Custom Shop in 2003. Each instrument is hand-crafted by Fender Master Builders from only the finest, premium-grade components. The fabled Fender Marauder, a guitar that never was, finally is, and it’s the best of a bunch of worlds. Visit our corporate site. Which Squier would a Fender Master Builder buy? © I'm still beside myself that I have the honor of being a Master Builder. Image: Fender These are the best luthiers in the Fender Corporation and they work years to get to the master builder level. Smith joined the Fender Custom Shop in 1995, and in 2006 completed a five-year apprenticeship under acclaimed Senior Master Builder John English. For your consideration is this 2000 Fender Custom Shop 1960 Relic Stratocaster. Kyle McMillin: Working for Fender is an absolute honor. Cruz worked in the guitar making business for 33 years, 17 of which were as a master builder for the Fender Custom Shop. Lists for $2,299.99. Fashioned from beautifully exotic wood just waiting to be used for something very special, Master Builders Kyle McMillin and Yuriy Shishkov worked in their garages to meticulously shape, sand and finish this guitar using every ounce of their expertise. The result is a beautiful and elegant guitar with tone to match. Through years of collaboration, master builders Carlos Lopez and Todd Krause bring a wealth of tasteful know-how and expertise to any project. This guitar comes with a deluxe hard-shell case, strap and certificate of authenticity. The guitar comes with a deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity. guitarguitar uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website - Learn More. Buyers' guides to all the best music gear, Official Fender x Crew Nation Reverb Shop, Free music samples: download loops, hits and multis from SampleRadar, Chris Cornell's Superunknown Jazzmaster sells at auction – but the Eric Clapton 'Slowhand' Strat fails to get a bid, The 10 best bassists in the world right now, Arturia launches the V Collection 8 vintage synth collection, with new Juno-106, Emulator II and Vocoder emulations joining the party, The 10 best rock drummers in the world right now, as decided by you, The 10 best new electric guitars in the world right now, as voted for by you, The 10 best new guitar amps in the world right now, as voted for by you. Our guide to the best Fender Telecasters for all budgets. Our pick of the best guitars to suit all budgets. Fessler did the wiring and custom Relic body finish, while Wilson worked on giving the neck its extremely comfortable rolled edges and the final setup. Each guitar’s neck plate will be engraved with a commemorative logo to celebrate the one-of-a-kind guitars and special collaboration. He has since crafted fine instruments for players and acts … The Works of Yuriy Shishkov – Fender’s Master Builder. Main Stratocaster Guitar Discussion Forum, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. “Masterbuilt Fender Custom Shop guitars are in more demand now more than ever, which explains why we’ve added three new Master Builders since 2018,” said Mike Lewis, VP of Product Development at Fender Custom Shop. The guitar features a two-piece select ash body with a Journeyman Relic lacquer finish. Josefina hand-wound ’60s Strat pickups (with reverse-wound/reverse-polarity middle pickup) feature five-way switching and Vintage Modified #2 wiring. A statement below the video reads: “John Cruz has been building the world’s best guitars for the world’s best players. His ageing process is meticulous, authentic and undeniably astonishing, relics are a controversial topic right now but you can’t argue with his results. The guitar comes with a deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity. Thorn had a beautiful piece of korina wood that he was saving for something special, and the two decided it would be a perfect start to the collaboration they envisioned. As a working drummer, it was a 1999 audition with one of the Fender Master Builders that led to a job interview and a new kind of steady gig—as an apprentice at the Fender Custom Shop. Todd Krause does amazing reproduction work (EC, Gilmore, … What I like here is that Ron Thorn just cuts to the chase and hones in on exactly what he looks for when trying out guitars. Our Stores ... Be the first to know about our latest Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Designed. Each guitar’s neck plate will be engraved with a commemorative logo to celebrate the one-of-a-kind guitars and special collaboration. The colour is inspired by a 12-string guitar Lopez once built for the NAMM show, which Krause suggested they use in combination with a custom single-ply black acrylic pickguard. I worked my way up. You will receive a verification email shortly. The quartersawn korina neck features a ’60-style oval 'U' profile; a flat-lam Macassar ebony fingerboard with a 12” radius; and 21 medium jumbo frets. The initial staff comprised only two Master Builders (John Page, Michael Stevens) and a Haas VF4 CNC machine (modified for woodwork) that cuts three bodies or four necks at once. John Cruz, Fender Master Builder How long have you been a master guitar builder for Fender and how did you become one? Other features include a gold anodized pickguard; RSD Strat bridge with narrow spacing; 'Build at Home' neck plate by Thorn; vintage-style tuners; a bone nut and wing string tree with metal spacer. This guitar comes with a deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity. Each of these builders has their own style and specialties so you should decide what you want and then find a builder that shares your vision. The Fender Custom Shop began in 1987, under the supervision of then-CEO Schultz. Other features include a custom brown-shell pickguard and control cover; ’58-’63 Tele bridge; Schaller®deluxe tuners; strap locks; a “Build at Home” neck plate by Fender Custom Shop Principal Master Builder Ron Thorn; a bone nut and disk string tree. Bath Dale Wilson is one of the most highly respected Master Builders, we have an almost constant influx of his guitars and they never stay long! To say that they are Fender's equivalent to a Navy Seal wouldn't be a bad analogy... And then there is Ron Thorn. Custom Built Guitars.