Our top Custom Shop picks

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s a quick snapshot of some of the most popular Custom Shop models:

How the Custom Shop story began…

The Fender Custom Shop was established to bring back the vibe, mojo, and magic of the instruments that originally put Fender on the map. Founded in 1987, it began with just two builders and a clear goal: to make the guitars of players’ dreams become reality.

These Custom Shop pioneers – Michael Stevens and John Page – were industry heavyweights that counted legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Clapton amongst their personal clients.

Their reputation and expertise laid the groundwork for a fully equipped Custom Shop in Corona, California later down the line. This dedicated space would be outfitted with the tools, equipment, and staff needed to produce the very best Fender could offer.

And what they offered was only limited by the imagination of their clients! From exact artist replicas to bold new takes on vintage classics, The Dream Factory (as it came to be known) could make it.

But the founding of the Custom Shop is inextricably linked to Fender’s history, as they had a point to prove in 1987. To understand why, we need to go back to the beginning…

The formative years

The 1950s marked the release of Fender’s foundational successes: the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars. Now seen as symbols of rock ‘n’ roll, they came about from Fender’s drive to create simple and easy-to-play instruments and the determination to modernise guitar-building.

Tools, dies, and machinery were developed specifically to streamline the build process and mass-produce Fenders at pace. Even with these advances, there was still plenty of hand-craftsmanship involved – no finish was exactly like another, and no neck shape would be perfectly matched either.

These small variances would add the character and uniqueness that make vintage originals so desirable. On top of that, everything Fender did in this period was born from a pursuit of perfection.

The dreaded CBS years

This dedication to the craft wouldn’t last forever. In the mid-1960s, Fender was acquired by the entertainment conglomerate CBS, a company more focused on profitability than preserving the brand’s integrity. Seizing the electric guitar boom, CBS set about mass-producing Fender’s popular designs as cheaply and quickly as possible.

New facilities were built adjacent to the original Fullerton plant, with Fender’s once-proud home reduced to little more than a warehouse for parts and repairs. CBS’s direction led to a noticeable decline in both quality control and the prestige of the brand. By the mid-1980s, Fender was in dire straits, and CBS, eager to divest, began seeking a buyer for the struggling company.

The revival of Fender

Enter Bill Shultz and a team of investors – hailed as the saviours of Fender. In the mid-1980s, they acquired the Fender name and its designs, though the Fullerton facilities were not included in the deal. This forced them to relocate to what would become the permanent home of Fender’s legacy: Corona, California.

Despite this setback, Shultz and his team were able to recover many of Leo Fender’s original presses, tools, and designs. Armed with these, Shultz set out to erase the damage done by CBS and remind the world just how exceptional a Fender could be. Central to this mission was the creation of the Custom Shop, which would focus on producing world-class instruments.

Early clients like Yngwie Malmsteen and Pete Townshend quickly brought attention to the revitalised Fender brand, showcasing these new guitars as worthy successors to the brand’s storied past.

How the Custom Shop works

The Custom Shop is attached to the main factory in Corona and uses many techniques and tools transferred over from the original Fullerton plant. Every instrument that leaves the Custom Shop has been made in the exact manner as its ‘50s and ‘60s forebears, with even higher standards.

The Shop is divided into two sections: Master Builders and Team Builders.

To qualify for either section, you need years of guitar-building experience under your belt, and that goes double for the Master Builders! These legendary luthiers either go through years of apprenticeship under existing Master Builders or require extensive industry experience before they can make the cut.

The Team Builders

The success of the early Masterbuilt models allowed the Custom Shop to expand its size and scope. As the name implies, Team Built models are crafted and assembled by multiple builders, each a master at their particular stage of production.

One builder will shape the neck, another will oversee body construction, another will dress the frets, and so on. The culmination of this effort is a top-tier guitar that rivals a Masterbuilt in terms of feel and playability – produced at a much faster rate.

Team Builders are typically responsible for the larger volume of catalogue and dealer-specified models each year, with most custom client requests going to the Master Builders.

The Master Builders

For the best of the best, look no further than Master Builders. Whether it’s an exact (down to the last atom!) recreation of a famous artist’s instrument or your own custom-designed dream guitar, these are the people who can make it happen.

Each Master Builder has their own workspace, complete with bespoke cabinetry reflecting their individual style and flair. These luthiers boast decades of experience and craft every instrument by hand.

Master Builders typically handle artist replicas, custom client orders, and their own personalised creations, showcasing their extraordinary talents. Whatever your vision, it can be brought to life here.

Even the electronics receive the Master Builder treatment. Legendary pickup winder Josefina Campos is one such expert, responsible for producing thousands of hand-wound pickups for Custom Shop guitars. While hand-wound pickups can be found in both Masterbuilt and Team Built guitars, they are most commonly featured in Masterbuilt creations.

What is in the Fender Custom Shop range?

The main series produced by the Fender Custom Shop are the Time Machine, Vintage Custom, American Custom, Limited Edition, Artisan, and Postmodern lines. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each offers:

The series

Time Machine

Recreates genuine vintage Fender guitars with an exacting degree of accuracy. Period-correct materials and construction methods ensure you get the authentic feel and character of a Fender classic – without any of the drawbacks of ageing.

Vintage Custom

Designed to capture the magic of rare and transitional models from Fender’s early days, including prototypes and one-off runs. These unique guitars feature altered or distinctive specifications, perfect for the enthusiast seeking something truly special.

American Custom

A contemporary take on Fender’s classic designs, offering modern aesthetics, high-end components, and the exceptional quality of the Custom Shop. Expect striking finishes, premium materials, and superior craftsmanship.

Limited Edition

Short-run guitars that are only available for a limited time. Based on vintage platforms, these models often feature unique colours, altered specifications, and components usually reserved for Artist or Masterbuilt instruments.

Artisan

The pinnacle of luxury, Artisan guitars blend exotic tonewoods with distinctive features, unlike anything else in the Custom Shop range. These are designed for the Fender enthusiast who seeks something extraordinary, combining unique appointments with vintage design elements.

Postmodern

Described as “reverently irreverent”, this series takes classic Fender shapes and combines them with the best of modern and vintage features. Expect a mix of vintage and modern hardware, finishes, and innovative circuitry.

The finishes

Here’s a breakdown of the original-era finishes found in the Custom Shop range, particularly in the Time Machine series. These finishes offer precise recreations of some of the most sought-after Fender guitars:

NOS (New Old Stock)

As if you bought it new off the shelf in the ‘50s or ‘60s. These guitars feature pristine nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, just like they came straight from the factory floor.

Closet Classic

Captures the feel of an instrument that’s been stored away in a case for decades. Minimal playing wear with subtle ageing signs like discolouration of plastic and lightly aged lacquer finishes.

DLX Closet Classic

A guitar that’s been well-loved and maintained for decades, with minimal markings. Years of care result in a matured look, with mild discolouration of plastic and light oxidation of hardware.

Journeyman Relic

In the words of the Custom Shop, “used but not abused.” This finish shows moderate playing wear, with down-to-wood nicks, slightly dulled hardware, and dings, reflecting a guitar that has been gigged with but cared for over time.

Relic

Reflects the character of an instrument that has seen regular gigs. Marks, dings, finish checking, and wear give it the authentic vibe of a well-used guitar with stories to tell.

Heavy Relic

These guitars showcase intense wear and tear, with severe discolouration, extensive finish checking, and deep scars. They evoke the battle-worn look of a guitar that’s been on gruelling tours for decades, perfect for players who want the aesthetic of a road warrior.

Are Fender Custom Shop Guitars worth it?

To establish whether or not they’re “worth it”, let’s look at the materials that go into making a Custom Shop guitar.

Custom Shop guitars are crafted using materials that set them apart from standard Fender models – there’s nothing quite like the smell of a nitro-lacquered guitar! While the woods and materials may not be drastically different from high-end American-made Fenders, it’s the meticulous attention to detail in construction methods and material selection that truly separates Custom Shop guitars from the rest.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common materials used in the Custom Shop, along with some exclusive features found in the Artisan line:

Finish

The key difference is the use of nitrocellulose lacquer. This older, more labour-intensive finish is favoured for its enhanced resonance, graceful discolouration over time, and the way it naturally fades and chips with age – adding character to the guitar as it matures. It’s a departure from the modern polyurethane used on standard models.

Body woods

Alder remains the most common body wood in the Custom Shop, but premium cuts of ash are also frequently used. These woods are often hand-selected for their weight and wood grain, ensuring the highest quality.

Neck and fretboard woods

Maple and rosewood are the two staples here. However, the Custom Shop sets itself apart by milling many of its maple necks using quartersawn or rift-sawn methods. This more expensive process produces necks that are stronger, more durable, and more resonant, reducing the risk of warping over time.

Maple necks are typically crafted from a single piece of wood, without additional pieces glued on. For rosewood fretboards, the Custom Shop uses AAA-graded Indian rosewood for superior colour and quality.

Metals

Custom Shop guitars also benefit from traditional metalworking techniques, using many of the original presses and tools from the Fullerton era. Nickel and chrome are the metals of choice, maintaining both authenticity and quality.

Electronics

To faithfully recreate the tone and voice of vintage instruments, Custom Shop electronics use period-correct fibres, cloth wiring, and bobbins. These components are designed to evoke the highly prized sounds of Fender’s most iconic guitars.

Why buy one over a genuine vintage Fender?

There’s no doubt that every guitar leaving the Custom Shop is a worthwhile investment. At the very least, it will hold its value over the years, and in some cases, it may appreciate significantly. But financial returns aside, the primary consideration is how well the guitar fits your needs – whether as a playable work of art or your next gigging mainstay.

For those concerned about the cost, the average price for a Custom Shop guitar ranges between £3.5k and £4.5k. For example, a 1956 Relic Stratocaster currently sells for around £3.2k, whereas an original ’56 Strat with comparable wear could be listed for ten times that amount.

Reliability

One common question facing the Custom Shop is, “Why bother recreating these guitars – wouldn’t the real thing be better?”

Not necessarily! While Fenders from the ‘50s and ‘60s were handmade, the manufacturing process led to plenty of variances between guitars. Over the years, only the best examples have survived, leading to the belief that vintage guitars are superior.

With Custom Shop instruments, you’re getting the exact feel and performance of a top-quality vintage original – without the risks and inconsistencies that can come with ageing.

Cost

Custom Shop guitars are far more affordable than good-condition vintage originals, especially when you consider the astronomical prices of genuine vintage models. Adjusted for inflation, a Custom Shop guitar today is priced similarly to its 1950s counterpart.

Fit for modern players

If you love the vibe of a vintage guitar but prefer modern playability, Custom Shop guitars offer the best of both worlds. Many Custom Shop creations combine historic aesthetics with contemporary features such as flatter fingerboards, wider frets, and softer neck profiles, giving you a guitar that feels right for today’s performance needs.

FAQs

What is the difference between Custom Shop and standard Fenders?

The difference between a Custom Shop Fender guitar and a standard Fender guitar lies in craftsmanship, materials, and customisation. Custom Shop Fenders are handmade by expert luthiers with premium materials, and they offer bespoke options, while standard Fenders are mass-produced, offering consistent quality at a lower price.

What does the Fender Custom Shop do?

The Fender Custom Shop creates premium, handcrafted guitars, offering vintage recreations, custom builds, and limited edition models. Known for their meticulous craftsmanship, they cater to collectors and musicians seeking the best in quality, combining modern innovation with Fender’s iconic heritage.

Are Fender Custom Shop guitars handmade?

Custom Shop guitars are mostly made by hand, but there is use of CNC machines to rout the body and necks which are then hand finessed into the correct shapes. On the other hand, Masterbuilt Custom Shops are entirely built by hand.

Final thoughts

If you’re after the best of the best – especially when it comes to Fender – there’s no beating the Custom Shop. From pinpoint-accurate recreations of the most cherished vintage guitars to stunning modern masterpieces, the Custom Shop offers it all.

Whether you’re a collector, a professional, or simply looking for the finest Fender available, every Custom Shop guitar justifies its price.