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The Fender Custom Shop unveils the 2021 Prestige collection

The Fender Custom Shop, alongside Mike McCready’s signature Stratocaster and the Surf Green With Envy Collection, has revealed the details of the 2021 Prestige Collection. Each guitar in the collection has been crafted by one of the Custom Shop’s Master Builders, with their own personal approach taken to building each one. Yuriy Shishkov: Leaves of […]

Fender Custom Shop Prestige Collection 2021

All images: Fender

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The Fender Custom Shop, alongside Mike McCready’s signature Stratocaster and the Surf Green With Envy Collection, has revealed the details of the 2021 Prestige Collection. Each guitar in the collection has been crafted by one of the Custom Shop’s Master Builders, with their own personal approach taken to building each one.

Yuriy Shishkov: Leaves of Tears

This intricately-crafted Stratocaster features a silver wire inlay pattern around its body, with the vine-like lines ending in diamonds and diopside stones. The inlay is set into a purple-burst-finished quilted maple top for an extra touch of high-end aesthetic.

Lists for £9,39 / €10,499.

Scott Buehl: Acrylic Jazzmaster

This is Buehl’s first acrylic guitar using an offset shape. Complete with a completely clear pickguard and fully on-display electronics, it evokes Dan Armstrong’s timeless transparent designs with an extremely Fender twist.

Lists for £12,849 / €14,399.

Dale Wilson: Tapestry Telecaster

This Telecaster was a collaboration between Wilson and LA based artist, Pamelina, who had the initial inspiration for this guitar. Wilson said of the plan for the instrument: “I’m always drawn to guitars that have wood as a canvas,” describing Pamelina’s design for it as “a beautiful combination of scrolls against a backdrop of flame maple with a barely noticeable burst on the edge”.

Lists for £17,999 / €20,149.

Jason Smith: Custom ‘60s P Bass Special

Celebrating both the 70th anniversary of the Precision Bass and old western ghost towns, this instrument was designed for an early P Bass vibe, combining a modern playability with a more “weathered” appearance.

It’s made from a reclaimed, roasted pine body with nail and bolt holes. The wood lived a life as an old grain elevator in Minnesota before becoming an instrument. There’s also a tooled leather hand-painted pickguard and a Josefina hand-wound PJ pickup set, slightly over-wound for higher output and deeper bass tone. Video here.

Lists for £8,849 / €9,899.

Carlos Lopez: Double Neck Marauder

Two of Lopez’ favourite guitars are the Electric XII and the Marauder, so it only makes sense that he created the Double Neck XII Marauder. The guitar was designed in collaboration with Paul Frank, who shares a very similar taste in guitars with Lopez. Speaking about his creation, Lopez noted that he loves “the fact that the 12 string is on the top side, just how it should be.

“The colour and feel of the creation just has to be experienced in person.”

All of the guitar’s pickups were designed and built by Curtis Novak.

Lists for £18,849 / €21,099.

Kyle McMillin: Custom Burled Redwood Strat

This Stratocaster takes inspiration from woodworking and resin art, and makes use of techniques more associated with furniture and home decor. McMillin described it as one of his favourite builds to date – it features a burl top filled with resin, creating a smooth feel but textured and deep look.

Lists for £9,399 / €10,499.

Todd Krause: Box Top Tele

This Telecaster takes inspiration from the construction of an amplifier cabinet. The maple top is inset into the body of the guitar with a box joint, a technique not often employed in guitar building. The contrasting woods give the appearance of checkered binding, and a natural finish allows you to see the joint and the AAAA birdseye top maple.

Lists for £10,499 / €11,749.

Greg Fessler: Tamo Ash Tele

Greg Fessler is a fan of figured wood, and so had been saving this guitar’s Tamo Ash top for a special occasion. The Tamo Ash Tele also features Seymour Duncan Vintage P90 pickups, a “Sawed-Off” Vintage-Style Tele Bridge and a Tamo Ash body.

Lists for £7,999 / €8,949.

Chris Fleming: Jazz Telecaster

This Jazz Telecaster is a tribute to Fleming’s love of the art of bebop jazz guitar, as well as the Telecaster’s design. It features a custom-designed and machined Fender Jazz Tailpiece, made specifically for this instrument, as well as a Tilted Snake Head headstock, mahogany neck, and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. There’s also a single humbucker, recreating the sound and feel of a jazz archtop. Fender notes that it is “one of a handful of instruments Fleming has made prior to his retirement this year.”

Vincent Van Trigt: Custom Flamingo Sunset Tele

This Telecaster was inspired by a ‘60s cocktail bar by the beach, and features artwork by Ian Ward. There’s also cocktail bar neck inlays, a roasted body and neck and Josefina hand-wound ‘63 Tele Pickups. Trigt noted that “Ian’s artwork captures exactly the vibe I had in mind.”

Lists for £15,399 / €17,249.

Paul Waller: Sugar Surprise Strat

LA Artist Pamelina also worked with Paul Waller on this Sugar Surprise Strat, with the concept of a guitar that lights up, taking on a different feel once illuminated. The Sugar Skull theme of the guitar pays off on this idea, with scrolling art turning into a sugar skull with flowing hair.

Lists for £23,749 / €26,599.

Dennis Galuszka: Custom ‘62 Precision Bass

Dennis Galuzska’s concept for this bass was the mood of a dead forest, more specifically a singular dead tree. Pyrography artist Madeline Hanlin contributed the design on the bass’ body and fretboard, but aside from that, it’s a “tried and true vintage P-Bass,” with an alder body and maple neck.

Lists for £15,249 / €17,049.

Find out more at fendercustomshop.com.

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