Californication

With the Telecaster in 1950, Leo Fender established the industrial production of the electric guitar and made it available to so many people. Hardly any other brand has ever been able to shape the music scene across all genres in the way that Fender still does today!

70 years of craftsmanship

The Fender company looks back on an impressive history of more than 70 years. Founded in 1946 by Leo Fender in Fullerton, California, the company has revolutionized the music world and produced some of the most iconic instruments of all time. With classics such as the Telecaster and the Stratocaster, Fender has not only shaped the sound but also the image of modern music to this day.

While the Telecaster was the first industrially manufactured electric guitar to change the world of music, the desire for individual instruments with special features, be it in terms of wood, electronics, paintwork or special designs, grew over time among professional musicians and collectors.

Musicians' dreams come true!

To fulfill this wish, John Page and Michael Stevens, the visionaries behind the Fender Custom Shop, founded the coveted guitar manufacturer in 1987 and took Fender back to its roots. Their goal was clearly defined:

From now on, the Fender Custom Shop would once again create handmade guitars and basses and make musicians' dreams come true with every single instrument.

A stage for master craftsmen

The Fender Custom Shop is more than just a workshop - it's a stage for master craftsmen to create a work of art with every instrument. Each master builder, from Dale Wilson to Dennis Galuszka to Andy Hicks, brings their unparalleled passion, experience and creativity to the building process. These guitars and basses not only embody craftsmanship perfection, they tell stories. They are designed with dedication for musicians who seek the extraordinary. The result is not just an instrument, but a piece of music history.

Explore Fender Masterbuilt guitars

Since its foundation, the Fender Custom Shop has built a large number of legendary guitars for famous musicians such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and David Gilmour. In addition to one-offs, the Custom Shop also offers limited series designed by the master builders and produced in small quantities, similar to our Dealer Select or Metalic Run Collections.

A very special relationship

At Custom Reserve, we live the passion for handmade guitars - and it is precisely this passion that connects us closely with the Fender Custom Shop. Our guitar guru Oliver Lohmann maintains a deep, friendly relationship with the master builders, based on mutual respect and expertise. In lively discussions, in which every little detail is discussed, outstanding ideas emerge time and again. Exclusive special runs and limited collections, which only exist thanks to this special collaboration, arise from this exchange at eye level. Every guitar that emerges from this partnership bears the unmistakable signature of a true masterpiece.

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Just Simply the Best!

Limited series: In addition to one-offs, limited, carefully produced series are offered.
Master craftsmanship: Highly qualified master builders create exceptional guitars and basses with passion and experience.
Customized instruments: Each instrument is made according to the individual wishes and needs of the musician.
Unique materials: Exclusive woods, special electronics and individual finishes and agings are used.
Legendary players: Artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour play Custom Shop instruments.