Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Kate Bush Army Dreamers
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Theory of Feels
  1. Guitars
  2. Acoustic Guitars

NAMM 2013: Fender unveils Collector Custom Series acoustics

News
By Rob Power published 23 January 2013

New range features eye-catching acoustics

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Fender unveils Collector Custom Series acoustics

Fender unveils Collector Custom Series acoustics

NAMM 2013: Fender's new Acoustic Custom Shop, announced today, will feature the Collector Custom Series alongside the Pro Custom Series.

The Collector Custom Series features acoustics built at the new Connecticut facility that have been hand-finished by a number of artists, including Sara Ray, Melanie Steinway and Joe Wood.

Click through for more on the range, and visit the official Fender website for more information.

Fender press release

The Fender Acoustic Custom Shop’s Collector Custom Series pairs our finest instruments with the talents of highly regarded contemporary graphic artists. With our guitars as their canvases, the results are one-of-kind acoustic instruments of fascinating creativity and personality—great-sounding and highly distinctive-looking collectors items to be cherished by a fortunate few.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Melanie Steinway "Tribal Ocean" Newporter

Melanie Steinway "Tribal Ocean" Newporter

Fender press release

From the mind of talented graphic artist Melanie Steinway comes a truly cool and different take on a Fender Acoustic Custom Shop instrument. Steinway used a meticulous wood-burning technique to apply her creative oceanic imagery to this Collector Custom Series orchestra-style acoustic, thus creating a limited edition of one. The Acoustic Custom Shop then finished the instrument, with custom features including solid mahogany top, back and sides; bone nut, saddle and bridge pins; nitrocellulose lacquer finish; and Fishman® electronics for rich amplified tone.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Melanie Steinway "Tribal Ocean" Newporter specs

Melanie Steinway "Tribal Ocean" Newporter specs

Melanie Steinway "Tribal Ocean" Newporter Specs

Body Shape: Dreadnought

Body Back: Solid Mahogany

Body Sides: Solid Mahogany

Body Top: Solid Engelmann Spruce

Bracing: Forward Shifted Scalloped X

Body Binding: Aged White

Neck Shape: "C" Shape

Number of Frets: 20

Position Inlays: Dot

Fingerboard Radius: 9" (22.9 cm)

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Neck Material: Maple

Nut Width: 1.7" (43.2 mm)

Scale Length: 25.625" (65.09 cm)

Headstock: Traditional Fender

Truss Rods: Dual-Action

Special Electronics: Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity Pickup System

Controls: Volume, Tone

Hardware Finish: Nickel

Bridge: Rosewood

String Nut: Bone

Tuning Machines: Vintage Style

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Melanie Steinway "Tribal Moth" Dreadnought

Melanie Steinway "Tribal Moth" Dreadnought

Fender press release

From the mind of talented graphic artist Melanie Steinway comes a new variation on a Fender Acoustic Custom Shop instrument. Steinway used a meticulous wood-burning technique to apply her creative imagery to this elegant moth-themed Collector Custom Series dreadnought acoustic, creating a limited edition of one.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Melanie Steinway "Tribal Moth" Dreadnought

Melanie Steinway "Tribal Moth" Dreadnought

Fender press release (cont.)

The Acoustic Custom Shop then finished the instrument, with remarkable features including a solid Engelmann spruce top; solid mahogany back and sides; bone nut, saddle and bridge pins; nitrocellulose lacquer finish; and Fishman® electronics for superb amplified tone.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Melanie Steinway "Tribal Moth" Dreadnought specs

Melanie Steinway "Tribal Moth" Dreadnought specs

Melanie Steinway "Tribal Moth" Dreadnought Specs

Body Shape: Orchestra

Body Back: Solid Mahogany

Body Sides: Solid Mahogany

Body Top: Solid Mahogany

Bracing: Forward Shifted Scalloped X

Body Binding: Aged White

Neck Shape: "V" Shape

Number of Frets: 20

Position Inlays: Dot

Fingerboard Radius: 10" Radius (254 mm)

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Neck Material: Mahogany

Nut Width: 1.7" (43.2 mm)

Scale Length: 25.625" (65.09 cm)

Headstock: Traditional Fender

Truss Rods: Dual-Action

Special Electronics: Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity Pickup System

Controls: Volume, Tone

Hardware Finish: Gold-Plated

Bridge: Rosewood

String Nut: Bone

Tuning Machines: Grover® Rotomatic™ Die-Cast

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Joe Wood "Dia De Los Muertos" Dreadnought

Joe Wood "Dia De Los Muertos" Dreadnought

Fender press release

Combine our top craftsmen and finest materials with the talents of folk artist, punk godfather and T.S.O.L. frontman Joe Wood, and the result is a truly one-of-a-kind Fender Acoustic Custom Shop instrument.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Joe Wood "Dia De Los Muertos" Dreadnought

Joe Wood "Dia De Los Muertos" Dreadnought

Fender press release cont.

Painted by the man himself, the Collector Custom Series Joe Wood Dia de los Muertos is thus a skull-adorned limited edition of just one guitar, with fine features such as a solid Engelmann spruce top; solid mahogany back and sides; bone nut, saddle and bridge pins; nitrocellulose lacquer finish; and the Fishman® Matrix Infinity pickup system.

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Sara Ray "Pirate Bay" Newporter

Sara Ray "Pirate Bay" Newporter

Fender press release

Southern California graphic artist Sara Ray has created this fine Fender Collector Custom Series orchestra-style acoustic with a vibrant and festive pirate scene.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Sara Ray "Pirate Bay" Newporter

Sara Ray "Pirate Bay" Newporter

Fender press release cont.

The Fender Acoustic Custom Shop then finished it, with custom features including solid mahogany top, back and sides; bone nut, saddle and bridge pins; nitrocellulose lacquer finish; and the Fishman® Matrix Infinity pickup system for rich amplified tone.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
Rob Power
Read more
The Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist Series in cutaway and non-cutaway versions, and in Rosewood Burst or Antique Natural finishes.
Guitars A future player favourite? Gibson unveils the Songwriter Recording Artist acoustics
 
 
The Fender Vintera III series offers period correct specs and promises golden era tones — and here five from the range are lined up in formation.
Guitars “We set out to capture the defining moments that shaped Fender’s legacy”: Fender unveils the Vintera III series
 
 
Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem demoes his signature '59 Telecaster Custom, a new for 2026 limited edition model from the Fender Custom Shop.
Artists Fender releases the Brian Fallon ’59 Telecaster Custom, a high-end replica of the guitar that built the Gaslight Anthem sound
 
 
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2026: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
 
 
The Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster collection comprises five limited edition models, including an American Professional Custom Telecaster in 2-tone Sunburst, an American Ultra II Telecaster in Liquid Gold, a Vintera Road Worn 1951 Telecaster in Butterscotch Blonde, an American Professional Classic Cabronita, and a Player II Telecaster in Diamond Dust Sparkle.
Guitars Fender celebrates 75 years of the electric guitar that started it all with limited edition collection
 
 
Yamaha has unveiled more concert and dreanought sizes of its cutting-edge TransAcoustic acoustic guitar range, with the TAG Cutaway models offering Bluetooth support
Guitars Yamaha expands TransAcoustic lineup with more guitars that look like regular acoustics but are anything but
 
 
Latest in Acoustic Guitars
Gretsch Jim Dandy Parlor Ltd in Vintage White
Guitars Gretsch just released the most vibey acoustic guitar of the year and it’s only $249
 
 
The Taylor Jacob Collier GS Mini is a compact five-string acoustic that encourages players to explore Collier's D-A-E-A-D tuning.
Acoustic Guitars “This is quite a hard guitar to categorise – and perhaps Jacob Collier likes it that way... For the right player, though, it could be the key to experiencing guitar anew”: Taylor Jacob Collier GS Mini 5-String review
 
 
The Martin 00L Biosphere IV is created in tribute to the emperor penguin, and features a family of them on its graphic-finish top.
Guitars Martin marks Earth Day with a custom graphic 00L Biosphere IV acoustic in the name of penguin preservation
 
 
Yamaha has unveiled more concert and dreanought sizes of its cutting-edge TransAcoustic acoustic guitar range, with the TAG Cutaway models offering Bluetooth support
Guitars Yamaha expands TransAcoustic lineup with more guitars that look like regular acoustics but are anything but
 
 
A landscape shot of the iconic Guitar Center logo and shop entrance to its Sunset Boulevard store.
Guitars “We are about to do something insane”: Guitar Center is launching its own guitar brand “from the ground up”
 
 
Gibson L-00 Century
Acoustic Guitars "For blues players and fingerstyle enthusiasts especially, it’s hard to imagine a better-suited companion": Gibson L-00 Century 12-Fret review
 
 
Latest in News
Gretsch Jim Dandy Parlor Ltd in Vintage White
Guitars Gretsch just released the most vibey acoustic guitar of the year and it’s only $249
 
 
Harley Benton DNAfx AmP10
Guitars It’s $92, weighs 4.5kg and is packed with features, and Harley Benton calls it “ultimate grab-and-go practice station” – meet the DNAfx AmP10 modelling combo
 
 
Olivia Rodrigo
Artists Olivia Rodrigo prepares to administer The Cure – but is it about Robert Smith or something else?
 
 
novation
Tech The only MIDI keyboard controller made specifically for FL Studio just got a major upgrade
 
 
Dave Grohl visits SiriusXM Studios on April 29, 2026
Drummers “I was like ‘That’s not my one’”: Dave Grohl recalls the time Nine Inch Nails laughed at him
 
 
Sean Hurley plays the Fender 75th Anniversary Precision Bass Collection
Bass Guitars Geezer Butler, Tal Wilkenfeld and Nate Mendel hail the legacy of the P Bass, as Fender celebrates its 75th anniversary
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...