Summer NAMM 2017: Fender Custom Shop unveils Front Row Legend Esquire, built from Hollywood Bowl bench boards

SUMMER NAMM 2017: Fender’s Custom Shop has been busy. Not only with its usual array of gorgeous one-offs, but also with the B-25-themed Pacific Battle Strat and Tele, and this fascinating Front Row Legend Esquire.

Built by legendary Master Builder Yuriy Shishkov, the Front Row Legend Esquire is made from 100-year-old Alaskan yellow cedar reclaimed from original bench boards taken from legendary music venue, the Hollywood Bowl.

The wood’s original patina, with cracks, bolt holes and scratches, is preserved, and the Custom Shop even picked out the boards with the most distinct markings.

In addition, each guitar has an original seat number on the top of the body, making every satin-finished piece unique.

Playing-wise, the Front Row features a ’60s-style 'Oval C'-shaped quartersawn maple neck, 7.25”-radius fingerboard and vintage frets, as well as an original-spec Broadcaster bridge pickup, oxidised brass hardware and push-pull volume pot.

The Front Row Legend Esquire will be built to order in limited quantities, with a price tag of £10,089.

Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

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