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101 Fender Custom Shop guitars

By The MusicRadar team
published 19 October 2010

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Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Recently, MusicRadar was lucky enough to be invited to an exclusive Fender Custom Shop event for UK dealers in the grand surroundings of Longleat in Wiltshire.

Among the lions, giraffes and other wildlife, Fender revealed a staggering haul of some of the sexiest Custom Shop instruments on the planet. From Heavy Relic Telecasters to Closet Classic Strats, Esquires, Nocasters and Masterbuilt works of art crafted by the likes of Yuriy Shishkov and John Cruz, there was plenty there to set pulses racing. Even lefties were catered for!

What follows is a gallery of 101 Fender Custom Shop guitars for your viewing, and swooning pleasure. Click onwards for hardcore guitar pornography of the most extreme nature, but be warned: we guarantee that you'll be reaching for your credit card...

Page 1 of 101
Page 1 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Lake Placid Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 2 of 101
Page 2 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 3 of 101
Page 3 of 101
Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt Heavy Relic '60s Custom Telecaster
Faded Olympic White finish with black binding. Nice!

Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt Heavy Relic '60s Custom Telecaster

Page 4 of 101
Page 4 of 101
Custom Deluxe Modified Stratocaster
Surf Green with 1965 Vintage Strat pickups

Custom Deluxe Modified Stratocaster

Page 5 of 101
Page 5 of 101
Left-handed Relic Nocaster
Blonde with Broadcaster bridge and Twisted Tele neck pickups

Left-handed Relic Nocaster

Page 6 of 101
Page 6 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 7 of 101
Page 7 of 101
Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 8 of 101
Page 8 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 9 of 101
Page 9 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster

Page 10 of 101
Page 10 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Surf Green with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 11 of 101
Page 11 of 101
Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster
This Sunset Orange Transparent model is the first of four Masterbuilt Extreme Relics

Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster

Page 12 of 101
Page 12 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster
Vintage White over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster

Page 13 of 101
Page 13 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 14 of 101
Page 14 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Sonic Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwired Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 15 of 101
Page 15 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 16 of 101
Page 16 of 101
Jason Smith Masterbuilt Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Sonic Blue over Candy Green, '60s Custom Relic pickups. Our favourite of the day... a monster guitar!

Jason Smith Masterbuilt Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 17 of 101
Page 17 of 101
Relic '59 Esquire
Dakota Red with gold hardware, Eldred Esquire wiring

Relic '59 Esquire

Page 18 of 101
Page 18 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 19 of 101
Page 19 of 101
Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 20 of 101
Page 20 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Lake Placid Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 21 of 101
Page 21 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 22 of 101
Page 22 of 101
Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster
Check out that seriously worn Honey Blonde finish

Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster

Page 23 of 101
Page 23 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 24 of 101
Page 24 of 101
Jason Smith Masterbuilt Closet Classic 1959 Telecaster
Dakota Red over Gray Primer with mid '60s-style oval C neck profile

Jason Smith Masterbuilt Closet Classic 1959 Telecaster

Page 25 of 101
Page 25 of 101
Heavy Relic 1962 Stratocaster
Heavily distressed Lake Placid Blue with '60s Custom Relic pickups. Another monster!

Heavy Relic 1962 Stratocaster

Page 26 of 101
Page 26 of 101
John Cruz Masterbuilt Closet Classic 1956 Telecaster
Aged Vintage Blonde with Closet Classic '52 Telecaster bridge and Handwound '51 Nocaster neck pickups. A real beauty!

John Cruz Masterbuilt Closet Classic 1956 Telecaster

Page 27 of 101
Page 27 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 28 of 101
Page 28 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 29 of 101
Page 29 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Vintage White with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 30 of 101
Page 30 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 31 of 101
Page 31 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 32 of 101
Page 32 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 33 of 101
Page 33 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 34 of 101
Page 34 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 35 of 101
Page 35 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 36 of 101
Page 36 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 37 of 101
Page 37 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 38 of 101
Page 38 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 39 of 101
Page 39 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 40 of 101
Page 40 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 41 of 101
Page 41 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 42 of 101
Page 42 of 101
Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 43 of 101
Page 43 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 44 of 101
Page 44 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Sonic Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwired Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 45 of 101
Page 45 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 46 of 101
Page 46 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 47 of 101
Page 47 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 48 of 101
Page 48 of 101
Left-handed NOS Nocaster
Blonde with Broadcaster bridge and Twisted Tele neck pickups

Left-handed NOS Nocaster

Page 49 of 101
Page 49 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 50 of 101
Page 50 of 101
Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Left-handed NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 51 of 101
Page 51 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 52 of 101
Page 52 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster
Vintage White over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster

Page 53 of 101
Page 53 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Vintage White with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 54 of 101
Page 54 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Vintage White over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 55 of 101
Page 55 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Telecaster

Page 56 of 101
Page 56 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Vintage White over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 57 of 101
Page 57 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Vintage White with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 58 of 101
Page 58 of 101
Custom 1958 Heavy Relic Stratocaster
Chocolate 3-Tone Sunburst, Small C neck shape

Custom 1958 Heavy Relic Stratocaster

Page 59 of 101
Page 59 of 101
Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 60 of 101
Page 60 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 61 of 101
Page 61 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 62 of 101
Page 62 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 63 of 101
Page 63 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 64 of 101
Page 64 of 101
Left-handed Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Left-handed Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 65 of 101
Page 65 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Lake Placid Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 66 of 101
Page 66 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 67 of 101
Page 67 of 101
Relic 1959 Esquire
Sea Foam Green with gold hardware and Eldred Esquire wiring

Relic 1959 Esquire

Page 68 of 101
Page 68 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 69 of 101
Page 69 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Sonic Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwired Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 70 of 101
Page 70 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Wide Grain 2-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 71 of 101
Page 71 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Lake Placid Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 72 of 101
Page 72 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Vintage White over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 73 of 101
Page 73 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Black with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 74 of 101
Page 74 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Vintage White over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 75 of 101
Page 75 of 101
Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster
Sonic Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst with Handwired Abby Hot '60s pickups

Heavy Relic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 76 of 101
Page 76 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Vintage White with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 77 of 101
Page 77 of 101
Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Closet Classic 1963 Stratocaster
Dakota Red with Closet Classic '60s Strat pickups

Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Closet Classic 1963 Stratocaster

Page 78 of 101
Page 78 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Wide Grain 2-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 79 of 101
Page 79 of 101
Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster
Another Masterbuilt Extreme Relic, this time in Sapphire Blue Transparent

Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster

Page 80 of 101
Page 80 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 81 of 101
Page 81 of 101
Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Relic 1957 Stratocaster
Candy Apple Red with large oval C neck profile

Greg Fessler Masterbuilt Relic 1957 Stratocaster

Page 82 of 101
Page 82 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Wide Grain 2-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 83 of 101
Page 83 of 101
Left-handed NOS Nocaster
Blonde with Broadcaster bridge and Twisted Tele neck pickups

Left-handed NOS Nocaster

Page 84 of 101
Page 84 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Wide Grain 2-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 85 of 101
Page 85 of 101
Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS '60s Telecaster
Thanks to its unusual Parota body, this was easily the lightest guitar we played on the day

Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS '60s Telecaster

Page 86 of 101
Page 86 of 101
Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster
Wide Grain 2-Tone Sunburst with Handwound Abby Hot '50s pickups

Heavy Relic 1956 Stratocaster

Page 87 of 101
Page 87 of 101
Closet Classic 1960 Stratocaster
Dakota Red with Handwound Abby Fat '50s pickups

Closet Classic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 88 of 101
Page 88 of 101
Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS 1956 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst on an alder body with an AA flame maple top

Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS 1956 Stratocaster

Page 89 of 101
Page 89 of 101
Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS 1956 Stratocaster
Cobalt Blue Transparent finish on an alder body with AA flame maple top

Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS 1956 Stratocaster

Page 90 of 101
Page 90 of 101
Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS 1956 Stratocaster
In 2-Tone sunburst with an AA flame maple top and Fender Fat '50s pickups

Dennis Galuszka Masterbuilt NOS 1956 Stratocaster

Page 91 of 101
Page 91 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
A vision in Vintage White. Still beautiful half a century later

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 92 of 101
Page 92 of 101
Yuriy Shishkov Masterbuilt Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with Fat '50s pickups

Yuriy Shishkov Masterbuilt Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 93 of 101
Page 93 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Aged Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 94 of 101
Page 94 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 95 of 101
Page 95 of 101
NOS 1960 Stratocaster
Vintage White with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

NOS 1960 Stratocaster

Page 96 of 101
Page 96 of 101
Yuriy Shishkov Masterbuilt Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
Surf Green with '69 Custom Shop Strat pickups

Yuriy Shishkov Masterbuilt Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 97 of 101
Page 97 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 98 of 101
Page 98 of 101
Yuriy Shishkov Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster
Another eye-catching Sunset Orange Transparent finish with some serious wear

Yuriy Shishkov Masterbuilt Extreme Relic 1961 Stratocaster

Page 99 of 101
Page 99 of 101
Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster
3-Tone Sunburst with custom Bare Knuckle pickups

Heavy Relic 1960 Stratocaster

Page 100 of 101
Page 100 of 101