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
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars

NAMM 2015: Fender Custom Shop's wildest guitars in pictures

News
By Matt Parker ( Total Guitar, Guitarist ) published 22 January 2015

Zombies, jewels, tree sirens and more!

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

Introduction

Introduction

NAMM 2015: MusicRadar was on hand to capture this year's selection of Fender's finest Custom Shop guitars, including jaw-dropping zombie paintjobs, rare tone woods and diamond-studded stunners.

A regular highpoint at every NAMM Show, the Fender Custom Shop reception, offers selected guests a sneak peek at some of the finest builds from the Fender, Gretsch and Jackson Custom Shops before the show gets fully underway. These are very, very limited models - some of them won't even make it to the show floor.

We headed along to bring you an early report from the show floor, so browse the gallery to see what happens when the Custom Shop's Master Builders are let off the leash...

Page 1 of 20
Page 1 of 20
#181 Fender Custom Shop Quilted Redwood Top Tele Relic - Natural

#181 Fender Custom Shop Quilted Redwood Top Tele Relic - Natural

Lightweight ash body, quilted redwood top, thin urethane finish.

Page 2 of 20
Page 2 of 20
#300 Fender Custom Shop Baritone NOS Custom Brown Metallic

#300 Fender Custom Shop Baritone NOS Custom Brown Metallic

Ash body, polyurethane finish, maple neck

Page 3 of 20
Page 3 of 20
#326 Fender Custom Shop Zombie Strat Custom Art

#326 Fender Custom Shop Zombie Strat Custom Art

Ash body, quilt maple top, Zombie artwork by Joaquin Lopez, inlays by Ron Thorn.

Page 4 of 20
Page 4 of 20
#334 Fender Custom Shop Solar Eclipse Stratocaster

#334 Fender Custom Shop Solar Eclipse Stratocaster

Alder body, Solar Eclipse Burst, WLS satin finish, hand stained maple neck.

Page 5 of 20
Page 5 of 20
#308 Fender Custom Shop Tree Siren Strat Closet Classic

#308 Fender Custom Shop Tree Siren Strat Closet Classic

One piece Tomo ash body, custom Tree Siren artwork, birds eye maple neck.

Page 6 of 20
Page 6 of 20
#339 Fender Custom Shop Flicker Flame Strat

#339 Fender Custom Shop Flicker Flame Strat

Alder body, Flicker Flame graphic on body and pickguard by Troy Lee Designs.

Page 7 of 20
Page 7 of 20
#347 Fender Custom Shop Cardinal Esquire Crimson Trans

#347 Fender Custom Shop Cardinal Esquire Crimson Trans

Alder body, 4A quilt maple top, thin lacquer on body and neck, hand polished, gold hardware, silver wire, rubies, green diopsides and diamonds set in body and neck.

Page 8 of 20
Page 8 of 20
#336 Fender Custom Shop Carved Pine Top Tele Natural

#336 Fender Custom Shop Carved Pine Top Tele Natural

Chambered mahogany body, carved 100 year old weathered pine top, engraved gold hardware.

Page 9 of 20
Page 9 of 20
Fender Custom Shop Pine Cone Stratocaster

Fender Custom Shop Pine Cone Stratocaster

550 diamonds, blue hand-stained finish recreates appearance of the Fabergé Pine Cone Easter Egg.

Page 10 of 20
Page 10 of 20
#338 Fender Custom Shop Aluminum Hyroform Strat

#338 Fender Custom Shop Aluminum Hyroform Strat

Aluminium body and pickguard, handwound Fat 50s pickups, one piece Rift maple neck.

Page 11 of 20
Page 11 of 20
#014 Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Relic Tele Caballo Tono Black

#014 Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Relic Tele Caballo Tono Black

Lightweight alder body, lacquer finish, RSD bridge, TV Jones Classic Neck humbucker, Handwound Texas Special bridge pickup.

Page 12 of 20
Page 12 of 20
#501 Gretsch White Falcon NOS

#501 Gretsch White Falcon NOS

Laminated maple hollow archtop body, maple neck, ebony board, pearl humptop engraved inlay.

Page 13 of 20
Page 13 of 20
#503 Gretsch 1955 White Falcon Relic

#503 Gretsch 1955 White Falcon Relic

Laminated maple hollow archtop body, maple neck, ebony board, pearl humptop engraved inlay.

Page 14 of 20
Page 14 of 20
#500 Gretsch Bayou Round-Up

#500 Gretsch Bayou Round-Up

Laminated maple/gator hide top, mahogany/gator hide back and sides, mahogany neck, rosewood board, bayou themed engraved block inlay.

Page 15 of 20
Page 15 of 20
#505 Gretsch 1955 White Falcon Red Sparkle Binding

#505 Gretsch 1955 White Falcon Red Sparkle Binding

Laminated maple hollow archtop body, maple neck, ebony board, pearl humptop engraved inlay.

Page 16 of 20
Page 16 of 20
Gretsch Master Builder Stephen Stern

Gretsch Master Builder Stephen Stern

The Gretsch guitar maestro, pictured with one of his White Falcon Red Sparkle creations.

Page 17 of 20
Page 17 of 20
Jackson Roswell ELE

Jackson Roswell ELE

Contains an actual piece of a meteor in the central chamber, distinguishing it from all of the guitars that don't contain a piece of meteor in a central chamber.

Jackson roswell ele detail

Jackson roswell ele detail
Page 18 of 20
Page 18 of 20
#400 Jackson Kaiju

#400 Jackson Kaiju

Hand-carved and painted by Mike Learn. Custom paint by Brian Bock. Custom hand-carved alder body.

Page 19 of 20
Page 19 of 20
#404 Jackson Skinned Dinky

#404 Jackson Skinned Dinky

Skin by FX artist Tim Gore. Painted by Craig Fraser.

#404 jackson skinned dinky detail

#404 jackson skinned dinky detail
Page 20 of 20
Page 20 of 20
Matt Parker
Matt Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Latest in Guitars
Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman trade solos as Megadeth play live in 1990
Dave Mustaine admits he nearly passed on Marty Friedman for Megadeth because he didn’t like his hair
 
 
A glam shot of a cherry red Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Firebird Les Paul Special in action
Epiphone revamps core lineup with the Inspired By Gibson series
 
 
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
“This has been a difficult decision for us”: Harley Benton is closing its US store on Reverb
 
 
All the best guitar gear from this year's NAMM Show
The best new guitar gear of NAMM 2026: More effects, more amps, more guitars and more tech than ever
 
 
Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 poses backstage at the Sahara Tent during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 14, 2023 in Indio, California
“Bass players are the glue”: Mark Hoppus names his three (or four) favourite bassists
 
 
JBL BandBox Trio press image
"A brand new amp and speaker with AI vocal and instrument separation tech": JBL’s new BandBox makes it easier than ever to craft the perfect backing track
 
 
Latest in News
Neil Young
“This is an offer of Peace and Love”: Neil Young gives the people of Greenland the gift of musicians
 
 
Spotify backline logo
“The first step toward accessing mental health support”: Backline launches first support line dedicated to musicians
 
 
Native Instruments logo
Native Instruments is in preliminary insolvency
 
 
Independent Venue Week logo
“More than ever, fans are also showing that they want to be out”: Over 700 gigs confirmed for Independent Venue Week
 
 
Sly Dunbar at the kit, circa 1984
“True icon … one of the greatest drummers of all time”: The world mourns the passing of Sly Dunbar
 
 
US rapper and producer Kanye West gestures upon arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on July 11, 2025
“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions”: Kanye West apologises - at last! - for anti-semitism
 
 

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
  • 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...