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  1. Guitars

NAMM 2016: Fender Custom Shop stand - in pictures

News
By Guitarist, Total Guitar ( Total Guitar, Guitarist ) published 21 January 2016

The unbelievable, unattainable and unhinged...

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

Introduction

Introduction

NAMM 2016: The Fender Custom Shop stand is always one of the highlights of the NAMM show. This year has proved no exception with stained glass, sparkle and 'smuggler' takes on Strats, Teles and Jazzes.

From a cardboard Strat finish, a 'long Jag' and even a wood-clad, glow-in-the-dark Deluxe amp, the Custom Shop crew have let their imaginations run wild for the 2016 show.

It seems these guitars barely touch the show floor, before discerning dealers the world over snap them up, tucking order papers under the strings of the guitars they hope to re-home.

Browse the gallery to take a look at the Custom Shop stand...

Page 1 of 26
Page 1 of 26
Smokin' Gun Stratocaster

Smokin' Gun Stratocaster

Master-built by John Cruz, featuring a two-piece mahogany body and quartersawn maple neck.

Page 2 of 26
Page 2 of 26
Claro Walnut Bass

Claro Walnut Bass

Master-built by Jason Smith. A one-of-a-kind design, putting the walnut to fine use and producing an "edgy, aggressive rock bass tone".

Page 3 of 26
Page 3 of 26
1969 Rosewood Strat with Flame Maple Top

1969 Rosewood Strat with Flame Maple Top

Master-built by Greg Fessler. Sports an eye-catching AAAA flame maple top, completed with '69 Custom Shop single-coils and gold hardware.

Page 4 of 26
Page 4 of 26
Katana

Katana

Master-built by Todd Krause. The controversial body shape is revived, complete with handwound pickups and 'Mango Tango' finish.

Page 5 of 26
Page 5 of 26
Stained Glass Telecaster

Stained Glass Telecaster

Master-built by Dale Wilson. This heavenly Tele (depending on your tastes) conceals a section of LED light panels that illuminate the guitar's multi-tiered body.

Page 6 of 26
Page 6 of 26
Dragon Skin Telecaster

Dragon Skin Telecaster

Master-built by John Cruz. A truly opulent-looking creation, the Dragon Skin is covered in a colourful and highly reflective material. One for Skyrim fans...

Page 7 of 26
Page 7 of 26
Cardboard Stratocaster

Cardboard Stratocaster

Master-built by Paul Waller. Not just a clever finish, the entire body has been constructed from cardboard, which reportedly made assembly something of a headache...

Page 8 of 26
Page 8 of 26
The Long Jag

The Long Jag

Master-built by Scott Buehl. The Long Jag stretches a traditionally short-scale model over a 25.5" scale by expanding the pickguard.

Page 9 of 26
Page 9 of 26
'66 Blue Moto P Bass

'66 Blue Moto P Bass

Master-built by Dennis Galuszka. The Moto P Bass is vintage-accurate, celebrating the Slab P Bass' 50th anniversary with a rather special finish.

Page 10 of 26
Page 10 of 26
15,000 Volt Relic Telecaster

15,000 Volt Relic Telecaster

Master-built by Dennis Galuszka. The 15,000 Volt Relic Tele combines a mahogany body with 'electrical artwork burns' to create a unique finish.

Page 11 of 26
Page 11 of 26
Psychedelic Stratocaster

Psychedelic Stratocaster

Master-built by John Cruz. The Psych Strat shows off two finish techniques, marrying chameleon paint with Fender-tweaked paisley graphics.

Page 12 of 26
Page 12 of 26
Frosted Duco Stratocater

Frosted Duco Stratocater

Master-built by Scott Buehl. Featuring Josefina hand-wound Fat 50s pickups.

Page 13 of 26
Page 13 of 26
AAAA Quilt Maple Top Stratocaster

AAAA Quilt Maple Top Stratocaster

Master-built by Yuriy Shishkov. This Strat, finished in Sapphire Blue Trans, is all about fine maple, pairing a AAA flame maple neck, with the AAAA quilt maple top.

Page 14 of 26
Page 14 of 26
"Cypress Glow" Amp

"Cypress Glow" Amp

Hand-built by Shawn Greene and Jim Dolmage. Made from a reclaimed Pecky Cypress cabinet, the natural gaps in the grain of the cabinet have been filled with a glow-in-the-dark resin. A modded Fender '57 Deluxe circuit dwells beneath the surface.

Page 15 of 26
Page 15 of 26
LTD 50s Journeyman Relic Telecaster

LTD 50s Journeyman Relic Telecaster

Custom-built. Featuring AAA flame maple neck, hand-wound pickups and a laquer finish, dubbed Magenta Sparkle.

Page 16 of 26
Page 16 of 26
LTD 1967 Closet Class Smugglers Telecaster

LTD 1967 Closet Class Smugglers Telecaster

This guitar is so-named for the built-in 'smuggler's cavity'. This is probably the best possible image to come to mind when you hear that phrase.

Page 17 of 26
Page 17 of 26
LTD 60s Bound Neck Heavy Relic Stratocaster

LTD 60s Bound Neck Heavy Relic Stratocaster

Custom-built for NAMM only, this is Heavy Relic Strat showcases the Custom Shop's two-colour finish, laying Lake Placid Blue over 3-Tone Sunburst.

Page 18 of 26
Page 18 of 26
LTD Heavy Relic Caballo Tono Ligero

LTD Heavy Relic Caballo Tono Ligero

This Caballo Tono Ligero oozes faded glamour and comes equipped with a hand-wound Red Hot bridge pickup and Champagne Sparkle finish.

Page 19 of 26
Page 19 of 26
LTD 1958 Closet Classic Jazzmaster

LTD 1958 Closet Classic Jazzmaster

Finished in Desert Sand, this highly-desirable Jazz with hand-wound pickups feels almost restrained next to the rest of its Custom Shop brethren.

Page 20 of 26
Page 20 of 26
Jawbreaker Stratocaster

Jawbreaker Stratocaster

Master-built by Dale Wilson. Features an NOS lacquer finish with "15 different swirly, twirly colours".

Page 21 of 26
Page 21 of 26
NOS 5A Quilt Top Telecaster

NOS 5A Quilt Top Telecaster

Master-built by Dennis Galuszka. Combines an ash body and a stunning 5A quilt maple top.

Page 22 of 26
Page 22 of 26
George Harrison Rosewood Telecaster

George Harrison Rosewood Telecaster

A reassuringly small run signature model, just 100 will be constructed by Master Builder Paul Waller. This guitar is spec'd on George Harrison's original 1968 Telecaster and features pickups hand-wound by Abigail Ybarra.

Page 23 of 26
Page 23 of 26
1968 Closet Classic Stratocaster

1968 Closet Classic Stratocaster

Master-built by Greg Fessler. Featuring a slab alder body and Zebrawood top and back.

Page 24 of 26
Page 24 of 26
Artisan Telecaster

Artisan Telecaster

Features a spalted maple top with amber-tinted lacquer finish, plus a AAA birdseye maple neck.

Page 25 of 26
Page 25 of 26
LTD 1957 Heavy Relic Stratocaster

LTD 1957 Heavy Relic Stratocaster

Custom-built for NAMM only, this is another example of the Custom Shop's 'color on color' finish. This time it's black over pink paisley.

Page 26 of 26
Page 26 of 26
Total Guitar
Total Guitar
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Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

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Fender Custom Shop Ariel Posen Stratocaster: Posen's new signature model was inspired by the Jazzmaster and has custom-wound AP-90 pickups. Check out those cupcake-style control knobs.
Ariel Posen’s new Custom Shop signature Strat is A) stunning and B) inspired by a… Jazzmaster?
The Fender Richie Kotzen Stratocaster is made in Japan and features a contoured ash body with a stunning figured maple top, and comes with DiMarzio pickups and Gotoh tuners.
Fender gives Richie Kotzen’s figured-maple topped MIJ signature Strat a global release
Mark Speer of Khruangbin sits with his natural finish Fender Strat while Laura Lee holds her new signature Jazz Bass.
Fender unveils DiMarzio-loaded Strat and Jazz Bass for Khruangbin’s Mark Speer and Laura Lee
Fender Limited Edition Brad Paisley 1967 'Lost Paisley' Telecaster – the new Custom Shop signature collab features a finish from a Blue Paisley Cling-Foil sheet
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“Unbeatable... A play-anything guitar”: Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac Session Man review
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