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Gallery: Fender Custom Shop day at Longleat House

By Matthew Parker
published 22 October 2010

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Longleat House
As showrooms go, this one ain't bad

Longleat House

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 1 of 27
Page 1 of 27
The guitar room
Well, what would YOU call it?

The guitar room

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 2 of 27
Page 2 of 27
"The main event", as Fender described it
It's like Valhalla for guitars

"The main event", as Fender described it

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 3 of 27
Page 3 of 27
A Strat for all occasions
A selection of Vintage White Relics

A Strat for all occasions

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 4 of 27
Page 4 of 27
Various Stratocasters and Telecasters
Check out the two-tone 'over-spray' Relics

Various Stratocasters and Telecasters

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 5 of 27
Page 5 of 27
Various Stratocasters and Telecasters
Including a Blonde left-handed Nocaster

Various Stratocasters and Telecasters

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 6 of 27
Page 6 of 27
Crossing swords
Fender going for the Pink Floyd 'The Wall' effect

Crossing swords

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 7 of 27
Page 7 of 27
1960 NOS Sunburst Stratocasters
What's the collective noun for Strats? Is it 'flock'? Yeah, let's go with 'flock'

1960 NOS Sunburst Stratocasters

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 8 of 27
Page 8 of 27
1960 NOS Sunburst Stratocaster
For those that want a 'new' guitar for their money

1960 NOS Sunburst Stratocaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 9 of 27
Page 9 of 27
1960 Heavy Relic Sunburst Strats
These were probably used a lot in the '90s - the whole dog-chain/jean thing plays havoc with the finish

1960 Heavy Relic Sunburst Strats

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 10 of 27
Page 10 of 27
1960 Heavy Relic Sunburst Strat
Good to see Fender have used (UK firm) Bare Knuckle pickups on a lot of the models

1960 Heavy Relic Sunburst Strat

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 11 of 27
Page 11 of 27
Lefties need love too!
1960 Heavy Relic Sunburst Strat, NOS Blonde Nocaster and a 1960 NOS Sunburst Strat

Lefties need love too!

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 12 of 27
Page 12 of 27
1960 Heavy Relic Sonic Blue/Candy Green Stratocaster
More examples of the 'over-spray' effect

1960 Heavy Relic Sonic Blue/Candy Green Stratocaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 13 of 27
Page 13 of 27
1960 Heavy Relic Sonic Blue/Candy Green Stratocaster (detail)
We reckon this technique will add more fuel to the 'Relic debate' fire

1960 Heavy Relic Sonic Blue/Candy Green Stratocaster (detail)

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 14 of 27
Page 14 of 27
1963 Heavy Relic Lake Placid Blue/Sunburst Stratocaster
"It's like sunrise over the savannah!" *Wipes tear from eye*

1963 Heavy Relic Lake Placid Blue/Sunburst Stratocaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 15 of 27
Page 15 of 27
Masterbuilt 1960 NOS Natural Telecaster
More pimping than 50 Cent's dentals and light as a feather to boot!

Masterbuilt 1960 NOS Natural Telecaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 16 of 27
Page 16 of 27
Masterbuilt Heavy Relic Olympic White Custom Telecaster
The black binding on this Custom Tele made it our favourite guitar of the day.

Masterbuilt Heavy Relic Olympic White Custom Telecaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 17 of 27
Page 17 of 27
Masterbuilt Heavy Relic Olympic White Custom Telecaster (headstock)
We've got wood. And strings, tuners, nuts etc

Masterbuilt Heavy Relic Olympic White Custom Telecaster (headstock)

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 18 of 27
Page 18 of 27
Stu tries the Masterbuilt Custom Telecaster
"Stop torturing yourself man, you'll never afford it! Live in the now!" Ah 'Wayne's World', how much we owe ye.

Stu tries the Masterbuilt Custom Telecaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 19 of 27
Page 19 of 27
Masterbuilt 1961 Extreme Relic Honey Blonde Stratocaster
For sale: "Very good condition"

Masterbuilt 1961 Extreme Relic Honey Blonde Stratocaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 20 of 27
Page 20 of 27
Masterbuilt 1961 Extreme Relic Honey Blonde Stratocaster (bridge)
Complete with authentic rust

Masterbuilt 1961 Extreme Relic Honey Blonde Stratocaster (bridge)

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 21 of 27
Page 21 of 27
Matt pulls out the big guns. And comes up short.
Apparently a provisional driving license doesn't count as 'currency' anymore...

Matt pulls out the big guns. And comes up short.

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 22 of 27
Page 22 of 27
Guitarist Magazine shoot
Our sister mag were on-hand shooting a high-budget guitar porno

Guitarist Magazine shoot

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 23 of 27
Page 23 of 27
Refreshments!
Hot chocolate AND Cadbury's Eclairs!? Ambassador, you are spoiling us...

Refreshments!

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 24 of 27
Page 24 of 27
Stu examining a 1962 Heavy Relic Stratocaster
We decided it was, unfortunately, too large to sneak out in our trousers.

Stu examining a 1962 Heavy Relic Stratocaster

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 25 of 27
Page 25 of 27
Just in case...
See what we did there? That's why we're sat here and you're, well, probably getting paid a lot more than us

Just in case...

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 26 of 27
Page 26 of 27
Longleat at night
Camera operated through beer goggles

Longleat at night

A little while ago the nice chaps at Fender asked if we'd fancy coming along to a day at Longleat House in Somerset to try out some new Custom Shop guitars. Playing it cool, but secretly thinking "this could potentially be the best day of our meagre lives" we graciously accepted. These are the pictures in which our hands were shaking the least…

Page 27 of 27
Page 27 of 27
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Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
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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.

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