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  1. Guitars

Gallery: Fender Custom Shop day at Longleat House

News
By Matthew Parker published 22 October 2010

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Longleat House

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

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

"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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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.

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

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!

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

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...

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

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
Matthew Parker
Matthew 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.

Read more
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