Guitar Gear Gems: Fender Custom Shop 2022 Winter roundup
Fender's Custom Shop gets creative for Winter 2022
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This week on Guitar Gear Gems we take a quick peek at some of the new Fender Custom Shop releases announced. These limited-run instruments all have unique finishes and hardware on offer. Whether you like your guitars aged or as works of art the Fender Master Builders have something for practically all tastes.
Guitar Gear Gems
The Fender Custom Shop has announced a slew of new releases. These 2022 Winter releases are all pretty varied and there are lots of them, so we will check out some of them to give you an idea of what is coming. I’ve chosen four of the more interesting releases, though there are 13 new models in total and you can find them all on the Fender Custom Shop main site below.
Fender Masterbuilt ’69 Stratocaster Relic
This Fender Masterbuilt ’69 Stratocaster Relic by Greg Fessler looks pretty battered, but it is all relic ageing as usual. It looks pretty over the top and maybe a little extreme for some. There isn’t much Sea Foam Green finish left on this Strat!
Hardware includes an American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo and this model has a ’69-style U-profile neck with an aged maple fretboard.
Fender Masterbuilt ’69 Stratocaster Relic by Greg Fessler · Source: Fender
Pickups are a set of Josefina ’69 Strat pickups with RWRP middle and so it should sound better than it looks. It isn’t the style of ageing that I like, but I know that many players love this battered, work-horse style of finish and so I can see it being popular.
MSRP – USD 9100
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Fender Masterbuilt Custom ’60s Esquire
Next up is the Fender Masterbuilt Custom ’60s Esquire by Jason Smith. Thankfully, this one isn’t quite as battered as the Strat above. In fact, it looks brand new and has a very funky finish. The finish combines Surf Green with Silver-Green-Blue Flake.
Fender Masterbuilt Custom ’60s Esquire · Source: Fender
This model has a single Josefina Texas Special single-coil in the bridge position and uses the Full Throttle Esquire wiring. I’m a sucker for single pickup guitars and I enjoy a sparkle finish, so this one appeals to me. It has a bit of a Billy Gibbons vibe to it, and I bet it can get real mean too.
MSRP – USD 8650
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Fender Custom Buffalo Telecaster
The Fender Custom Buffalo Telecaster by Dale Wilson is described as having a rustic look. The guitar is certainly more of a piece of artwork than a standard run-of-the-mill Telecaster. It comes loaded with a set of Josefina Hand-Wound Original Blackguard Tele Bridge and ‘51 Nocaster Neck pickups, all wired up via modern Tele wiring.
Fender Custom Buffalo Telecaster by Dale Wilson · Source: Fender
Elsewhere this model features a single-ply parchment pickguard with the painted artwork and the hardware includes a ‘51-‘54 Tele bridge with brass barrel saddles. This is one of the more expensive models, but it is practically a work of art. Certainly, a stand-out guitar from this Custom Shop Winter 2022 collection.
MSRP – USD 13175
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Custom ’50s Telecaster Journeyman Relic by Todd Krause
Todd Krause has created this Custom ’50s Telecaster Journeyman Relic model, which is a little more typical Tele than the Buffalo Telecaster above. This one comes in a Candy Tangerine aged finish.
Fender Masterbuilt Custom ’50s Telecaster Journeyman Relic by Todd Krause · Source: Fender
Again, this model features a set of Josefina hand-wound ’50 and ’51 Blackguard pickups. I always love Telecasters and this one is a great-looking guitar, not too showy and I guess it would not look out of place in many situations. Subtle, but sweet as apple pie!
MSRP – USD 8450
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