The Fender Custom Shop: A Short History

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I don’t even play guitar, but I love learning about them and amps. The history I learn from this channel is amazing. Thank you.

[@handle433]

Hey brother, pick up a nice Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster and just start. Doesn’t matter what age, just try. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done!

[@sabpac459]

@@handle433I wholeheartedly agree

[@tjmanning]

If you find the history interesting, you should definitely start playing!

[@jeffbrinkerhoff5121]

Yes brother, get a guitar, mess around with it, watch some vids..

[@Barnstorm757]

You are a guitar player 😂 finance a guitar online. Get one you really really like the look of and you will always pick it up

[@tomellis1857]

I did a lot of running around with Stevens in the 77-86 era and thousands of those guitars have my pearl inlay work. Seems like a lifetime ago

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

Wow Amazing information !!!! Love your channel.

[@justinsmitherman3768]

I lived in Alpine, Texas where Michael Stevens currently lives. I reached out to him and went out to his shop. He had taken a pause on building to take care of his wife who had sadly passed away not too long before. He was just starting back building again when I met him and it was such a phenomenal space. He drew a map on a piece of paper and sent it to me through email so I could find his shop easily. He is such a humble guy and just a true cowboy who happens to build absolutely phenomenal guitars. An absolutely amazing encounter that I will cherish forever.

[@cmonsterz]

I love this style of video, Keith! I can literally feel my blood pressure lowering while watching this kind of video. Like you, I’m no spring chicken, so making the old BP level drop is helpful!

[@carlton1390]

Superbly researched and presented! Bravo Keith!! Fender is like a treasured public institution, and we all want the best for it!

[@User57186-y]

Great episode. Mike Lewis only passed away very recently and all of Fender feels it, what a great man. Thankyou Keith

[@Bob-Whiting]

RIP Mike

[@calsurflance5598]

In the mid 90s Fender started the Dick Dale model on a custom order basis. They built a one off Strat for Dick that was beyond amazing. All hardware was heavily gold plated. It had the Fender logo inlaid with gold wire into a slab of mother of pearl on the head stock, and his name inlaid up the fretboard. He was a friend, so one day at his house, he brought it out and handed it to me. He said he was afraid to play it as it was too pretty and he might “tear it up”. However he insisted I play it. Of course it was epic. We even took it outside in the sun so he could show me the detail. He called it the “Beauty “. He referred to his original 61 as “The Beast”. Rest easy Dick.🙏

[@kennethclark3766]

I have a Dick Dale custom shop guitar that I love. The tones are so different from any other strat I have ever played.

[@calsurflance5598]

@@kennethclark3766 Dick was a force of nature. He played his 61 from the time Leo gave it to him until he died in 2019. He signed and played my Strat and even teased me about my light strings. I still have it. I have never played the model like you have. How is it wired? His original still had the 3 way switch with a toggle switch to combine the middle and neck PU. Tone pots were removed. Does your DD Strat have a really fat neck? His did.

[@kennethclark3766]

@calsurflance5598 I also met Dick Dale back in the mid 90's. He was such a great guy, signed autographs, and let us in the show for free. He was a beast of a player!

[@kennethclark3766]

@calsurflance5598 he also gave me a hard time because I used 10s, he told me I needed to work on my finger strength, then laughed and patted me on the back. Didn't he use 16s on his guitar?

[@kennethclark3766]

@calsurflance5598 it does have a fairly large neck. The guitar has a 3 way switch, but does have a toggle switch that combines the neck and middle pickup. The bridge pickup also isn't as shrill as other stats, I've been told that is due to the reverse angle of the pickup.

[@Bob-Whiting]

Hell Yes, we enjoyed this! It's perfection, as per usual. You really needn't ask. Thanks for this one!

[@monday6524]

The Short Histories never age. So goes the discussion on relic’d guitars. Very enjoyable!

[@RonH-tf7gi]

The speed of the narrative allows me to hold on to the well given info. I appreciate you, Keith!!

[@paulofreire7520]

Top channel 👍🏻

[@perecaramba3319]

amazing...

[@brentarnold1619]

You've really nailed the short-form guitar documentary. Great work as usual on this.

[@TommySG1]

Another masterpiece Keith! Thanks, for doing what you do man 🤙😊

[@edwardyazinski3858]

If we are all Five Watt world it is because of you Sir Keith! Thank you! Have a great Labor Day. Cheers.

[@RobertJSedky]

Absolutely brilliant work 🙌🏼🤍

[@andrewmallard2301]

Superb history lesson

[@thomasfritsch3536]

❤THANKS KEITH AS USUAL PERFECTLY DONE BRAVO BRAVO

[@michaelborn3318]

Well done review of the Custom Shop!

[@BobHolland1949]

Great video on custom shop & Relics. I bought a Custom Shop Jazz Bass in 1997. Cunetto Relic 60's. Neck stamped 96 body 97. Still have it & play it often. Best Bass I have ever owned. Reminds me of my 1963 Jazz I had back in the 1960's. Yes I'm old. 75 this past May. Thanks again for the video.

[@unclestubs8377]

Keep these short histories coming! I can't get enough!! 😊

[@jackfrey47]

I would love to see a video by this channel on how to get the original fender sound. What components too look for and tricks to get there without busting the bank. This would be the most important vid ever. One on fender and one on the les paul.

[@SeanAllocca]

Another great episode Keith. Early viewing via Patreon membership is such a nice bonus.

[@AtlanteanReacts]

new sub here keith, loved the live chat, will be here next time for sure...very helpfull channel...the burst stuff got me hooked...so thankyou sir

[@leoburke8466]

Another great video Keith, thanks! I belong to a scale modeling club and one of the guys in the club named Leo is the tech whose job is to map and measure existing artist guitars that are than built by the custom shop.

[@THEItchybruddah]

Weapons grade as always Maestro!

[@nickf2170]

I ordered a personalized Stratocaster within a year of the custom shop opening up. It wasn't anything exotic, just a natural ash body, ebony fret board and spec'd to a '57. I waited a full year for that guitar, not an easy thing to do. When it was due, I was told they shipped MY guitar to another customer "by mistake" and offered me a refund. I refused, and said I will wait till you make another one. And yes it took a whole nother year before I received that guitar. After that, I developed the skills to build my own guitars, and they are every bit as good as what Fender sent me. And now, with the prices they are asking $20,000 and more in some cases....no, that is not happening.

[@MarkFromHawaii]

Great video Keith. What happened to Master Builder John Cruz is sad in so many ways. I understand why he was sacked and he owned up to it. Tried to start his own shop but latest I've heard was that he's shut down.

[@pacolazo123]

"the department´s real potential became clear" good timing with the clear transparent p bass

[@fivewattworld]

YOU are the only one who’s mentioned that! Nice!

[@lawrencechristiansen9857]

Great video! It would be great to have the early custom shop builders on a live interview or podcast.

[@janallexander5173]

That was really beautiful tele at the beginning of your video ,i greatly enjoyed your film.

[@redwaveofketchup7457]

Your timing for this in my case is astounding. A couple weeks ago I made an impulse purchase of a Custom shop limited edition Pine thinline Telecaster 2 HH with light Relic treatment.I never spent that much money on a guitar. It had a list price of $5200, but a used one popped up on Reverb for the still steep (for Me LOL) of $3800. When I pressed the buy button, I immediately thought WTH have I done. Long story short, after a couple weeks playing it, I get what all the hype is on the CS Fenders. It plays effortlessly, sounds incredible, and the looks are stunning. It has unpotted humbuckers that sound like a cross between Single coil tele bridge Pup and a PAF, but still have a character like no other guitars I have heard, simply astounding!! AND I don't have a problem taking this out of the house to jam since it already looks used!!! But unfortunately all my other guitars are jealous since this one has become my number 1.And a couple may be finding new homes. Another great one Keith!!! Well done sir!!

[@thorenshammer]

My brother was interested in learning guitar, so I picked him up a simple Fender Stratocaster Squire with a candy apple red finish to learn with and a small practice amp. He ditched the Strat quite a few years ago but kept the strap that I gave him that had an engraved flying eagle on it, which I still think looks cool. He told me he will never part from that, as it has become his performance strap for shows. In return, he purchased a Telecaster from the custom shop that is better suited to the sounds he wants to play. It is never about the instrument anyway, it's about what an artist can produce from, and wants out of a given instrument that counts. Excellent video as always, Keith, Thank you.

[@patrickwashburn4501]

Great episode, Keith. I knew Michael Stevens back in the early 1980s when he built me a fretless bass based on a Fender Jazz model. I saw Michael working on the six-string bass for Roscoe Beck shown at 3:46. It was later that I found out that Michael was one of the go-to guys for Gibson’s original korina guitars.

[@JGlassy]

Great video, Keith, filling in important history gaps in many of our guitar culture experiences !

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend Keith also happy last day of August ❤😊

[@Cuardaitheoirfirinne]

Whatever Jeff McErlain was playing at the beginning was absolutely slamming! Loved it!

[@StupidGuitar]

Great stuff as always. Good to see some playtime from John Cordoroy

[@MrMike-fm8bp]

Love the univibe at end

[@karmadave]

I recently bought (used) a '58 CS Strat in Journeyman Relic that I absolutely love! I've owned a number of Fender guitars, and even high-end partscasters, but my '58 CS Strat is just spectacular in every way 😃

[@luvbasses5487]

Hi Keith. Excellent video! I’m a holder of a few CS basses - crown jewel is a year 2000 Relic ‘59 Blonde Precision w RW slab neck/anodized guard. This was a display piece at the CS booth at NAMM that year and was built head to toe by John Cruz. It’s 7 1/2 lbs. as well. Sweet bass. Lastly, I’d like to discuss the short-lived, 2013-2017 American Vintage line. There were some of the finest reissues the company has ever produced. The previous line, 1982-2012’s “Vintage Series” line had a thirty year run but the AV line put to rest the finally discontinued the Vintage Series line of guitars & basses. Many refer to those older pieces as AVRI’s. I guess you could name them that but actually they are “Fender Vintage Series” pieces. “American Vintage” guitars & basses rolled out in 2013. By the dawn of 2018 the American Original line surfaced with different colors than the previous AV’s and a flatter 9.50 radius to the fingerboards. They’re pretty good pieces, but the AV’s were just the best and most accurate recreations.

[@scottmacdonald1826]

A really good Short History! There is zero chance I'd get a Custom Shop (I'm neither good enough or rich enough to consider it), but I did put CS 69's in my Mexican Strat and it made a world of difference. A lot of folks really hate relics, I think they're just cool paint jobs.

[@pczTV]

Fascinating that you ended the custom shop review so “early”. I was fortunate enough to know Mike eldred, who is famous for his whole telecaster wiring as well as creating the whole cabronita concept. You probably should do a second episode where you bring the custom shop history up to current status

[@halletscove6529]

Well done always. You continually serve the guitar community so well.

[@davidharder7512]

Another good one, Keith! Thank you for the work you put in. It’s obvious that you enjoy this and we viewers get the gain from your videos. I feel like I know you through your videos. Thanks much!

[@PennStacker]

Thanks for another great video!

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Awesome stuff, Keith. Thanks again!❤

[@shorerocks]

I am not a strat player, but wanted one. I bought a John Page Classic. Love it.

[@badbob]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos. The history is interesting and educational. Looking forward to the next one.

[@reverendg5937]

Just killed it Keith!!! 🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@truckercowboyed2638]

Ah yes guitars I'll never afford but i recognize their importance in fenders catalog

[@mikesenko1]

always enjoy your stories and the way you tell them i have learned so much about this thing i love so well thanks

[@artrogers3985]

Thank you. Love this 🎸

[@cr8cat794]

Thank you again, Keith. Fascinating!

[@JoshuaC923]

Another great video Keith, just in time for my reliced mjt strat

[@philiphegelphotography2178]

My first guitar ever was a 99 custom shop strat. Still one of my favs if not my number 1.

[@lipptech1]

The fullerton era (@ 1982/83) of Fender's were the first reissue guitars and kind of were where the custom shop started. Please do a short show about this era of fender.

[@compucorder64]

Speaking of Custom Fender's. Maybe you might find it fun to do a Five Watt World video about the Coodercaster?

[@halletscove6529]

And the past few videos (including the recent Rhodes video) were so good, I bought a Guitar Nerd shirt. I hope I encourage others. My wife will be relieved it's just a t-shirt.

[@beezersurf]

That was great. Thank you!

[@bsjeffrey]

it just seems crazy that it is cheaper to build a completely new factory in another country than to buy a current up and running factory.

[@raytorvalds3699]

You are right. California is kinda like another country ;) But yeah, that is nuts indeed.

[@merseybeat1963]

From what I understood cause I looked into it when I had one. Fender used to send Cunetto the parts of guitars for aging to his house workshop. He used to do them and then send them back as sets to be assembled at Fender. Then one day they just cut him off..we don't need you anymore.. and they (Fender)decided to do the aging themselves he didn't work at Fender from what I remember but I can tell you Cunetto was the originator and the best. P.s, In the beginning Cunetto showed Fender one of his aged guitars at a show and they were sure it was an old one..thats when I think it was Page who got him to do his Relics..it was a Cunetto thing.

[@squarewheel142]

Cool video, thanks.

[@SarahAndreaRoycesChannel]

Ironically my hatred for Telecasters started with a custom shop. It was a Tele with three humbuckers, one integrated into the bridge. It belonged to a friend of mine who was gifted it by her father and she didn't value it much. I never heard it on an amp, but we doodled a bit around occasionally. Mostly it was enormously heavy and didn't feel right. That those were highly valued only really dawned on us when I asked a guitar store what we would get for it as a trade in and they basically said she could choose any guitar in the shop without additional pay. Funnily enough she didn't put it on a pedestal afterwards but lend it to a friend who wanted to learn to play.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Great stuff as always my man!

[@fivewattworld]

Thank you for lifting these up Jeff!

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

That Retablo Guitar (at 15:12) is an impressive piece of work. He has an article and extensive pictoral history of its creation on his website. Quite literally a work of art.

[@nicatquluzad8969]

I think Charvel guitars deserves sort story. We are waiting 🙏🏼

[@cnosprandt5155]

Great video as always! I was lucky to buy my Fender Jaguar and P-bass in the 1960s. I have glazed over at all of the various "levels" of Fender that have emerged over the years - i.e. Squier all the way to Custom Shop) and this video helped me understand the genesis of Custom Shop guitars. While I am sure they are great, they are still well outside the budget of most players.

[@alexanders562]

I like how the relic guitars are stamped so nobody can counterfeit

[@ajmartinez115]

Would love to see a video on D’Angelico

[@SkycladWanderer]

Literally drove past it today. It’s a mile from my job

[@tidepoolbay]

Nice Work! WooF!!🐶🐶

[@gunsofsteele]

Thanks Keith! Personally, I only want a reliced guitar which evolved through blood, sweat & tears performing live.

[@jeremythornton6090]

I’d love to see an episode on the Squire Paranormal guitars.

[@savannahlt1]

This episode is why this channel is so good.

[@extrememike]

Excellent review!

[@caseywilson7768]

Best guitar content on KZbin. You never disappoint!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Casey

[@victorbeebe8372]

Aloha Keith! I enjoyed you video. I have a team built Strat and Tele. Mahalo

[@fivewattworld]

Nice Victor

[@georgesimeone6292]

There was a custom shop before it was called the custom shop. Phil Kubicki built the rosewood tele for George Harrison in 1968 and a rosewood strat for Hendrix.

[@zacharyking929]

Keith: “I’ve never been a guy to seek out very expensive, or rare guitars.” Also Keith: “Here are my two Collings guitars…” 😉I suppose expensive and rare is all relative. Awesome video, I have no doubts that you’ll keep ‘em coming!

[@fivewattworld]

The key there is “seek out”. I try guitars at all levels. Just sayin’.

[@HarvestStore]

Great video.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I owned one of the very first Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocasters from The Fender Custom Shop , the guitar was built in Dec 1987 . I should never have sold it . 🇺🇸

[@countvond233]

Next level Keith.

[@waynegram8907]

Make a History of Dan Armstrong, who is Dan Armstrong and how he got into electronics making amplifiers and guitar effects he is another genius to know who he is.

[@shanewalton8888]

Recently went to the Tokyo Fender Custom shop and lucky me they had a lefty to try out. Unfortunately no pictures were allowed.

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Keith 🌈

[@JoelWetzel]

Greetings and thank you for the videos. In the late '90's I saw a Fender Dual Professional at Guitar Center, played through it, and was blown away by how good I sounded, better than ever before or since. All I know about it is that it was the Buck Owens amp, it was way out of my price range, and I've never seen another one. Perhaps it's not enough for its own video but I'd appreciate anything you could put out about it. Regardless, keep up the good work. Peace.

[@TheAdjacents-ABQ]

Thanks for this.

[@fredstuart4554]

Thanks for the shout out.

[@fivewattworld]

Wow, no thanks for noticing Fred!

[@daviswall3319]

Well done Keith!

[@WillSnodgrass]

Nice piece.

[@DrMurdercock]

Please do something on Jackson, Charvel, Schecter, etc maybe could wrap them all up in one video since theyre all so similar?

[@lathamyoung1624]

Hey Keith! I am a huge fan of your work and have been watching your videos for several years! I would love a short history video of Matamp. I find them to be very interesting and unique in the expansive guitar amp world and I know you would do those legendary amplifiers justice by telling their history!

[@fivewattworld]

Part of an orange history.

[@valentinej2345]

I love all the "short history" videos! As a bass player, I've especially enjoyed your bass videos. I recently had a thought about the Shure SM58, those things are everywhere and most guitar players have seen them at gigs, if they haven't used one themselves. Could you do a "short history" of those?

[@RobertFisher1969]

Very interesting! A short history I didn't know I wanted. I've long been familiar with Guitar Resurrection, but I didn't know about their connection to the Fender Custom Shop. I have to say that for decades I avoided touching a custom shop guitar simply because I never wanted to know what I was missing by not being able to afford one. 😁 But since I've learned how poorly Fender compensates the builders these days, I won't be able to bring myself to buy one if I can ever afford it. I'd much rather to go an independent builder (who might be a custom shop alum) and know that the builder is deciding how much to pay themself.

[@elvissuperkarate3893]

There is also the side story of how the custom shop (and Fender) looked at the guys at 225 Parsons in Kalamazoo Michigan who became Heritage Guitars. That’s a really interesting story

[@rigodon97]

What is it ?

[@pulaski1]

Fascinating stuff, as always, ... except for the pronunciation of Yngwie "Ing-vi" Malmsteen's name. 😉

[@peterbuckley4690]

Southpaws getting love from Fender. If only there was a lefty offset or mustang bass.

[@Bozo_Lord]

Completely unrelated to the topic, but I was wondering if you have a d’angelico short history in the works. It would only make sense, being you are a jazz guy 😅 Amazing content as always Kieth!