History and Shootouts
Advice
What Holds Its Value? We Tracked 632 Custom Shop Stratocasters for 22 Weeks
If you have ever stood in front of two Custom Shop Stratocasters wondering which one you will regret less in five years, this article is for you. We have been asked the same question in the showroo...
Blog
Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Charley": The Lipstick Tube Strat Built by a Friend
In Short
"Charley" was a white, Stratocaster style guitar built for Stevie Ray Vaughan by Charley Wirz, owner of Charley's Guitar Shop in Dallas, either in late 1983 or in 1984. Sources disagree a...
Cunetto
Where It All Started: John Page and the Birth of the Fender Custom Shop
You know the Stratocaster. You know the Custom Shop. You may know John Suhr, Todd Krause, John Cruz, J.W. Black. Names that carry real weight in the world of high-end guitars. What most players do ...
Blog
Fender Stratocaster Colors: Finishes That Define a Guitar’s Identity
If there is one thing that makes a Fender Stratocaster instantly recognizable, it is the color. Before you hear a single note, a Strat already tells a story through its finish. I have sold over 30...
The Black Strat Just Sold for $14.5 Million. Here's What That Means for Stratocaster Lovers
Two days ago, David Gilmour's Black Strat became the most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. $14.55 million. Let that sink in for a moment.
I run a shop that specializes exclusively in pre-owne...
Blog
The Cunetto Era: The Secret History Behind Fender's First Relic Stratocasters (1995-1999)
"Discover why Vince Cunetto relic Stratocasters from 1995-1999 are the most sought-after Custom Shop guitars. Learn the history, how to identify them, and why collectors pay premium prices."
Blindfold Telecaster Challenge with Ed Struijlaart
Guitarist, artist, and podcaster Ed Struijlaart was challenged by me to pick out a Fender Telecaster while blindfolded. Six Fender Custom Shop Teles and one American Standard... And the one he chos...
The Secret Story Behind the First Fender Stratocaster in the UK — and a Forgotten Hank Marvin Custom Shop Guitar
In 1959, the electric guitar landscape in the UK changed forever when Cliff Richard bought a Fender Stratocaster for his lead guitarist Hank Marvin. When the case opened, Marvin found a striking F...
