In honor of Fender Custom Shop’s 30th anniversary, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) releases an exclusive 10 minute documentary about the genesis of the renowned and revered Custom Shop – known as the “dream factory.” Told through eyes of the eight trailblazing luthiers who defined the Custom Shop’s historic heyday, the film intercuts classic footage and photos alongside 2016 interviews with the influential guitar artisans who lived it: Michael Stevens, John Page, George Blanda, Fred Stuart, J.W. Black, Mark Kendrick, Alan Hamel and Gene Baker.
Photo by: Henry Diltz
The documentary reflects the lifelong passion each respective Founding Master Builder exhibits for Fender and the instrument itself. The filmmakers utilized an unfiltered approach, eschewing props, makeup artists, wardrobe, and the typical trappings associated with cinematic narratives. Instead, they represent these gentlemen at their purest and most honest. The story of Custom Shop now breathes through the experiences of its Founding Master Builders whose one-of-a-kind handcrafted creations remain as legendary today as the icons who wielded them throughout history including Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughn.