The Fender Play Foundation aims to equip, educate and inspire the next generation of players through music. Collaborating with Fender Play Foundation™ partners with organizations, educators, and musicians, the Foundation supports communities through equipment donations, personalized instruction, and artist experiences. The program has donated over $1 million in resources and equipment to date, intending to support more than 35,000 students learning a new instrument by the end of 2023 and 1 million students nationwide by 2030.
The Master Builders of Fender's Custom Shop are celebrating the Foundation's work by creating a stunning collection of 12 student guitars. The first four models are being revealed today! These guitars are true one-offs and are inspired by Fender "Student" models of the 50s and '60s, which had shorter scale lengths, smaller bodies, and simplified electronics. All proceeds from the sale of the guitars will go to the foundation, helping build the next generation of players.
Ron Thorn, Principle Master Builder, said of the builds: "History has proven that many professionals have used the original "Student" instruments to great success, and as expected, for this project, each Master Builder has provided their artistic vision and creativity to craft versions that never existed and are true one-offs. Music Masters, Duo-Sonics, short-scale Stratocasters, Mustangs are just a few of the models represented.”
“Each is designed from scratch, requiring custom tooling, hardware, and electronics,” he added. “The Fender Play Foundation first fret inlay used on each designates it as part of this exclusive collection of 12 instruments, one from each Master Builder. These are not your typical Masterbuilt guitars; they are destined to become classics and contribute to the Fender Play Foundation's worthy cause."
The first four one-of-a-kind guitars - released this month for dealers to purchase - feature designs from Master Builders Greg Fessler, Dennis Galuszka, Paul Waller & Carlos Lopez. The remaining guitars in the collection will be announced at a later date:
FENDER PLAY FOUNDATION '62 STRATOCASTER® - JOURNEYMAN RELIC®, MASTERBUILT BY GREG FESSLER, BLUE ICE METALLIC - The FENDER PLAY FOUNDATION '62 STRATOCASTER® - JOURNEYMAN RELIC® has a 2-Piece Select Alder Body; Quartersawn Maple Neck with Flat-Lam Rosewood Fingerboard; '60 Style Oval "C" Back-Shape; 9.5" Radius; 21 Narrow Tall (6105) Frets; Hand-Wound Fat 50's Pickups with RWRP Middle; 5-Way Switch; Strat® Blender Wiring; 3-Ply Parchment Pickguard; American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo; Vintage-Style Tuning Machines; Bone Nut; Wing String Tree with Tall Metal Spacer; Deluxe Hardshell Case; Strap; Polishing Cloth; Certificate of Authenticity.
FENDER PLAY FOUNDATION MUSICMASTER - N.O.S., MASTERBUILT BY DENNIS GALUSZKA, GENUINE COPPER SPARKLE - The FENDER PLAY FOUNDATION MUSICMASTER - N.O.S is a showstopper with its NOS Urethane Genuine Copper Sparkle Finish; 2-Piece Select Alder Body; Quartersawn Maple Neck with Round-Lam Rosewood Fingerboard; '62 Style "C" Back-Shape; 9.5" Radius; 22 Medium Jumbo (6150) Frets; Pearloid Block Inlay with Custom FPF Logo Inlay at the First Fret; Curtis Novak Tele® (Bridge), and Curtis Novak Wide-Range Humbucker (Neck) Pickups; Master Volume and Tone Controls; 3-Way Switch; 3-Ply Black Pickguard; Hardtail Subsonic Bridge; Vintage-Style Tuning Machines; Bone Nut; Deluxe Hardshell Case; Strap; Polishing Cloth; Certificate of Authenticity.
FENDER PLAY FOUNDATION MUSICMASTER - RELIC®, MASTERBUILT BY PAUL WALLER, FIESTA BURST has a Relic® Lacquer Finish; 2-Piece Select Alder Body; 24.75" Scale Flat-Sawn Maple Neck with Round-Lam Rosewood Fingerboard; '65 Style "C" Back-Shape; 9.5" Radius; 22 Medium Jumbo (6150) Frets; Single Wide-Range CuNiFe Humbucking (Neck) Pickup; Master Volume & Tone Controls; 3-Ply Parchment Pickguard; Vintage-Style Strat® Hardtail Bridge; Vintage-Style Tuning Machines; Bone Nut; Wing String Tree with Nylon Spacer; Deluxe Hardshell Case; Strap; Polishing Cloth; Certificate of Authenticity.
FENDER PLAY FOUNDATION SHORT SCALE STRAT® - DELUXE CLOSET CLASSIC, MASTERBUILT BY CARLOS LOPEZ, OXBLOOD - The FENDER PLAY FOUNDATION SHORT SCALE STRAT® features a DLX Closet Classic Lacquer Finish; 2-Piece Select Ash Body; 24.75" Scale Quartersawn Maple Neck with Flat-Lam Rosewood Fingerboard; '60 Style Oval "C" Back-Shape; 14" Radius; 22 Narrow Tall (6105) Frets; Single DiMarzio Super Distortion Humbucker (Bridge) Pickup; Single Volume Control; 3-Ply Black Pickguard; American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo; Vintage-Style Tuning Machines; Bone Nut; Wing String Tree; Deluxe Hardshell Case; Strap; Polishing Cloth; Certificate of Authenticity.
Each Fender Play Foundation student model guitar comes with a deluxe hardshell case, strap, polishing cloth, and Certificate of Authenticity.
For more information:
Fender Play Foundation Website - https://fenderplayfoundation.org/
Fender Custom Shop Website -
http://www.fendercustomshop.com/
