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Michael Stevens (R) and fellow original Master Builder John Page with the double-neck Stratocaster/Esquire. Months later, the result was Fender’s first-ever double-neck guitar (to be sold) and something truly innovative and eye-catching.
- The History of The Fender Custom Shop
- Michael Stevens: from Ranch Hand to Electric Guitar Royalty
- John Page: from Model Maker to Master Builder
- Setting Up Shop
- Rock Star Clients and Staying Power
Often the term ‘custom guitar’ implies something special-order, made with unusual features and non-standard specs. For Fender players of the past 30 years, however, the term more likely denotes an effort to recreate the best of the company’s guitars of the 50s and 60s. In reality, the Fender Custom Shopwas founded to do both. Most guitarists, and F...
Stevens had begun his career in earnest in 1967, working with the late Larry Jameson at the famed Guitar Resurrection in San Francisco, California – a place where countless major Bay Area guitarists came for their repair and custom work. He later returned to his native Texas, and took a detour to pursue his other passion: training Arabian show hors...
Unlike Michael Stevens, John Page had already had the bulk of his guitar-making experience at Fender by the time the Custom Shop was a glimmer in Schultz’s eye. “I initially started working at Fender in 1978,” Page relates, “And spent close to nine years in Guitar R&D – three as a model maker and six as a guitar design engineer with Freddie Tavares...
Stevens recalls that, as a mover and shaker in the vintage-guitar world of the time, he hadn’t paid much attention to CBS-owned Fender and therefore didn’t know who John Page was. “I was told I could have an assistant of my choice, but would I speak to a few guys they thought would be good? I agreed,” he relates. “Page and I hit it off quickly, and...
After the early guitars for Johnson and Clapton, Stevens and Page set about crafting guitars for what seemed a perpetually stellar list of big-name artists. Custom builds for Pete Townshend and David Gilmour were completed in the early days, and soon Yngwie Malmsteen, Elliot Easton, Caesar Rosas, Danny Gatton, Robert Cray, Waylon Jennings and a hos...
Michael Stevens. Founding Master Builder (1986-1990) In December 1986, Michael was hired to become the Founder and Senior Design Engineer of the Fender Custom Shop along with design engineer, John Page. In the early months, the team worked out of Michael’s garage in Corona before there was a Custom Shop.
People also ask
Who is Michael Fender & what did he do?
When did Fender start a custom shop?
What is Michael Stevens' Stratocaster/Esquire?
Who is Michael Stevens?
Michael Stevens became the first person in the history of Fender to sign the instruments of his creation. The Stevens LJ which was available (and the highest priced guitar in designer series) said ‘Stevens’ on the front of the headstock and “Fender Custom Shop” on the back.
One of the most exclusive and coveted collections in the Shop’s history, only 30 units of each design will be built by a team of artisans at Fender Custom Shop in Corona, Calif. and released throughout 2017 beginning March 14 at select dealers. Michael Stevens Founders Design Esquire: March 14, 2017 – $5,500.00.
