Fender Japan has once again pushed the boundaries of guitar artistry with its latest creation: the breathtaking Deck O’ Cards Collection. This extraordinary series of four bespoke Stratocaster guitars, crafted by the Fender Japan Custom Shop’s elite Masterbuilders, draws inspiration from the iconic suits of a playing card deck, resulting in instruments that are as much museum pieces as they are playable works of art.
Deck O’ Cards Stratocaster Collection
While Fender Japan has a history of producing aesthetically striking guitars, including the celebrated Art Canvas Esquires, the “Deck O’ Cards Collection” elevates their artistry to unprecedented levels.
The execution of this project, which on paper might seem like a simple thematic exercise, is truly astonishing and has already turned heads within the guitar community.
Fender Custom Shop
According to sources who witnessed the recent NAMM show, where Fender Custom Shop creations were prominently displayed, these “Deck O’ Cards” Stratocasters stand out as some of the most visually ambitious and meticulously detailed Custom Shop Fenders ever conceived.
The ambitious project was spearheaded by Senior Masterbuilder Paul Weller, who envisioned it as a unique collaborative initiation for three of the Custom Shop’s newest Masterbuilder recruits: David Brown, Austin MacNutt, and Andy Hicks.
The intricate artwork, with its vibrant red and black against the white base color, and the paint on the neck, makes each guitar a real custom.
Josefina Campos 1969
Beneath the elaborate aesthetics, these four Stratocasters retain the core high-quality features expected from the Fender Custom Shop.
They boast two-piece alder bodies, comfortable V-shape necks, hand-wound Josefina Campos 1969 single-coil pickups for that classic Strat tone, and reliable six-point vintage-style synchronized tremolo systems.
Suits
However, these instruments truly break new ground in the realm of design. Representing Hearts (by Brown), Clubs (by Hicks), Spades (by Weller), and Diamonds (by MacNutt), the collection showcases the exceptional talent and vision of these master luthiers.
The striking artwork for each suit extends far beyond the guitar’s top, flowing seamlessly across the back of the body, the rear of the neck, and even the headstock, creating a cohesive and immersive visual experience.
Fender themselves have lauded the collection, stating, “The Deck O’ Cards Collection, the fruit of the passion of master builders and the artistic vision of Pamelina H., is a truly special collection that will become a new legend of the Fender Custom Shop.”
Price
Unsurprisingly, these one-of-a-kind “Deck O’ Cards” Stratocasters command a price befitting their status as exceptional works of guitar art. Each guitar carries an eye-watering price tag of 22,000,000 Japanese Yen, which translates to approximately $152,500.
More Information
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