MEET YOUR MAKER: CARLOS LOPEZ

We drop in on one of the Fender Custom Shop’s newest Master Builders in this installment of Meet Your Maker.

MMeet Your Maker: Carlos Lopez
Inside the Fender Custom Shop is a limitless universe of creation, occupied by some of the most talented luthiers ever to pick up a rasp. Carlos Lopez, one of the newest Master Builders, has established himself as a rising star. We spoke to Carlos and some of his colleagues about the Fender Custom Shop, the process and precision of building custom instruments, and what sets Carlos Lopez apart as a young builder eager to sign his name on the sound of the world.



Appointed to the role of Master Builder in 2019, Carlos spent five years as an apprentice to Todd Krause, Senior Master Builder of the Fender Custom Shop. His first Custom Shop build, the Fender Custom Shop Electric XII, resurrects one of Fender’s rarest designs, all but lost to history. 

Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone
Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez Electric Guitars / Baritone

Fender Custom Shop Brawler Journeyman Relic Oxblood Master Built by Carlos Lopez

$9,650.00
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His second, the Fender Custom Shop Brawlers, show a vision that extends well beyond the Stratocaster and Telecaster, and into new dimensions. The Brawler, Lopez’s latest creation, is something entirely new. Developed in his home workshop, The Brawler’s size and shape changed over time until Lopez settled on the elongated body shape and 27” scale length that make this baritone a singular innovation. Paired with Curtis Novak’s low-wind, gold-covered humbuckers, the result is different, distinctive, and enough to make you rethink the way you play the guitar.

The Brawler, Fender Master Builder Carlos Lopez’s latest creation, is a baritone beauty that will make you rethink the way you play the guitar. Nathaniel describes the revelatory nature of this baritone, its origin, and why creativity, fearlessness, and discovery are at its heart.

The Electric XII is a historically accurate reproduction of the 1960s original. Fender had no original schematics or blueprints for this model, so Lopez analyzed a 1966 Fender Electric XII down to its smallest components, taking the entire guitar apart and reverse engineering it to handcraft replica parts from scratch.

SHOP FENDER CUSTOM SHOP GUITARS

Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Hardtail HH Heavy Relic Purple Metallic Master Built by Dennis Galuszka w/Fluence Humbuckers
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Hardtail HH Heavy Relic Purple Metallic Master Built by Dennis Galuszka w/Fluence Humbuckers
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Hardtail HH Heavy Relic Purple Metallic Master Built by Dennis Galuszka w/Fluence Humbuckers
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Hardtail HH Heavy Relic Purple Metallic Master Built by Dennis Galuszka w/Fluence Humbuckers
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Hardtail HH Heavy Relic Purple Metallic Master Built by Dennis Galuszka w/Fluence Humbuckers
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Hardtail HH Heavy Relic Purple Metallic Master Built by Dennis Galuszka w/Fluence Humbuckers

Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster Hardtail HH Heavy Relic Purple Metallic Master Built by Dennis Galuszka w/Fluence Humbuckers

$8,980.00
Fender Custom Shop '69 Maple Cap Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Black
Fender Custom Shop '69 Maple Cap Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Black
Fender Custom Shop '69 Maple Cap Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Black
Fender Custom Shop '69 Maple Cap Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Black
Fender Custom Shop '69 Maple Cap Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Black
Fender Custom Shop '69 Maple Cap Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Black

Fender Custom Shop '69 Maple Cap Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Black

$2,995.00
Fender Custom Shop '60 Reissue Telecaster Relic Aged White Blonde 2022
Fender Custom Shop '60 Reissue Telecaster Relic Aged White Blonde 2022
Fender Custom Shop '60 Reissue Telecaster Relic Aged White Blonde 2022
Fender Custom Shop '60 Reissue Telecaster Relic Aged White Blonde 2022
Fender Custom Shop '60 Reissue Telecaster Relic Aged White Blonde 2022
Fender Custom Shop '60 Reissue Telecaster Relic Aged White Blonde 2022

Fender Custom Shop '60 Reissue Telecaster Relic Aged White Blonde 2022

$3,395.00
Fender Custom Shop 51 Telecaster Reissue Relic Butterscotch Blonde 2015
Fender Custom Shop 51 Telecaster Reissue Relic Butterscotch Blonde 2015
Fender Custom Shop 51 Telecaster Reissue Relic Butterscotch Blonde 2015
Fender Custom Shop 51 Telecaster Reissue Relic Butterscotch Blonde 2015
Fender Custom Shop 51 Telecaster Reissue Relic Butterscotch Blonde 2015
Fender Custom Shop 51 Telecaster Reissue Relic Butterscotch Blonde 2015

Fender Custom Shop 51 Telecaster Reissue Relic Butterscotch Blonde 2015

$3,495.00
Fender Custom Shop American Custom Telecaster Charcoal Frost Metallic 2024
Fender Custom Shop American Custom Telecaster Charcoal Frost Metallic 2024
Fender Custom Shop American Custom Telecaster Charcoal Frost Metallic 2024
Fender Custom Shop American Custom Telecaster Charcoal Frost Metallic 2024
Fender Custom Shop American Custom Telecaster Charcoal Frost Metallic 2024
Fender Custom Shop American Custom Telecaster Charcoal Frost Metallic 2024

Fender Custom Shop American Custom Telecaster Charcoal Frost Metallic 2024

$2,495.00
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Desert Tan 2024
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Desert Tan 2024
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Desert Tan 2024
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Desert Tan 2024
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Desert Tan 2024
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Desert Tan 2024

Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Desert Tan 2024

$3,395.00
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst

Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Time Capsule Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst

$4,500.00
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Twisted Rosewood Telecaster NOS Natural
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Twisted Rosewood Telecaster NOS Natural
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Twisted Rosewood Telecaster NOS Natural
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Twisted Rosewood Telecaster NOS Natural
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Twisted Rosewood Telecaster NOS Natural
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Twisted Rosewood Telecaster NOS Natural

Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Twisted Rosewood Telecaster NOS Natural

$5,425.00
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst

Fender Custom Shop LTD 70th Anniversary 1954 Stratocaster Deluxe Closet Classic Wide Fade 2-Color Sunburst

$4,750.00
Fender Custom Shop 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst
Fender Custom Shop 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst

Fender Custom Shop 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic Faded Aged Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst

$4,550.00
Fender Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Sunburst 2020
Fender Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Sunburst 2020
Fender Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Sunburst 2020
Fender Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Sunburst 2020
Fender Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Sunburst 2020
Fender Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Sunburst 2020

Fender Custom Shop '57 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Sunburst 2020

$3,495.00
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Esquire Relic Sunburst 2005
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Esquire Relic Sunburst 2005
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Esquire Relic Sunburst 2005
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Esquire Relic Sunburst 2005
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Esquire Relic Sunburst 2005
Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Esquire Relic Sunburst 2005

Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Esquire Relic Sunburst 2005

$3,495.00

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