Fender Custom Shop 1960 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Heavy Aged Lake Placid Blue Master Built by Jason Smith

It is no secret that the Fender Custom Shop has been creating some of the best instruments since 1987. In keeping with the true spirit of Leo’s original vision of the company, each instrument is built with the highest level of care and excellence. Here at Chicago Music Exchange, we have collaborated with the best minds at Fender to build the best instruments from top to bottom, tirelessly going over each spec to ensure that we offer you the best of what Fender has to offer. 

What Makes a Master:
For Jason Smith, building guitars isn’t just a job—it’s a family tradition. The son of Fender legend Dan Smith, Jason grew up surrounded by the pulse of rock and roll and the hum of finely crafted instruments. “It’s always been a part of my life,” Jason reflects. His father’s role at Fender gave him a front-row seat to the music world from a young age, rubbing shoulders with guitar greats like Eric Clapton, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jeff Beck, and Robben Ford as easily as most kids meet their neighbors.

Born in Rochester, New York, but raised on the west coast, Jason’s love for music was solidified early on. By age six, he was backstage at Rush concerts, shaking hands with Geddy Lee. Finding himself a few years later, at shows for Pink Floyd, ZZ Top, and other iconic artists, absorbing not just the music, but the magic of the instruments themselves.

Jason joined the Fender Custom Shop in 1995 and began his five-year apprenticeship with Senior Master Builder John English in 2001. Under English’s mentorship, Jason worked on some of Fender’s most iconic projects, including a pair of custom double-neck Stratocasters for Stone Temple Pilots’ guitarist, Dean DeLeo. By 2006, he completed his apprenticeship and had cemented his own place in the world of guitar craftsmanship.

Since then, Jason has built instruments for musicians ranging from John 5, Flea, Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, Linkin Park & more. With every guitar he builds, Jason brings his own passion and precision to the Fender legacy, creating instruments that are as unique as the artists who play them.

General

Body

Neck

Electronics

Hardware