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.
The story behind the master:
Jason Smith's story isn't just about guitars; it's about growing up with the hum of music and craftsmanship woven into every part of his life. As the son of Dan Smith, a Fender legend, Jason's childhood was shaped by more than just family dinners—it included backstage introductions to rock icons like Eric Clapton and Geddy Lee, long before he was old enough to realize how rare that was. By the time he joined the Fender Custom Shop in 1995, his path seemed inevitable, though he carved out his own identity through a five-year apprenticeship with Senior Master Builder John English, where he worked on iconic projects, including custom double-neck guitars for Stone Temple Pilots’ Dean DeLeo.
Now, Jason’s guitars can be found in the hands of some of the biggest names in music—Flea, Geddy Lee, John 5, and more—but it’s not just their star power that drives his work. For him, it’s about building instruments with the same relentless attention to detail that his father showed him, continuing a legacy while making it his own.
