Fender Custom Shop 1960 Stratocaster Heavy Relic Dark Lake Placid Blue Master Built by Dale Wilson

Since 1987, the Fender Custom Shop—affectionately known at CME as “The Dream Factory”—has grown to a band of over 50 veteran guitar artisans who take Leo Fender’s legacy to its utmost heights by bringing dream guitars and basses to life.

Taking an amp builder’s sensibility to instrument design, Leo Fender’s modular approach emphasized swappable components. This foundational design philosophy portended a future that we now inhabit, in which it’s not only easy to replace individual parts and maintain the longevity of each instrument—but, players also have the ability to customize every component of an instrument, giving them innumerable options when dreaming up their ideal guitar.

Here at Chicago Music Exchange, we’ve 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—from neck shaping and fretwork to finishing and aging.

As a result of our ongoing collaboration, the instrument you see here is, of course, much more than the sum of its parts. Imbued with history, alive with the spirit and devotion of those who crafted it, this Fender Custom Shop creation is brimming with intangible, electrifying elements, that add new dimensions to every playing experience. 

What Makes a Master?
Landing at Fender in 2003, Dale’s path was already steeped in the art of craftsmanship, a calling that began in his California childhood. While most dream of stardom on stage, Wilson’s sights were always set elsewhere: on the guitars themselves. Building them. Getting his hands dirty. Crafting the instrument that accompanies musicians on stage.

Woodworking, after all, runs deep in the Wilson family. Dale’s passion found fertile ground early on, starting with repair work and modifications in a small guitar shop fresh out of high school in the late '80s. From there, his journey led him through the doors of Dobro and Rickenbacker, before making his way to Fender—where he honed his skills on Guild, Gretsch, and Benedetto guitars.

By 2005, Dale joined the Fender Custom Shop, and by 2011, his devotion to excellence and his intricate designs earned him the prestigious title of Master Builder. The Resophonic Thinline Telecaster® is but one example of the distinctive artistry that defines his work. Before even becoming a Master Builder, Wilson was entrusted to craft five custom guitars for the 2011 NAMM Show—each one signed by Dale himself, a clear signal that his name was soon to be spoken alongside Fender’s greats.

At Chicago Music Exchange, we’re proud to showcase the instruments of Dale Wilson—guitars that aren’t just built, but born from a relentless pursuit of perfection, each one a living tribute to the man whose passion for craftsmanship exceeds the sum of its parts.

General

Body

Neck

Electronics

Hardware