Handmade guitars by Carlos Lopez, former Master Builder from Fender Custom Shop

The Chicago Music Exchange is proud to be one of only a handful of musical instrument retailers worldwide to be brought into the highly exclusive Castedosa Guitars family of dealers! Founded by Carlos Lopez, a former Master Builder and 16-year veteran of Fender’s Custom Shop, Castedosa is more than just a guitar company—it’s a family affair.

Built by hand in Riverside, California, the brand’s namesake was coined by Carlos’ wife, Stephanie, combining the first few letters from the names of the husband-and-wife duo, as well as the names of their children, Dorian and Savannah. And, in addition to contributing the brand name, Stephanie also serves as the company’s Master Pickup Winder for all Castedosa handmade pickups. 

“The last couple years have given me a chance to reflect on my own life,” Lopez said. “Time is short. Life is precious. Do what you feel led to do. To be artistic and involve my wife at the same time—and possibly involve my children—that has been the motivation to branch out on my own.” 

Following wherever his passion leads, Carlos Lopez chose to make a baritone for his first model in the Castedosa guitar line. He named it the Conchers Baritone in honor of his late grandfather (nicknamed “Conchers”), who served as a model for the kind of family-oriented man the guitar-builder, himself, has become. “He meant a lot to me,” Lopez said, “and I wanted to continue his legacy, and to tell his story through my guitars.” 

The Conchers Baritone features a contoured alder body, a quarter-sawn roasted maple neck with a 27”-scale rosewood fretboard, block inlays, white neck binding, and Kluson tuners. Available in solid, transparent and burst colors, with optional light to medium relic finishing, the Conchers Baritone comes equipped with hand-wound, custom Castedosa Pickups—options include TS Mini-Humbucker pickups, full-size PAF Humbuckers, or P90s—or, Curtis Novak Gold Foil pickups. 

Castedosa Conchers Standard

Based on Carlos Lopez’s unique design, the Conchers Standard offers a short-scale version (25.5”) of the first guitar to debut from Castedosa—the 27”-scale Conchers Baritone (tuned B-to-B). Inspired by players like Ariel Posen and Madison Cunningham, who use heavier strings in lower tuning on standard-scale guitar models, the Conchers Standard is set up for heavier string gauges in lower tunings and comes set up tuned C#-to-C#—unlike either a baritone or concert-pitch guitar—for players who are more comfortable on a standard scale instrument, but are also looking to dip into the low end of the frequency spectrum.

Featuring an alder body, a quartersawn roasted maple neck, and a rosewood fretboard, Castedosa Conchers Standard models are available in various hand-wound Castedosa pickup configurations.

Introducing the Castedosa Marianna

If you’ve heard the buzz about Castedosa Guitars, well, here comes your man—and his wife (who is also his business partner)! From the former Fender Custom Shop Master Builder who created the Castedosa Conchers baritone guitar, Carlos Lopez has done it again with the new Castedosa Marianna guitar, handbuilt in Lopez’s California shop! Carlos and Stephanie stopped by CME to discuss the brand and the new model with our own Nathaniel Murphy, as well as how the husband-wife duo has made the brand into a bona fide family affair. Visit CME to check out Castedosa handbuilt guitars!

While Castedosa Guitars have already caught the attention of musicians and guitar makers, CME is one of the few dealers internationally where guitar players can get their hands on one! Come visit to talk about the Conchers Baritone, and what the next creative evolution by a renowned guitar builder is like!

Featured Castedosa Guitars at CME!

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