Fender Custom Shop
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.
Jazzmaster
The Fender Jazzmaster is an iconic electric guitar known for its offset-waist body, providing enhanced comfort and balance—especially while seated. Originally introduced in 1958, it features a floating tremolo system and distinctive single-coil pickups, producing a warm, articulate tone that has defined alternative, indie, and shoegaze music. A key feature is its dual-circuit design, allowing players to switch between a bright, cutting “lead” circuit and a darker, more subdued “rhythm” circuit using the upper-bout slider switch. This versatility has made the Jazzmaster a go-to for legendary artists, including Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine), J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Robert Smith (The Cure), and Thom Yorke (Radiohead). Whether for surf rock, post-punk, or experimental soundscapes, the Jazzmaster remains a favorite among guitarists seeking rich tonal depth and unique sonic textures.
Master Builder: Levi Perry
Levi Perry started at Fender’s U.S. production final assembly department in 2012 fresh out of high school in Riverside, Calif., where he was born and raised. He moved to the Custom Shop three years later in 2015 as a Relic artisan and tune tester and soon moved to service repair. After another three years he was promoted to Masterbuilder Apprentice in 2018. While an apprentice Perry served as a “floater”, which meant that he worked with and learned from each Masterbuilder individually. He worked on many prestigious builds during this period, including the Game of Thrones series, the Limited Edition Phil Lynott Precision Bass, the Limited Edition George Harrison Rocky Strat, the Limited Edition El Mocambo Heavy Relic Stratocaster and Telecaster models, and many other collections and artist instruments. “For me what’s important is to always be learning and growing, and to remain a student of the craft,” Perry said. “Fender has such a deep and rich history to glean from, and when you allow that history to teach and guide you while continuing to be creative and push the boundaries, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.”
