Video – Interview With Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilder John Cruz

John Cruz, reknowned Masterbuilder at the Fender Custom Shop stopped by our showroom for our Fender Roadshow event to talk relic’ing, upcoming builds, and more! Watch the interview video above!

John Cruz came to Fender in 1987, joined the Custom Shop in 1993 and became a Master Builder in 2003. Being a guitarist and understanding what a great guitar should look, feel and sound like has always been a top priority for him. Custom guitars are his passion, and he is the man behind several famous Custom Shop instruments, including the replica of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s famous “Number One” Stratocaster guitar, the Jeff Beck Esquire Relic (as used with the Yardbirds), the replica of Yngwie Malmsteen’s famous “Duck” Stratocaster, the John Mayer Limited Edition Black 1 Stratocaster and many others.

John has built fantastic guitars for players such as Doug Aldrich of Dio and Whitesnake, Dave Amato and Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon, Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, Bono of U2, Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, Ike Turner, Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Jeff Beck, John Mayer and countless others. Furthermore, his meticulous work was essential to all aspects of the initial Custom Shop Relic® guitars and basses, and he initiated the Custom Shop’s quality assurance program.

View our Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt guitars in stock!