Fender has unveiled a new iteration of its Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster.
The blues guitar master's latest signature Strat features a chambered ash body, an early-’60s C-shaped maple neck - modeled after that found on Shepherd's '61 Strat - and a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlays, a 7.25” radius and 21 jumbo frets.
The guitar has three single-coil pickups, voiced to Shepherd's specifications, and a six-point synchronized tremolo fitted with his beloved Graph Tech saddles.
“I was heavily involved in every aspect of the guitar,” Shepherd said.
“From specs to design - especially the Custom 'Hot' Vintage Pickups, carefully designed to have a very natural sound, the block inlay neck which really sets this Stratocaster apart visually, and the matching headstock which I just think has an unbeatable aesthetic.
“I can’t wait to see what this guitar can do in the hands of other players – I hope this guitar is a tool that inspires others to find their own voice and to truly express themselves and their own love of music.”
The Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster is available now - in a Transparent Faded Sonic Blue finish with matching headstock - for $1,999.99.
For more info on the guitar, stop on by fender.com (opens in new tab).
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
