This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/21/2021
This stunning Stevie Ray Vaughan Tribute Fender prototype guitar was made by John Cruz, Former Senior Master Guitar Builder at the Fender Custom Shop (1987-2020) in 2003 and was unveiled at the 2004 Winter NAMM Show (National Association of Music Merchants) in Anaheim, California. This prototype guitar was the only one made and it was created to replicate Vaughan's guitar known as Number One, his main guitar, a 1962/63 Fender Stratocaster. From the prototype only 100 hand made replicas were made in the Fender Custom Shop, never to be built again. Cruz was responsible for the project from the very beginning, working with the Stevie Ray Vaughan Estate and his brother Jimmie Vaughan. The details of the guitar are as follows: Neck: Eastern hard rockmaple with a first period correct Rosewood round lam fretboard. Body: 2-piece Alder hand sorted for specific weight components. Hardware: the original chrome hardware and left-handed tremolo bride were changed to gold at some point during a tour. The vintage tuners were modified to Schaller precision tuners with pearl tuner buttons. Finish: the finish is a period correct nitrocellulose lacquer finish completely hand-distressed. Strap: this was the first sample strap that was paired with the guitar at the time of completion. Made of leather to mimic the look of Stevie's strap very closely. After this prototype guitar was approved by Jimmie Vaughan, Cruz spend numerous hours building the 100 other guitars. This prototype custom guitar comes with the original Morris and Holmberg custom flight case with custom stenciling and two original certificates signed by John Cruz, as well as a Fender vinyl gig bag, a First article music note guitar strap, one tube of graphite all string lube made by Stevie's longtime guitar tech Rene Martinez, one poster board made for display at the 2004 NAMM Show with a picture of Cruz, Custom Shop manager Mike Eldred and the actual Proto guitar being worked on at Cruz's bench which was displayed at the NAMM show when they debuted the guitar. Also comes with a signed and notarized letter from John Cruz and a Gotta Have Rock & Roll Certificate of Authenticity.