Fender Masterbuilt John Cruz Vaughan Brothers Guitar Set 1 of 30 - USA 2018

Announced at the 2018 Winter NAMM Show, the Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Vaughan Brothers Matching Set was created to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Fender Custom Shop. Limited to just 30 matching sets worldwide, each pair was meticulously Masterbuilt by John Cruz and pays tribute to two of Texas' most influential guitarists, Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The set comprises two faithful recreations of the Vaughan brothers' most recognisable instruments. Jimmie's late 1950s Stratocaster captures the guitar that has remained at the centre of his career for decades, while Stevie's legendary Number One, affectionately known as the "First Wife", recreates the instrument that helped redefine blues guitar throughout the 1980s before the addition of the famous "SRV" pickguard lettering.

Jimmie Vaughan's influence reaches well beyond his own recordings. As a founding member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and one of the defining voices of Texas blues, he helped preserve and champion the genre while developing a playing style rooted in simplicity, feel and authenticity. As Stevie's older brother and earliest musical influence, Jimmie introduced him to many of the artists who would become lifelong inspirations, including Guitar Slim, Albert Collins, Freddie King and Jimi Hendrix. The musical foundation the brothers shared would ultimately shape two of the most recognisable Stratocaster players in modern history.

Few guitarists have changed modern blues music as profoundly as Stevie Ray Vaughan. During the 1980s he brought blues guitar back into the mainstream, combining extraordinary technique with unmistakable feel and intensity. His influence continues to shape generations of players, with musicians including John Mayer, Philip Sayce, Scott McKeon and countless others acknowledging Stevie as one of their greatest influences. More than three decades after his passing, Number One remains one of the most recognisable and celebrated electric guitars ever played, making its inclusion the defining centrepiece of this remarkable matching set.

Entrusted with recreating both instruments was Fender Custom Shop Master Builder John Cruz. During more than three decades at Fender, Cruz established himself as one of the company's most respected builders, earning worldwide recognition for historically accurate recreations, meticulous ageing techniques and exceptional attention to detail. His work on artist instruments and historically significant recreations has become some of the most desirable produced by the Fender Custom Shop, and following his departure from Fender in 2020, John Cruz Masterbuilt guitars have become increasingly sought after by collectors worldwide. Both guitars come with their original cardboard box. 

Jimmie Vaughan Masterbuilt Stratocaster:

The Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster is a faithful recreation of Jimmie's own late 1950s Stratocaster as it existed in 2018. Built by John Cruz, it features a two piece select alder body finished in Aged Olympic White nitrocellulose lacquer, a one piece maple neck with a 1956 "C" profile, three John Cruz hand wound single coil pickups and vintage correct hardware. Every detail, from the finish wear to the hardware and electronics, follows the original instrument. This example is complete with its original Fender Custom Shop relic tweed hard shell case, complete factory paperwork, a signed Jimmie Vaughan instrument cloth and the original western style leather guitar strap supplied as part of the Vaughan Brothers Matching Set.

Specifications

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25 mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.25 mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 20.83 mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 24.13 mm

Nut Width: 41.91 mm

Width at 12th Fret: 52.32 mm

Weight: 3.330 kg

Year: 2018

Serial Number: JC3430

Master Builder: John Cruz

Series: Fender Custom Shop 30th Anniversary Vaughan Brothers Matching Set

Model: Limited Edition Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Heavy Relic

Crafted in: Fender Custom Shop, Corona, California, USA

Body: Two Piece Select Alder

Finish: Aged Olympic White Heavy Relic Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Neck: Plain Grain Maple

Neck Finish: Medium Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Neck Profile: 1956 "C"

Fingerboard: Maple

Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"

Scale Length: 25.5"

Frets: 21 Jescar 57110

Bridge Pickup: John Cruz Hand Wound '56 Strat Relic Single Coil

Middle Pickup: John Cruz Hand Wound '50s Strat Relic Single Coil

Neck Pickup: John Cruz Hand Wound '50s Strat Relic Single Coil

Controls: Master Volume, Tone, Tone

Switching: Five Way Blade Selector

Bridge: American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo

Hardware: Chrome / Nickel

Pickguard: Single Ply White

Tuners: Vintage Style with Fender Logo

Case: Original Fender Custom Shop Relic Tweed Hard Shell Case

Paperwork: Original Certificate of Authenticity, Fender Custom Shop Floor Traveller and Complete Factory Case Candy

Accessories: Original Western Style Leather Guitar Strap and Signed Jimmie Vaughan Instrument Cloth

Stevie Ray Vaughan Masterbuilt #1 Stratocaster:

The Stevie Ray Vaughan "First Wife" Stratocaster is an exact recreation of Stevie's Number One as it appeared before the addition of the famous "SRV" pickguard lettering. Masterbuilt by John Cruz, it features a two piece select alder body finished in heavily aged Three Tone Sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer, a rift sawn maple neck with a 1960 Oval "C" profile, a round laminated AAA rosewood fingerboard and a reverse mounted left handed American Vintage synchronized tremolo. Three John Cruz hand wound single coil pickups recreate the voice of Stevie's original instrument, while details including the cigarette burn beneath the low E tuner, period correct wear and the reverse mounted tremolo have all been faithfully reproduced. This example is complete with its genuine California made ANVIL ATA flight case featuring period correct decals, the custom white Music Note leather strap reproduced from the one used by Stevie Ray Vaughan, the original Fender Custom Shop Floor Traveller, complete factory case candy and the original Certificate of Authenticity.

Specifications

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25 mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.50 mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 20.96 mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 24.00 mm

Nut Width: 41.91 mm

Width at 12th Fret: 51.72 mm

Weight: 3.300 kg

Year: 2018

Serial Number: JC3438

Master Builder: John Cruz

Limited Edition Number: #017 of 30

Series: Fender Custom Shop 30th Anniversary Vaughan Brothers Matching Set

Model: Limited Edition Stevie Ray Vaughan "First Wife" Stratocaster Heavy Relic

Crafted in: Fender Custom Shop, Corona, California, USA

Body: Two Piece Select Alder

Finish: Heavy Relic Three Tone Sunburst Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Neck: Rift Sawn Maple

Neck Finish: Medium Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Neck Profile: 1960 Oval "C"

Fingerboard: AAA Round Laminated Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius: 10"

Scale Length: 25.5"

Frets: 21 Jescar 57110

Bridge Pickup: John Cruz Hand Wound '60s Strat Relic Single Coil (Reverse Mounted)

Middle Pickup: John Cruz Hand Wound '60s Strat Relic Single Coil

Neck Pickup: John Cruz Hand Wound '60s Strat Relic Single Coil

Controls: Master Volume, Tone, Tone

Switching: Five Way Blade Selector

Bridge: Left Handed American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo

Hardware: Chrome / Nickel

Pickguard: Three Ply Black

Tuners: Vintage Style with Fender Logo

Case: Genuine ANVIL ATA Flight Case, Made in California, USA

Paperwork: Original Certificate of Authenticity, Fender Custom Shop Floor Traveller and Complete Factory Case Candy

Accessories: Custom White Music Note Leather Guitar Strap, Reproduced from the Strap Used by Stevie Ray Vaughan

With only 30 Vaughan Brothers Matching Sets produced worldwide, complete examples are seldom offered for sale. Presented with both original Masterbuilt Stratocasters, their accompanying cases, paperwork, case candy and accessories, this is an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire one of Fender Custom Shop's most celebrated limited editions and two of the most collectible and sought after Masterbuilt signature guitars in modern guitar collecting.