January 31, 2004
January 31, 2004, Introduction to the Journal (Tom Watson)
This web page will serve as the journal of guitar collector Michael Perry as he documents his experience of the creation of the Fender Custom Shop Master Built guitar that he has named "La Claudette" in honor of his wife.
The idea is fresh - Mike decided to do this yesterday. So far all that's been done is the two of us have discussed some basic issues, such as, who we'd like to have build it (Todd Krause) and some of the key points. The instrument is to serve two basic functions. First, it's a tribute to Mike's wife. Secondly, it will serve as the Fender Custom Shop Art Guitar of his collection.
Since it will, in a sense, "complete" Mike's Fender collection, we hope to have several of the artists who have made major contributions to Fender Art Guitars in the past showcase their work on La Claudette - artist Pamelina H, inlay artist Ron Thorn, wood carver George Amicay, and possibly airbrush artist Dan Schultz, though at this point we don't even have a design for the instrument.
La Claudette will be a surprise for Mike's wife. Which leaves the design up to Mike. We will contact Pamelina H and see if she will work with us on creating the design. Mike's wife is an "Aquarian", so that's one possible theme. I'm sure Pamelina H would come up with something great.
Also have to select a Fender Custom Shop Master Dealer to work with, since all Master Built guitars have to be ordered from a Master Dealer. That could prove to be a sensitive issue since I work closely with many Master Dealers with respect to articles I write for the Strat Collector News Desk, all of whom are fine professionals. The determining factor will most likely be the Master Dealer's willingness to participate in this documentary process.
I have written about the "Master Built Experience" before, but since Mike has graciously agreed to document this process, literally from its inception, I think this journal will give us a great insight as to how these one-offs come to be, as it happens.
It's fitting that this journal was started today. It happens to be Claudette's birthday and Mike hopes to present La Claudette to her a year from now, though there's no guarantee the Custom Shop can have it done by then. It will be interesting to see how long the process takes.