Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Andy Hicks Ancient Jaguar NOS Kauri and Mastodon Inlay Natural With Case
SKU 00FCS297
by Fender
Sold out
Original price
$ 15,000.00
-
Original price
$ 15,000.00
Original price
$ 15,000.00
$ 15,000.00
-
$ 15,000.00
Current price
$ 15,000.00
Masterbuilt Andy Hicks Ancient Jaguar
Truetone Music is proud to have a long and close relationship with Fender, especially with the Custom Shop. Every so often, a new Masterbuilder joins the ranks - when that happens, we jump right into it with them to forge a new partnership. We also try to find the most unique projects we can with the Masterbuilders. This amazing Jaguar is a result of that.
This past year, we got word that Andy Hicks had joined the Fender Custom Shop as a Masterbuilder. We immediately set up a meeting to cook up a batch of very special guitars. We always like to ask the builders what they would like to build, colors they want to use, etc., in an effort to truly collaborate on guitars that they are excited to build. Sometimes, special opportunities present themselves - and this is one of those cases.
The body was crafted from a singular piece of 50,000 year old Kauri. Yes, 50,000 years old. It's from a Kaori tree, which grows in New Zealand. It was a 2,000 year old tree at the time that it feell into a peat bog where it was preserved for for 50,000 years. Minor petrification occured, which can be seen in the white/silver streaks (easier to see in person or in video, compared to the still photographs). When the opporutnity to use this wood arose, we didn't hesitate for one second - we knew that we had to have it. This was the only piece of Kauri that Fender had, which we secured for this guitar. Being the only piece available, great care had to be taken. Be sure to check out the video with Andy Hicks, where he goes even deeper into the creation of this guitar.
Another amazing feature of this guitar are the inlays, which are also extremely unique - they are made from preserved pieces of Mastodon tusk. So, there are two aspects of this guitar that fall into the "ancient" category. While this guitar would be special without it, having Mastodon tusk takes it to yet another level of uniqueness.
We asked Andy to hand-select a great piece of AAA Flame Maple for the neck, and he picked a winner. It's stunning - be sure to check out the photos. It's rock solid, and he also did an amazing job and perfecting the feel of a Jaguar neck. The fretboard is dark AAAA rosewood The first modernized tweak we added is that this guitar has a 9.5" radius and Medium Jumbo (6150) frets. This makes it easy to play, even up high on the neck when bending notes and digging in.
We stayed period correct for the pickups, going with Custom Shop '62 Jaguar pickups, as well the hardware, going with vintage tuners, bridge, etc. The idea is to have everything you'd expect in a vintage Jaguar from the '60's, with some modern features and an unbelievable backstory. The guitar comes with a Custom Shop tweed case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.....as well as the status of it being the only one ever made. For those that want old growth wood for their guitar, this could be impossible to beat.
A Masterbuilt instrument is like no other, and this is a one of a kind. It's truly unique, and beyond special. Come to Club Fender at Truetone Music to experience it today, or make it yours right here.
ABOUT THE MASTERBUILDER: ANDY HICKS
Andy Hicks grew up in a household filled with music lovers. He received his first guitar on his 11th birthday – a gorgeous 3-tone burst Fender Stratocaster. Andy spent his teenage years playing along with his favorite Nirvana, Black Sabbath and Metallica records. He played in local rock bands and by his early 20s he became increasingly interested in experimenting with guitars by modifying pickups and wiring.
In 2009, Andy decided to take this passion for guitar building seriously by enrolling in the Guitar Craft Academy in Hollywood, a 6-month program focused on electric guitars. Within a week of graduating, he started working at Fender in the Jackson Custom Shop dressing frets. From 2013 to 2018, he worked as an assistant to Gretsch Custom Shop Senior Master Builder, Steve Stern. Andy worked with various artists during this period and is very proud of his involvement with the Malcolm Young “Salute” Jet. In 2018, Andy seized the opportunity to become the lead builder and production manager for a high-end boutique guitar company and was subsequently recruited by James Tyler to oversee production for his shop in the San Fernando Valley.
On his return to Fender, Hicks said, “coming back to Fender, becoming part of the most prestigious custom shop in the industry, and being around so many talented builders is incredibly exciting and humbling. It also feels like I have returned home.”
When it comes to guitars, Andy incorporates his two passions: playing and building guitars. He firmly believes that these two passions are deeply connected, uniting Andy’s core approach to creating guitars. “I love interacting with guitarists,” Hicks said. “Bridging the gap between builder and player, listening to their desires and implementing them into my builds is incredibly rewarding,” and to create such guitars in the Fender Custom Shop, “nothing could be better,” he added.
When not building guitars, Andy plays in an epic doom metal band, Stygian Crown, enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons and goes on incredible Disneyland trips with his wife and 3 boys.
This past year, we got word that Andy Hicks had joined the Fender Custom Shop as a Masterbuilder. We immediately set up a meeting to cook up a batch of very special guitars. We always like to ask the builders what they would like to build, colors they want to use, etc., in an effort to truly collaborate on guitars that they are excited to build. Sometimes, special opportunities present themselves - and this is one of those cases.
The body was crafted from a singular piece of 50,000 year old Kauri. Yes, 50,000 years old. It's from a Kaori tree, which grows in New Zealand. It was a 2,000 year old tree at the time that it feell into a peat bog where it was preserved for for 50,000 years. Minor petrification occured, which can be seen in the white/silver streaks (easier to see in person or in video, compared to the still photographs). When the opporutnity to use this wood arose, we didn't hesitate for one second - we knew that we had to have it. This was the only piece of Kauri that Fender had, which we secured for this guitar. Being the only piece available, great care had to be taken. Be sure to check out the video with Andy Hicks, where he goes even deeper into the creation of this guitar.
Another amazing feature of this guitar are the inlays, which are also extremely unique - they are made from preserved pieces of Mastodon tusk. So, there are two aspects of this guitar that fall into the "ancient" category. While this guitar would be special without it, having Mastodon tusk takes it to yet another level of uniqueness.
We asked Andy to hand-select a great piece of AAA Flame Maple for the neck, and he picked a winner. It's stunning - be sure to check out the photos. It's rock solid, and he also did an amazing job and perfecting the feel of a Jaguar neck. The fretboard is dark AAAA rosewood The first modernized tweak we added is that this guitar has a 9.5" radius and Medium Jumbo (6150) frets. This makes it easy to play, even up high on the neck when bending notes and digging in.
We stayed period correct for the pickups, going with Custom Shop '62 Jaguar pickups, as well the hardware, going with vintage tuners, bridge, etc. The idea is to have everything you'd expect in a vintage Jaguar from the '60's, with some modern features and an unbelievable backstory. The guitar comes with a Custom Shop tweed case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.....as well as the status of it being the only one ever made. For those that want old growth wood for their guitar, this could be impossible to beat.
A Masterbuilt instrument is like no other, and this is a one of a kind. It's truly unique, and beyond special. Come to Club Fender at Truetone Music to experience it today, or make it yours right here.
ABOUT THE MASTERBUILDER: ANDY HICKS
Andy Hicks grew up in a household filled with music lovers. He received his first guitar on his 11th birthday – a gorgeous 3-tone burst Fender Stratocaster. Andy spent his teenage years playing along with his favorite Nirvana, Black Sabbath and Metallica records. He played in local rock bands and by his early 20s he became increasingly interested in experimenting with guitars by modifying pickups and wiring.
In 2009, Andy decided to take this passion for guitar building seriously by enrolling in the Guitar Craft Academy in Hollywood, a 6-month program focused on electric guitars. Within a week of graduating, he started working at Fender in the Jackson Custom Shop dressing frets. From 2013 to 2018, he worked as an assistant to Gretsch Custom Shop Senior Master Builder, Steve Stern. Andy worked with various artists during this period and is very proud of his involvement with the Malcolm Young “Salute” Jet. In 2018, Andy seized the opportunity to become the lead builder and production manager for a high-end boutique guitar company and was subsequently recruited by James Tyler to oversee production for his shop in the San Fernando Valley.
On his return to Fender, Hicks said, “coming back to Fender, becoming part of the most prestigious custom shop in the industry, and being around so many talented builders is incredibly exciting and humbling. It also feels like I have returned home.”
When it comes to guitars, Andy incorporates his two passions: playing and building guitars. He firmly believes that these two passions are deeply connected, uniting Andy’s core approach to creating guitars. “I love interacting with guitarists,” Hicks said. “Bridging the gap between builder and player, listening to their desires and implementing them into my builds is incredibly rewarding,” and to create such guitars in the Fender Custom Shop, “nothing could be better,” he added.
When not building guitars, Andy plays in an epic doom metal band, Stygian Crown, enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons and goes on incredible Disneyland trips with his wife and 3 boys.
- Serial # AH0116
- Model# 9213000577
- Weight: 9.0 lbs
- Finish Package: NOS
- Finish: Nitro Lacquer / Color Dyed / Custom Stained
- Color: Natural
- Body: 50,000 Year Old Ancient Kauri
- Neck: AAAA Flame Maple
- Neck Shape: 62 Jaguar
- Fretboard: AAAA Rosewood - Sort for Dark
- Inlays: Mastodon Tusk
- Frets: 21
- Fretwire: 6150 Medium Jumbo
- Radius: 9.50"
- Neck Nut Width: 1.650"
- Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .820"
- Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .900"
- Neck Butt Width: 2.200"
- Side Dots: Mastodon Tusk
- Pickguard: 4-Ply Tortoise Shell
- Pickups: Handwound Custom Shop 62 Jaguar Flat Magnets
- Nut: Bone
- Tuners: Vintage
- String Guide: Vintage
- Bridge: Vintage Jaguar with Mute
- Neck Plate: Vintage
- Wiring: Standard Jaguar
- Case: Custom Shop Brown