Levi Perry
![](http://themusicemporium.com/cdn/shop/files/Screenshot_2024-08-31_at_12.20.37_PM_1d65bf32-ee51-4fa7-a366-29bcffa6dacf_{width}x.png?v=1725121715)
“For me what’s important is to always be learning and growing, and to remain a student of the craft,” Perry said. “Fender has such a deep and rich history to glean from, and when you allow that history to teach and guide you while continuing to be creative and push the boundaries, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.”
One of the greatest privileges of working with the Fender Custom Shop is our access to their incredible roster of Masterbuilders. As passionate supporters of the boutique guitar industry, we particularly appreciate the Masterbuilder department, where each instrument is handcrafted from start to finish by a single artisan—bringing a truly boutique experience to the Custom Shop.
One of the rising stars of the Custom Shop is a young builder named Levi Perry. Levi's take on a 1969 Stratocaster is the 2nd guitar we've received from the newest Masterbuilder and it's a stunner on every level.
Beyond its undeniable aesthetic appeal— and let's be clear, it's exceptionally cool looking—this guitar exemplifies why Masterbuilt instruments are so revered. True to the spirit of boutique craftsmanship, this '69 Strat goes beyond the standard specifications of its era. Levi has expertly curated and combined his favorite features from various decades, resulting in a truly extraordinary instrument that transcends traditional design.
The 2 piece Ash body and roasted flame maple neck combine to create a very lightweight, acoustically loud, and sustain-rich guitar - and this is just when playing acoustically. The aging on the body, which doesn't use pore filler to create a more textured finish, gives off the vibe of a well-loved Strat that's seem more than a few stages and studios.
A highlight for us is the Modern V neck carve. It feels quite a bit like a mid-50s Strat with its comfy V profile, and the 6150 frets and 9 1/2"-12" compound radius bring the playability and feel into the modern world - ie, it's super easy to play and would appeal to a wide range of players.
Nestled under and incredibly well-aged pickup covers & pickguard are a trio of mismatched Josefina pickups - ('69 Strat (neck), '60/'63 (middle - reverse wound), Fat '50s (bridge) - whick, as you'd expect given her reputation, sound phenomenal. Levi's choice of pickups really maximizes the tones you get from each position on the 5-way switch. Strat heaven here? For us Strat nerds, undoubtedly yes.
Lastly, Levi has infused this Masterbuilt '69 Strat with that elusive "it" factor that great vintage - and new - guitars can have. It's got vibe, soul, life...and whatever "it" is makes us better players because we find ourselves exploring picking techniques and touch in ways that a less dynamic and alive guitars just don't inspire us to do.
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