Music and motorcycles go hand in hand and a legend in one is
paying tribute to another.
To celebrate Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary
celebration in Milwaukee, Wis. Aug. 27-31, 2008, the Fender
Custom Shop has created three special edition Fender
Stratocaster guitars commemorating the event. The first
guitar (#1 of 3) will be auctioned
online with proceeds going
to the
Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The auction runs from Aug. 21 through Sept. 4, 2008. The
guitar is valued at $10,000 and will be exhibited on the
Summerfest grounds August 29-30 at Harley-Davidson's Wreck
Room exhibit.
The custom black Stratocaster features black cherry pin
striping and a combination of black chrome and black nickel
hardware. Other features include the Harley-Davidson bar and
shield logo engraved on the jack plate, head stock applique,
serialized neck plate and a Harley-Davidson inlay on the
neck in black polycarbonate. The guitar is also highlighted
by a perforated alloy pick-guard and back plates assembled
with the use of socket-head Allen screws commonly used by
Harley-Davidson on their motorcycles.
"MDA is honored and grateful to benefit from this stunning
work of art. Fender has created a guitar that perfectly
conveys the spirit of the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary,
and MDA is thrilled to be associated with this piece of
history," MDA Director of Program Development Scarlett
Marchman said.
"Harley-Davidson greatly appreciates Fender's donation to
MDA and to our new Museum. These custom guitars are a work
of art that not only support fundraising efforts for MDA but
are an ideal gift commemorating Harley-Davidson's 105th
Anniversary Celebration, our Museum's grand opening, and the
solid line-up of music that will be performed at the event
next week" said Joanne Bischmann, Harley-Davidson's Vice
President of Licensing and Special Events.
The guitars were designed and built by revered 20-year
Custom Shop veteran Master Builder Scott Buehl. Buehl
created the design in collaboration with the Harley-Davidson
Styling Department. Buehl also built the Harley-Davidson
90th Anniversary guitar which debuted in 1993 with a
production run of 109 guitars.
"The 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Fender Custom Shop
guitar continues to be a highly sought-after guitar among
collectors and artists, and we are extremely confident that
the 105th edition will be, too, as the run is only three
guitars," said Mike Eldred, Fender Custom Shop marketing
director."
Later this year, the second guitar (#2 of 3) will be donated
by Fender to the new Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee,
Wis., while the third guitar (#3 of 3) will be exhibited at
the Fender Museum in Corona, Calif.
For more than two decades, the Fender Custom Shop has been a
"dream factory," producing guitars that are to playing what
Harley-Davidson's are to motorcycling. From beginnings in
Fender's original Southern California home, the Custom Shop
has grown to become the world's preeminent maker of custom
"instantly collectible" instruments; making Fender's finest
the world's finest and astounding players and collectors
worldwide with marvels of creativity, ingenuity and
artistry.