“This is an example of us pushing the boundaries of finishes. This is not traditional Fender in any way, shape or form”: Fender reveals its most successful modern finishes – and why it was worth the struggle to create them

Fender American Ultra II Meteora
(Image credit: Fender)

Guitar finishes not only protect the very instrument they’ve been applied to – they also play a huge role in both enhancing its visual appeal and creating a distinct identity.

Whether it’s Rory Gallagher’s 1961 Strat with its accidental relic’d finish, Jimi Hendrix’s white Woodstock 1968 Strat, or Taylor Swift’s purple/pink Gibson acoustic from her Lover era, aesthetics are crucial in giving the instrument – and, by extension, its player – a unique and instantly recognizable quality.

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Janelle Borg

Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.