Fender Custom Shop Chris Fleming Masterbuilt 1972 Telecaster Custom Maple Fingerboard Closet Classic Black

Fender Custom Shop Chris Fleming Masterbuilt 1972 Telecaster Custom Maple Fingerboard Closet Classic Black

CHRIS FLEMING

Chris Fleming was born in Long Beach, California, and grew up in Orange County, California, not far from the first Fender factory during the surf music and folk/country rock era in Southern California.

A guitar player since the age of 8, Fleming started working on repairing and modifying instruments in the 1980s, and began work at a repair shop in Long Beach in the ’90s. He got his foundation in instrument design and repair and restoration while working on guitars and other stringed instruments during this time.

Fleming joined Fender in 2000 as a guitar builder in the Custom Shop. His first assignment was as the Master Builder assistant to Custom Shop trailblazers John English, Alan Hamel and Fred Stuart.

Since then, Fleming has held a variety of positions with Fender that have allowed him to further hone his skills, including Master Builder Apprentice, Chief Engineer, Guitar R&D, Director of Build standards and OEM Manufacturing, and most recently the Director of Custom Operations for all FMIC custom brands.

After 20 years, Fleming is happy to be back where it all began – building Custom Fender instruments in the Dream Factory.