The Fender Showmaster is a discontinued model of

electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external electric Guitar amplifier, sound amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar. It uses one or more pickup (music technology), pickups ...

made by Fender, and is characteristic of a

superstrat Superstrat is a name for an electric guitar design that resembles a Fender Stratocaster but with differences that clearly distinguish it from a standard Stratocaster, usually to cater to a different playing-style. Differences typically include ...

History

The Showmaster was introduced in 1998. The initial Custom Shop Showmaster was a design supplied by John Suhr, a senior Master Builder during that era. It started out as a US version of the Contemporary Stratocaster and featured two Fender Texas Special pickups in the neck and middle positions, a

Seymour Duncan Seymour Duncan is an American company best known for manufacturing guitar and Bass (guitar), bass Pickup (music technology), pickups. They also manufacture effects pedals which are designed and assembled in United States. Guitarist and luthier ...

'59

Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023) was an English musician. He rose to prominence as the guitarist of the rock band the Yardbirds, and afterwards founded and fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, ...

Trembucker in the lead position, a white pearloid

pickguard A pickguard (also known as a scratchplate) is a piece of plastic or other (often laminated) material that is placed on the body of a guitar, mandolin or similar plucked string instrument. The main purpose of the pickguard is to protect the guita ...

and a deluxe locking tremolo bridge. Later, after Suhr left, the Showmaster was turned into a back-routed, carved-top, and set neck design. The main distinguishing feature of Fender Showmasters from other superstrats is the carved maple top (quilted or flamed) with cream binding. The Showmaster series also included a short-lived 7-string version with a stop-tail bridge that had been introduced around 1999/2000 and discontinued two years later.

Squier Squier is an American brand of electric guitars owned by Fender. The former manufacturing company, established as "V. C. Squier Company" was founded in 1890 by Victor Carroll Squier in Battle Creek, Michigan, producing strings for violins, ban ...

, Fender's budget marque, also produced the Showmaster, including a Jason Ellis signature model. In 2009, all Showmaster models were discontinued.

References

{{Fender guitars Showmaster Musical instruments invented in the 1990s