1996 Fender Masterbuilt Custom Moto Stratocaster

This 1996 Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Custom Blue MOTO Stratocaster (Serial #AE040) was hand-built by Senior Master Builder Art Esparza and comes from the personal collection of Robert Keeley, founder of Keeley Electronics.

Crafted during the Custom Shop's mid-90s era, the instrument features a solid body seamlessly wrapped in Blue Pearloid ("MOTO"), an ultra-difficult luthier technique that limited production to a handful of pieces. Technical specifications include a highly figured birdseye maple neck, a color-matched Blue MOTO headstock veneer, and three Custom Shop '63 hot-wound single-coil pickups fitted with custom chrome covers.

Art Esparza crafted legendary guitars for music icons including Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Buddy Guy (including Guy's iconic polka-dot Stratocaster), and Ernie Isley. Esparza left Fender around 2004–2006, leaving behind a legacy of absolute master craftsmanship.