The Japanese car brand Lexus has signed a really curious partnership with Fender, historical producer of musical instruments including the electric guitar Stratocaster. By exploiting the base of the famous model, the Lexus LC Stratocaster, a Custom Shop with paint inspired by the colors of nature, as well as the LC model, and with elements typical of luxury mechanics.
The Fender Stratocaster Lexus LC, which will be produced in limited numbers (100 specimens), is based on alder wood, screwed to a maple neck. The Lexus logo has been placed on the black plate that fixes the junction. The richlite fingerboard has been enhanced with dark blue tones. Fender and Lexus have chosen a 22-fret configuration on a 12-inch radius, with medium-jumbo steel frets and an array of dot luminlay along the top edge. In this case, these are two absolute premieres for the Custom Shop production. The Lexus Structural Blue finish was also picked up on the front of the headstock. The pickguard is made of carbon fiber. The barrel-style knobs, a volume and a master tone, recall the controls of the Mark Levinson audio systems, which are mounted on Lexus.
The paint is inspired by the one dedicated to LC 500 Inspiration Series. It is a multilayer pigment capable of replicating the iridescent blue of the Morpho butterfly, based on an effect created by the interference of light on the reticular structure of the wings. Undoubtedly a beautiful product, a niche that will intercept all customers of the Lexus brand who are also great music fans.
This enriched the Fender experience with car manufacturers, after collaborating with Saleen in 2020: in that case he had produced a Stratocaster with contour, fiber and pedal controls inspired by sports cars.