The Latest Breaking News from Justin Norvell

Jackson and Charvel’s Sleep Token signature models are officially here – and are officially kind of insane: “We’re always looking for artists who redefine what a signature instrument can be”

Okay, so guitarist IV's monster 30” scale baritone arrives tuned a whole octave down – while bassist III has a heavily customised Charvel 5-string multi-scale. Fishman pickups for everyone

MusicRadar · Aug 26

“This is like the center of gravity for the bass world”: Geezer Butler, Tal Wilkenfeld and Nate Mendel hail the legacy of the P Bass, as Fender celebrates its 75th anniversary

Fender unveils the 75th Anniversary P Bass Collection featuring a a stunning American Professional PJ Bass, a Player II P Bass in Diamond Dust Sparkle, and a retro American Vintage II 1951 model

MusicRadar · May 20

“Brings additional variety with fresh takes on Fender legends”: Squier launches its 2025 Classic Vibe collection – complete with Bigsby-loaded Telecasters and pink hardtail Strats

Some surprising hardware setups and unorthodox configurations head up the drop – which sees Fender commit to its beloved Classic Vibe family

Guitar World · Aug 19, 2025

“Even with the simplified controls layout, this Jag is one of the coolest cats around”: Fender Player II Jaguar review

Fender's cult-classic offset is remodelled again and could well be one of the most fun offsets we've played in recent memory

MusicRadar · Feb 26, 2025

“There’s so much equity in the Squier brand name – there are people that proudly play Squier over Fender”: Fender outlines the future of Squier after the launch of its new Standard Series – which is built in the same factory

The Standard Series further closed the gap between Fender and Squier – but would Fender ever put its name on the entire production line, from entry level to Custom Shop?

Guitar World · Feb 25, 2025

“If this guitar had come out of one of our other facilities saying Fender no one would be having this conversation”: Fender’s Justin Norvell on the $599 Standard Series, how it was made, and why it is not a Squier with a different decal on the headstock

Fender’s EVP of product on who its new Indonesian entry-level series is for, what its critics are getting wrong, and why this is (probably) as affordable as the Acoustasonic is going to get

MusicRadar · Feb 24, 2025

“We’ve been controlled by the idea that Fender is for Mexico and US models. We’re allowing ourselves to break our own rules”: Why Fender is building its $599 Standard Series in Indonesia – and how its ideological shift delivers better value for players

Fender’s EVP of Product Justin Norvell explains what convinced Fender to change its mindset on where its guitars are built – and what makes the new Standards different from the Player Series (apart from where they’re built)

Guitar World · Feb 5, 2025

“We wanted to make Fender more affordable and to a wider amount of people”: Fender launches new $599 Standard Series lineup – and it marks a major shift for one of America’s most iconic guitar brands

The Indonesian-built Standard series brings the concept of an affordable Fender back to the table – and it’s the greatest show of faith yet in its facility

Guitar World · Jan 23, 2025

“It’s designed to push boundaries and redefine what a Fender guitar can be”: Fender unveils the American Ultra II, US-made classic models revamped for high-performance feel and tone

The American Ultra II series features all-new pickups, compound radius fingerboards, premium components, fresh finishes and Fender’s “fastest-playing necks” as standard

MusicRadar · Oct 15, 2024

“He’s enabled fans to achieve the iconic blink-182 tone they've always dreamed of”: Fender and Mark Hoppus team up for limited edition signature Jaguar Bass

The Blink-182 co-founder’s signature model is a real bespoke build with a Jazz Bass neck, a reverse-mounted Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound P Bass split coil and the choice of 3-Color Sunburst or Sea Foam Green finishes

MusicRadar · Oct 4, 2024