Fender kintsugi guitars bring a traditional Japanese repair art to the Stratocaster. From a one-off Custom Shop build to a 15-piece Made in Japan run and a Japanese star’s signature model, here are the Fenders that turn golden cracks into part of the design.
Fender Kintsugi Quick Facts
- Kintsugi: repairing pottery with lacquer and gold
- Custom Shop: a kintsugi Stratocaster for Fender Experience 2025
- Collaboration: S.T. Dupont, black and gold (2025)
- Made in Japan: Urushi Stratocaster, 15 made (2020)
- Signature: Ken Stratocaster Experiment #1 (L’Arc-en-Ciel)
What Is Kintsugi?
Kintsugi is a Japanese way of repairing pottery with lacquer and gold. Instead of hiding the cracks, it turns them into part of the design, which is exactly why it looks so good on a guitar finish.
Fender Kintsugi Guitars at a Glance
| Guitar | Year | Built by | Kintsugi detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Shop kintsugi Stratocaster | 2025 | Fender Custom Shop, for Fender Experience 2025 | Kintsugi finish over a spalted maple top |
| S.T. Dupont collaboration | 2025 | Fender × S.T. Dupont | Black and gold design |
| Urushi Stratocaster | 2020 | Fender Made in Japan (15 made) | Urushi lacquer with gold accents |
| Ken Stratocaster Experiment #1 | 2022 | Fender Made in Japan | White body with gold kintsugi imagery |
The Fender Custom Shop Kintsugi Stratocaster (2025)
This Stratocaster was built by the Fender Custom Shop for Fender Experience 2025, and it features kintsugi. Beneath the finish, the figuring of the spalted maple top is still visible, so the natural lines in the wood and the gold work together.
Fender × S.T. Dupont: Black and Gold (2025)
Fender has explored kintsugi-inspired designs before, and in 2025 it unveiled its second collaboration with S.T. Dupont, the French luxury brand, featuring a luxurious black and gold design. The collection drew on two ideas, the Stratocaster and kintsugi, and reached stores in June 2025.
The guitar made for it has one more surprise: under the pickguard is a unique compartment made to hold an S.T. Dupont lighter.
The Urushi Stratocaster: 15 Made in Japan (2020)
In 2020, Fender’s Made in Japan line produced the Urushi Stratocaster, a limited run of only 15 pieces inspired by kintsugi motifs. It was finished in urushi, Japanese lacquer, with gold accents, the same lacquer-and-gold materials kintsugi uses. The work was done with lacquer craftsman Yusuke Iwahara of Misora Urushi Kogei.
Ken’s Kintsugi Stratocaster: Experiment #1
Japanese guitarist Ken, of the rock band L’Arc-en-Ciel, also has a signature model with a beautiful white and gold color scheme based on kintsugi imagery: the Ken Stratocaster Experiment #1. According to Fender, the white body and gold hardware are meant to evoke pottery repaired with gold. The elbow contour is painted gold, and so are the pickup, control and spring cavities, which show through the clear acrylic pickguard. Guitar World covered its launch.
For more on Fender guitars made in Japan, see Fender Japan Serial Numbers and Fender Japan JV Serial.
FAQ
What is kintsugi?
A traditional Japanese way of repairing pottery with lacquer and gold, so the cracks become part of the design instead of being hidden.
Which Fender guitars use kintsugi designs?
A Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster built for Fender Experience 2025, the S.T. Dupont collaboration, the 2020 Urushi Stratocaster from Fender’s Made in Japan line, and Ken’s Stratocaster Experiment #1.
How many Urushi Stratocasters were made?
Only 15, as part of Fender’s 2020 Made in Japan Limited Collection.
Which Ken Stratocaster has a kintsugi design?
The Ken Stratocaster Experiment #1, with a white body and gold details inspired by kintsugi. Ken is the guitarist of L’Arc-en-Ciel.
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