Culture

Custom diamond-studded Stratocaster guitar shines (pictures)

Diamonds, gold, silver and 3D image projection combine to make a memorable custom guitar, the only one like it in the world.

Amanda Kooser

Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.

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Amanda Kooser

Jan. 27, 2015 2:24 p.m. PT

1 of 7 Fender

Pine Cone Strat with Pine Cone egg

The dazzling Pine Cone Stratocaster guitar was created by Fender senior master builder Yuriy Shishkov. Based on the classic design of a famous Faberge egg, the guitar gets its contoured look thanks to the use of a 3D image projected over the guitar prior to carving the body.

2 of 7 Fender

Diamond-studded guitar headstock

Every bit of the Pine Cone Stratocaster is covered in minute details, like this 18-karat gold-plated metal Fender logo. Diamonds are mounted flush into the face of the headstock. The one-of-a-kind guitar is destined to be put up for auction, where it is expected to fetch around $1 million.

3 of 7 Fender

Even the Strat back is divine

The Fender Custom Shop Pine Cone Stratocaster was made with a special multi-composite finish designed to mimic the finish of the original 1900 Faberge egg that inspired the guitar. The luxury instrument was built with 550 diamonds and a single-piece maple body that was elaborately carved by hand.

4 of 7 Fender

Master builder works on the Pine Cone

Senior master builder Yuriy Shishkov works on the Pine Cone Stratocaster at the Fender Custom Shop. A 3D image of a Faberge egg was projected onto the guitar body prior to carving it so that the design would follow the contours of the original egg.

5 of 7 Fender

Gold-plated pickups and hardware

Gold-plated, hand-engraved hardware graces the custom Fender Pine Cone Stratocaster, a guitar inspired by a famous Russian jeweled egg. The guitar includes 550 diamonds inlaid flush to the body, neck and headstock of the guitar.

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Gold knobs on the Pine Cone guitar

This elaborate guitar is the creation of Fender senior master builder Yuriy Shishkov. The hand-carved maple body is graced with custom gold-plated hardware and hundreds of diamonds. A 3D image of a jeweled Russian egg that inspired the design helped Shishkov lay out the carving.

7 of 7 Fender

The Pine Cone Strat in all its glory

The Fender Custom Shop Pine Cone Stratocaster comes with a matching blue Faberge egg with a small elephant figure inside, based on a 1900 original. The guitar also comes with a lighted display case and is destined to go up for auction. Fender expects the one-off masterpiece to bring in around $1 million.