# Fender sacks Custom Shop Master Builder John Cruz

Fender Custom Shop John Cruz · 

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**Fender has terminated its relationship with Custom Shop Master Builder John Cruz. Although Fender confirmed to us that he is no longer with the company, a spokesperson said that Fender would issue no further comment “as a matter of policy”. But according to rumours circulating on guitar forums, Mr Cruz was terminated because of a post on social media relating to the recent Black Lives Matter protests in the USA.**

## Fender Custom Shop

**John Cruz** was at **Fender** for a long time and his name has been attached to a lot of high-end **Custom Shop** models. Suspicion that he was no longer with the company first arose when his name was removed from the **Fender Custom Shop** ‘**Meet The Builders** ‘ section. We then reached out to Fender, who confirmed that he is no longer working for the company.

But why would Fender remove one of its leading Master Builders? According to a Facebook post of 2 June by bassist Gregor Fris, Cruz had posted a highly distasteful image in connection with the recent protests in the USA. Fris later commented on his own post giving an update, saying Fender had called him to say that Cruz had been relieved of his duties. He said:

> Fender called me today and we had a very friendly and constructive conversation about this incident. At this point, John is not (sic) longer employed at Fender. The whole executive team is now sitting down to discuss how to shake things up within their team and their own rows … I never wanted this, but kudos to Fender for taking a stand. Maybe it’s the right time to make some tough decisions.

An image purported to be the one that resulted in his dismissal was later posted to a thread on the Fretboard guitar forum. At the moment, we can’t verify its authenticity. But even if we knew it was genuine, we wouldn’t reproduce it here because it is, frankly, just too awful. Anyone who posted an image as deplorable as that would, in any functioning company, face dismissal. It’s a disturbing episode that will no doubt shock and sadden many.

I don’t know what he posted, but it’s unusual that he would post racist things being that his name is Cruz and I would say that is Hispanic, and also I am sure in all of his years dealing with artists, there must have been plenty of black musicians he’s dealt with! Between this and the Fulltone news it’s really sad, although apparently Mike Fuller has ALWAYS been an asshole.

Tearing down their history

The most in demand masterbuilder at Fender… multiyear long wait lists… and they fire him over this BS? Hopefully he goes out on his own.

It’s quite well known american companies don’t have any sense of humour. As for Mike Fuller, he didn’t say anything wrong. It seems you’re better off NOT commenting on the whole situation as everyone is jumpy and rather kick you than think = what is missing from this whole shitstorm anyway, people thinking clearly. (Note: CAPTCHA socks)

Gergor Fris seriously implied in his “im offended” post that only black people are protesting and no one called him out on it.

I would buy from Cruz if he starts out on his own.  
I have enough Fenders now. Won’t be buying any more.  
See how that works?

I don’t know what he said and I think people by now should know that it is a very thin line you walk to not anger the SJW’s. It’s very sad indeed, this use to be a free country, we were free to have opinions and thoughts without there being a price to pay, if someone got their feelings hurt then they got their feelings hurt. You should not loose your career for being insensitive to the cause of the day. And just wait, there will be another cause and another after that. Are we going to fire everyone that doesn’t tow the line? Anyhow I suppose Mr. Cruz will make his own guitars and plenty of people will line up to buy them as he is a master craftsman. Fenders loss

His quip MAY have been just a joke… but IF SO it was DEFINITELY IN POOR TASTE. That said, he is a master at what he does. Does he need to share the same beliefs as his employer? Did he really say anything racist? I am ALL FOR EQUALITY 100% I am also not going to get behind canning everyone that makes a stupid comment unless it is intended to divide us -US !!! We are ALL GODS CHILDREN!  
PS – I LIKE GUITARS…. BLACK AND WHITE AND EVERY OTHER COLOR… they are all pink on the inside!!!!

Seems like Cruz wasn’t familiar with Fender’s social media policy or he was and now he is suffering the consequences of violating that policy. As a master builder at Fender, Cruz has an elevated public persona and as an (ex) employee of Fender he is representing Fender, whether he likes it or not.  
Fender is a multimillion $ company that has a vested interest in appealing to a very wide and diverse demographic. The custom shop may be niche but those niche buyers probably have a very low tolerance for anything that distracts from the quality of the product.  
Seems a lot of folks commenting on here that seem to be upset about Cruz getting canned don’t understand the calculations that go in to firing employees that have an elevated public persona in massive company. Look at the pinned tweet on Fender’s twitter. Then tell me that what Cruz did doesn’t fly in the face of that statement. Fender’s calculation in firing him was a cost/benefit analysis. The cost of keeping him on and facing even more unwanted attention for that decision in a very niche, very exclusive sector of the their business clearly outweighs the benefit of having that skilled labor – not to mention the impact that would have on their employee culture.  
For those commenting that this is just Fender bending to the will of SJW or outrage culture and that you wont buy another guitar from Fender; you are in the minority and you probably weren’t buying guitars from Fender’s custom shop anyhow.

Kudos to Fender??? Are you #$@! kidding me?? Once again the Radical Left’s intolerance of Freedom of speech! It just has to be any speech that the Left disagrees with. When your personal feelings trump reason. So sad what this country has become! FU Fender! Seriously!

i heard they all farted loudly during the discussion

Sad, that people are referring to that meme as ‘just a distasteful joke.’ Those people are the type most resistant to cultural evolution. Those people who seem to believe there was ever such a thing as “freedom of speech.” Not sure how education failed them so profoundly. There have always been consequences attached to one’s words. And when your name is associated with a major international long-standing historically-prominent brand, with an equity in the hundreds of millions of dollars, you have to recognize that you are a representative of that company. Fender could not continue to employ someone who promoted an image of hate and violence, even if you disregard racial implications. As for ‘giving in to the mob,’ well, that’s one of those ignorant, naive, Internet tough guy ‘perspectives.’ If you were the CEO and saw that your company’s fortunes would be affected by a representation of attitudes which you abhorred, you’d do the same thing. 

Evolving as a society ought to be the objective of us all. But too many people hold the narcissistic view that the way they grew up is ‘fine’ for everyone else into perpetuity. But progressive, inclusive perspectives are what stopped people from burning women as witches, eliminated slavery, gave women the right to vote….

I hope he has been better at retaining his ‘coin’ than he has been at retaining his common sense.  
I suspect, when it comes to controversy with Fender corp., there is more to the story than meets the eye. His post was likely the proverbial ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’.  
Kind of sad. But, their swift and decisive action is to be heralded. Especially, when one thinks about the role Hendrix and so many other black musicians have played over the years in making the Fender name what it is today.

Not having seen the actual post I wonder would he have been better off asking permission to post his private business before posting? IMHO I think if someone wants authorized permission for my posts they can just keep on dreaming. You don’t like my opinion? Don’t read it, mind your own business. You don’t want someone like me around? Hope it holds up in court. Otherwise I don’t stay where I’m not wanted. With his skills he might launch a line of his own making more money than the ungrateful employer he made much richer off his talents.

What a load of crap ! It was just a joke. It is not racist. There were people of all colour protesting. This should not have cost him his job. Fender ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Bad move

We have Fender Pre-CBS  
Fender CBS  
Fender 70’s era  
Fender PC era (Politically Correct)

Trying times like what faces us these days require the best we can summon from within us. I have one overarching thought that comes to mind and it is penance (maybe remorse, or a heartfelt apology). John, I’ve followed your long career even owning a guitar you built 16 years ago having read interviews and watched your video subjects. Rehabilitating yourself and achieving reconciliation with Fender brass might involve taking the very people hurt by the hurtful post under your tutelage in an apprenticeship capacity to climb back to the stature you held. Nothing more to say except please find a way to heal the rift.

Was his post reliced or not?

The bassist, Gregor Fris, who got Master Builder Cruz fired, says he didn’t want this. YES he did. That’s why he contacted Fender. Fris apparently deems himself perfect and finds power in being a tattle tale critic. We have a 1st amendment.

Gibson (in the bunker): “I think we’ve done the best we can to alienate our base over nonsensical actions”  
Fender : “Hold my Beer!”

Wow, lots of inbred halfwits in this thread defending this human turd!

If this is at all representative of this site’s readership (as opposed to a vocal minority of stupid hillbillies) then I guess it might be time to find another news source…

Werden seine Modelle nun günstiger angeboten?

I’m saddened to see so many hateful commentators. Let’s remember that it is the attitudes and beliefs of the haters that are under attack, so it’s only natural they come out to defend their stand, I guess. We need more lovers in this world.

So now anyone who has a John Cruz built guitar is supporting his racist white supremacist views and is guilty by association. I hear the 50’s style Strats and Teles are exceptionally tainted. DM me if you own one as I can assist with a 100% eco-friendly removal.

Fire all the racists. They’ve no place at Fender (nor any other company).

And if you don’t think what he posted is racist… well, guess what that says about you.

Looks like fender has followed the P.C. “culture” of distasting our everyday lives. What’s deplorable is infringement on a person’s rights. What’s going on is an investment strategy to make all metro areas for ONLY WEALTHY. It’s shocking that any business operates “properly” under the finder “strategy”

Absolutely ridiculous. The SJW’s are cheering now, but I wonder what is going to happen when they post a “joke” leading to their lives being ruined.

I don’t think it’s fair for a website with ‘news’ in the title (yeah, I know it’s just music, but still…) to post things saying such and such a person said something so terrible he should be shunned, but we won’t repeat what it is. If what he posted was so abhorrent (and it very well might be) then we all should see it and we can arrive at the decision like adults. But when you don’t post the relevant information it just feeds the narrative that there is a cancel culture in which debate is stifled (which is dumb because, as I’ve said, he may very well have deserved to get fired). But if you don’t report things properly, and don’t treat your readers like intelligent grownups who can make their own decisions, then you are advancing no cause other than distrust. I’m not trying to set fire to the internet or call you names, but I am suggesting that if we are meant to be having a ‘dialogue’ about certain issues we can’t be afraid to mention what one side of the conversation is because some idiot might agree with it and we can’t allow that.