In recognition of Iron Maiden reaching their 50-year milestone, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has unveiled a series of new releases from the Fender Custom Shop, Fender, and Jackson lines. Each model is designed to showcase the band’s long-lasting impact and its unmistakable place in heavy metal history.
Formed in East London in 1975, Iron Maiden became a major force in shaping the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Their signature blend of dramatic stagecraft and boundary-pushing sound helped build a global following, with the band selling over 100 million albums worldwide.
Max Gutnik, chief product officer at FMIC, explained the goal of the collection. He said that honoring Iron Maiden’s half-century of innovation meant bringing together the instruments that shaped their distinctive sound. “Honoring Iron Maiden’s fifty years of pushing heavy metal forward, this collection brings together the signature instruments that helped define their unmistakable sound,” he said.
He highlighted the lineup by noting the presence of Dave Murray’s high-performance Stratocaster models, Janick Gers’s vintage-leaning Stratocaster, Steve Harris’s iconic Precision Bass, and Adrian Smith’s Jackson SC1.
“From Dave Murray‘s high-performance Stratocaster models and Janick Gers‘s energetic, vintage-leaning Strat to Steve Harris‘s unmistakable Precision Bass and Adrian Smith‘s versatile Jackson SC1, each instrument carries the tone, feel, and power behind Maiden’s multi-guitar attack. These anniversary models are more than tributes; they are stage-ready tools built to inspire today’s players and the next generation.”
Across the band’s 50-year run, Dave Murray has remained a centerpiece of Iron Maiden’s sound. His soaring solos, tightly interwoven guitar harmonies, and galloping rhythms have appeared on all 17 of the band’s studio albums. To highlight his legacy, Fender Custom Shop masterbuilder Andy Hicks collaborated directly with Murray to craft a new version of the guitarist’s preferred Stratocaster: the Limited Edition Masterbuilt Dave Murray Stratocaster.
Hicks spoke about the personal significance behind the project: “Dave Murray has always been my favorite guitar hero. Not only is his style absolutely brilliant but he also proved to me long ago that Fender absolutely belongs in the world of heavy metal”. He added: “It was an absolute honor to build this guitar for him and I will never get over the excitement of seeing my favorite player from my favorite band playing one of my guitars.”
To build the Limited Edition model, Hicks and Murray focused on creating an instrument equipped for heavy touring and demanding performance. The guitar features 21 medium-jumbo stainless-steel frets, along with an oil-finished walnut neck shaped in a ’60s-style Oval “C” profile. It’s designed for comfort and ease of play. Paired with Murray’s preferred pickup configuration—Seymour Duncan Hot Rails in the bridge and neck positions and a JB Jr. in the middle—the guitar offers the tight punch needed for rhythm parts and the clarity required for melodic leads. Finished in NOS Olympic White, the design emphasizes simplicity without sacrificing character.
The model uses a 2-piece alder body finished in NOS Olympic White, matched with an oil-finished walnut neck in the familiar Oval “C” shape. It also includes a compound-radius rosewood fingerboard ranging from 9.5″ to 14″, built for smooth transitions across the fretboard. Murray’s Hot Rails and JB Jr. setup returns here as well, keeping the guitar firmly rooted in the tones he’s known for. To make the instrument road-ready, they added a series of upgraded components, including an AxLabs Tone Claw Locking Spring Claw, Heavy Duty Noiseless Springs, and several FU-Tone enhancements such as a 42mm Big Brass Block, Tremolo Stopper, titanium screws, saddle inserts, and other stability-focused hardware. After testing the final instrument on the road, Murray chose it as his new main guitar. The model also includes a signature neckplate, vintage-style tuners, a Custom Shop strap, and a certificate of authenticity.
As Iron Maiden marks its 50-year anniversary, the band remains one of heavy metal’s most recognizable and influential acts. Their trademark elements—driving bass lines, harmonized guitars, dramatic vocals, and the constant evolution of their mascot Eddie—continue to shape the genre. With 17 studio albums and a global sales record surpassing 100 million, their influence shows no signs of fading even after five decades.
