Mateus Asato Officially Joins Fender — And May Have Just Revealed His Upcoming Signature Guitar

One of the guitar world’s most heavily discussed rumors has finally become reality: Mateus Asato has officially joined Fender as an artist. And alongside the announcement, the acclaimed guitarist may have also offered fans their very first glimpse at a future signature model.

Ever since Asato announced his departure from Suhr earlier this year after a 12-year partnership, speculation about his next move spread rapidly across the guitar community. During his time with the company, Asato released several highly successful signature instruments while developing a tone and aesthetic that became instantly recognizable.

Because many of his Suhr guitars leaned heavily into Stratocaster and Telecaster-inspired territory, fans quickly began predicting that a move to Fender felt almost inevitable.

Asato himself only intensified the speculation. Earlier this year, he appeared at a Fender Japan clinic and later uploaded a video titled “Yes, I am Playing a Fender,” though at the time he avoided confirming any official relationship with the brand.

Now, the guitarist has made it official.

Posting on Instagram, Mateus Asato wrote:

“I am officially part of the Fender team now.

Over the past few months, I’ve spent countless hours with their guitars in my hands, trying to discover the best ways to embrace this new chapter.”

He also spoke about the significance of joining such an iconic company:

“It’s an honor to begin this journey alongside so many incredible names in music history. Thank you, Fender. And a very warm thank you to all the amazing people involved in this special project. I deeply appreciate your effort and your time. I’m ready.”

What truly caught fans’ attention, however, was the possibility that Asato may have already revealed his upcoming signature guitar.

In the photos shared online, the guitarist can be seen inside the Fender Custom Shop, holding a striking green Stratocaster-style guitar fitted with a tortoiseshell pickguard. Sharp-eyed followers immediately recognized it as the same instrument Asato has been playing in various social media clips over recent weeks.

Additional photos show Asato deep in discussion with members of the Fender team, including Director of Product Allen Abbassi, while the mysterious green Strat appears repeatedly throughout the gallery.

Are they discussing a future Custom Shop signature run? Planning a production-line model? Fine-tuning specs before an official launch?

At this stage, Fender hasn’t confirmed any details. But with the partnership between Mateus Asato and Fender now officially announced, a signature model feels less like a possibility — and more like an inevitability.