If music is your religion and Clapton is God, there’s a slice of heaven right here in the city. Iconic guitar-manufacturer Fender has chosen Calcutta to launch the country’s first exclusive store, and it opens on Friday.

Fender guitars have been used by a large number of guitar greats over the years in diverse musical styles, most notably in the blues-rock genre. Some of the most recognisable rock solos have been played with a Fender by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, George Harrison, Sting, David Gilmour and John Mayer.

Closer home, Amyt Datta of Skinny Alley also uses a Fender. “It’s great news for us guitar players,” said the city-based guitarist, who is arguably one of the best in the business.

“Previously, we would have to get Fender guitars shipped after buying it online or depend on friends or relatives travelling abroad to buy a particular model that we’d heard about. But buying a guitar is like buying a shirt. You never know how it will suit you unless you try it out.”

The 300sq ft outlet, at 74A Deshapran Sashmal Road, near Tollygunge Phari, also happens to be the first one-stop shop in Asia for the US-based company. “We surveyed other markets and also looked at Mumbai and Delhi but the passion and reach of the musicians and the brand seemed to be the strongest in Calcutta,” said Jasbeer Siingh of Sara Trans Group, the sole distributor of Fender in India. “Most talented musicians either seem to come from Calcutta or Goa. Unlike other cities, Calcutta is not just about rock. There’s pop, jazz, blues, metal, Bangla bands, sessions musicians. Calcutta is a very good market.”

Composer and guitarist Ehsaan Noorani, who has a Stratocaster model in his name, is scheduled to come down to inaugurate the store.

The shop, an extension of the Roland Pro Guitar centre, will house nearly 50 electric, acoustic, bass and classical guitars ranging from the Fender Squier Bullet, priced at Rs 9,000 to the Fender Custom Shop Variety, which would set you back by Rs 3 lakh. The Signature Series models are priced between Rs 95,000 and Rs 1.85 lakh (see box for the models available).

Jayanta Dasgupta of The Saturday Night Blues Band, a brand manager for Fender India, said: “We’re trying to bring affordable Fender Strats to the city. Today, they’re more easily available than before but there’s also a thriving grey market in India, particularly Calcutta. Many musicians spend a lot of money but end up with counterfeit Fenders.”