Fender Custom Shop 52 Telecaster Relic Aged Nocaster Blonde: (2023)
This Fender Custom Shop 52 Telecaster Relic in a Nocaster Blonde finish delivers that inviting played-in feel, characterfully aged aesthetic and beautiful tone of those sought-after instruments with the rock-solid reliability of a modern, pro-grade guitar. Fender claims a top-notch spec that even the most discerning Tele fan will adore. This '52 Tele is crafted from the finest tone-woods available. At the heart of this guitar’s crisp and articulate voice is its classic combination of a select Ash body and a Rift Sawn Maple neck. The period-correct nitrocellulose finish enhances this '52 Tele’s resonance by allowing the wood to “breathe” and will develop a unique visual character over time.
Some quick specifications are a 57 soft V maple rift sawn neck, scale length 25.5", with a compound 7.5 - 9.5" Radius, Narrow Tall (6105) frets, Vintage-Style Tuning Machines, Bone nut, Custom Shop Vintage 3 brass barrel saddles, Hand-Wound ' Blackguard 51/52 Pickups, The guitar comes with a custom shop tweed finished hard shell case.
Personal Comment:
The Telecaster (albeit) a Japanese copy was my first electric guitar back in the early 1970s and this iconic slab of wood continues to have a special place in my memory. As I returned to guitar playing I avoided Custom Shop guitars as there price point was not for me at that time. I purchased the USA Fender Pro Telecaster (Series 1 model) and very much enjoyed getting back to grips with an old friend. However, as time passed and my recording journey grew, I decided to try a Custom Shop Stratocaster and that was the open door which led to the purchase of this Custom Shop Telecaster 52.
The moment I took the guitar into my hands, it felt just right, that 52 fat neck, that worn-in relic feel that just simply makes a guitar feel so comfortable. There is a misconception that relic guitars are just - 'beat-up' looking guitars. As someone who has built guitars, it takes a good deal of time and skill to wear-in a guitar neck and frets, so that it not only feels great under hand but is highly stable and intonates perfectly. I have done a number of comparison videos with Custom Shop 50s and 60s models and up against the more modern Professional series. There is also a video comparing the 52 Telecaster to a 50s Stratocaster. Check-out the videos below by clicking on the pictures.
As a Fender fan, this CS Telecaster 52 relic model is a real joy to play but perhaps not for everyone, it does have that very traditional vintage feel to it and as such, it plays beautifully and sounds great. If you want to know more about this guitar drop me an email.