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Fender Custom Shop "Telemaster" Prototype

Fender Custom Shop "Telemaster" Prototype

A Make''n Music exclusive: the Fender Custom Shop "Telemaster"

This instrument represents the prototype model for an upcoming run of Fender Custom Shop guitars, built exclusively for Make’n Music in Chicago.

The Fender Custom Shop “Telemaster” is based on an early-fifties Esquire/Telecaster platform with a Jazzmaster body shape. Although this model never went into production, these guitars were designed to look like some kind of “lost NAMM Show prototype” from the Pre-CBS era, and they certainly would have been perfectly at home in any vintage Fender catalog. A “sixties” version will also be available.

While it may look and feel like a vintage instrument, the Telemaster was designed from the ground up to be a true player’s guitar with both obvious and discrete features. For tonal versatility two additional, specially designed pickups are stealthily hidden underneath the pickguard and the reverse mounted control plate puts the volume and tone knobs in the perfect position for quick adjustments. And a 5-way selector switch provides modern switching ability. Additional player friendly specifications include a lightweight ash body, custom Make’n Music neck profile with 1-1 1/16" nut width, 9.5" fingerboard radius and 6105 frets.

As seen throughout this issue of Premier Guitar, there have been countless takes on the flagship models of Fender. Whether you’re looking for a Stratocaster, Telecaster, Telemaster, Telstar or just a new guitar whose cavities and components haven’t yet been customized, chances are you’ll find it on Gear Search. Log on to premierguitar.com/gear to browse more than 46,000 pieces of equipment and find your perfect combination.