The new series champions unique and interesting tonewoods by incorporating them into Fender's most popular electric instrument designs.
Hollywood, CA (January 20, 2017) -- Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announces the launch of its 2017 Fender Limited Edition Exotic Collection at Winter NAMM 2017 in Anaheim, CA. Alongside the release of Fenderās 2017 American Professional series of guitars and basses, the Exotic Collection includes expanded offerings for some of Fenderās most-popular electric instruments: American Professional, American Elite, and American Vintage models ā all built with a variety of unique woods such as rescued mahogany, shedua, Malaysian blackwood and reclaimed pine.
The American Vintage, American Elite, and American Professional series are reflections of Fenderās 70 years of knowledge, craftsmanship, and experience creating iconic instruments. The Limited Edition Exotic Collection features fresh iterations of the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, and Jazz bass models using rare and exotic woods for a unique look and tone. Committed players get the exceptional sonic and aesthetic qualities of extraordinary tonewoods, plus great features from the American Vintage, American Elite, and the new American Professional series, which pairs Fenderās iconic models with new modern, player-centric features designed for artists across all musical genres.
Highlights of the 2017 Limited Edition Exotic Collection include the 2017 Limited Edition Shedua Top Stratocaster, which balances the traditional Strat sound with the rich-toned okoume body and shedua top; the 2017 Limited Edition Malaysian Blackwood Telecaster 90 featuring an elegant Malaysian blackwood top; as well as the 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Jazz Bass FMT with an eye-catching figured-maple top.
In the true spirit of Fenderās early years and the original prototype instruments fashioned from pine, the company has come full circle with three new pine models: the Limited Edition American Professional Pine Jazzmaster, Limited Edition American Vintage ā59 Pine Stratocaster, and Limited Edition American Professional Pine Telecaster. These limited edition pine guitars contain body wood that dates back more than 100 years when it was part of the Buckstaff Furniture Companyās facility in Oshkosh, WI and later reclaimed, cooked, and transformed into an instrument. All three models come with a limited edition neck plate with a laser-engraved Fender logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
A departure from Fenderās traditional tone wood choices, the Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Stratocaster, Limited Edition American Elite Mahogany Tele Thinline and Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Tele Deluxe ShawBucker juxtapose traditional sounds with the rich tone and warm look of mahogany. All models include a limited edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
āThe 2017 Limited Edition Exotic Collection is the perfect way to build on the success of our American Professional, American Elite, and American Vintage guitars,ā said Justin Norvell, Vice President Electric Guitars, Basses, and Accessories. āThese unique instruments are tailored to players looking for a distinct tone quality and look.ā
NEW 2017 Limited Edition Exotic Collection: Launching monthly beginning April 2017
2017 Limited Edition Malaysian Blackwood Telecaster 90 ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition Malaysian Blackwood Telecaster enhances the traditional Telecaster style with the elegant look of a Malaysian blackwood top. The new limited-edition guitar features two JP-90 single-coil pickups and is topped by 22 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard that is ideal for most playing styles. Other highlights of the model include a custom string-through-body short-plate Tele bridge that features compensated brass saddles, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition Shedua Top Stratocaster ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition Shedua Top Stratocaster tempers the traditional Strat sound with the rich tone and warm look of an okoume body with a shedua top. The limited-edition model features three of Fenderās brand-new V-Mod single-coil pickups, a new treble-bleed tone circuit and a new modern āDeep Cā-shaped neck profile that feels just right in the playerās hand. The limited-edition guitar also includes narrow-tall frets, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.2017 Limited Edition American Professional Jazz Bass FMT ā $1,999.99
The new 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Jazz Bass combines modern features with a stunning figured maple top to create an instrument that looks as beautiful as it sounds. The new model features brand-new V-Mod single-coil Jazz Bass pickups, a slim āModern Cā-shaped neck and 20 narrow-tall frets that provide comfortable playing feel and perfect intonation. Other features include a four-saddle HiMass Vintage string-through-body bridge with nickel-plated brass saddles, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Stratocaster ā $1,999.99
A departure from Fenderās traditional tone wood choices, the 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Stratocaster tempers the traditional Strat sound with the rich tone and warm look of mahogany. The new limited model features three of Fenderās brand-new V-Mod single-coil pickups, a new treble-bleed tone circuit and new modern āDeep Cā-shaped neck profile and narrow-tall frets. Other features include a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Elite Mahogany Tele Thinline ā $1,999.99
The new 2017 Limited Edition American Elite Mahogany Tele Thinline tempers the traditional Telecaster bite with the rich sound and warm look of mahogany. The model features a single 4th Gen Noiseless single-coil Telecaster bridge pickup and a fat-sounding ShawBucker Special Wind humbucking neck pickup (coil-splittable via the S-1 switch) for noise-free, high-output tone. The Elite Suspension Bridge is a unique design with a screwless mount that increases the vibration transfer, driving the top for nearly endless sustain and lively response. The new model also features a compound-profile neck that sports a 9.5ā-14ā compound-radius maple fretboard, 22 medium jumbo frets, a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Tele Deluxe ShawBucker ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Mahogany Tele Deluxe ShawBucker tempers the traditional Tele bite with rich sound and the warm look of mahogany. The new model features a pair of fat-sounding ShawBucker humbucking pickups, 22 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fingerboard that is ideal for most playing styles. The new model also features a Limited Edition neck plate and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Vintage ā59 Pine Stratocaster ā $1,999.99
Fenderās original prototype instruments were fashioned from pine and now, with the 2017 Limited Edition American Vintage ā59 Pine Stratocaster, the company has come full circle. The new limited model features three American Vintage ā59 single-coil Strat pickups, 21 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard that is ideal for most playing styles. The model also includes a Limited Edition neck plate with a laser engraved logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Pine Telecaster ā $1,999.99
The 2017 Limited Edition American Professional Pine Telecaster contains body wood that began its functional life over 100 years ago as part of the Buckstaff Furniture Companyās facility in Oshkosh, WI before it was reclaimed, cooked, and fashioned into an instrument. The new limited-edition model also features a single American Vintage ā64 Gray-bottom single-coil Tele pickup, a Lollar Charlie Christian single-coil neck pickup, 22 narrow-tall frets and a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard. The new model also features a three-saddle string-through-body Tele bridge that features compensated brass saddles. The model also includes a Limited Edition neck plate with a laser engraved logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
2017 Limited Edition American Professional Pine Jazzmaster ā $1,999.99
The new Limited Edition American Professional Pine Jazzmaster is truly unique, thanks to its grain, knotholes, and man-made imperfections. Features in the new limited-edition model include a pair of V-Mod single-coil Jazzmaster pickups, 22 narrow-tall frets, a 9.5ā-radius maple fretboard and an improved tremolo and bridge that incorporate a screw-in arm and brass Mustang saddles. The model also includes a Limited Edition neck plate with a laser engraved logo on the headstock and a hardshell case.
For more information:
Fender
Strong midrange-focused personality. Particularly vowel-ly and vocal sweep. Feels controlled.
Some players will miss silkier, hazier bass-range sounds.
$249
Dunlop Mick Ronson Cry Baby
Park and fly with this mid-focused but very vocal wah honoring Bowieās right-hand man.
Dunlop Mick Ronson Wah - MAIN by premierguitar
Mick Ronsonālead ripper, lieutenant, riff-dealer, and arranger in David Bowieās Spiders from Marsāwas such a cool amalgam of ā60s British guitar voices. He had Keith Richardsā sense of rhythm and hooks, Jimmy Pageās knack for evil-sounding ear candy, and a preference for loud, simple rigs: Les Paul, Marshall, Tone Bender, Echoplex, and, most critically, a Cry Baby wah. You know the sound of this Cry Baby. Itās everywhere on early 1970s Bowie recordsāāQueen Bitch,ā āMoonage Daydream,ā and āWidth of a Circle,ā to name a fewāand it put discernible fangs and venom in his playing. There are many such sounds in Dunlopās excellent new tribute, the Mick Ronson Cry Baby.
Ronno was not a wah player in the āwocka-wockaā sense. He primarily used the pedal in a fixed position or with subtle longer sweeps. His favorite wah for the job was an early Cry Baby built in Italy by Jen. These wahs were notoriously, shall we say, āuniqueā from specimen to specimen. And without Ronnoās original on hand for comparison, itās hard to know how close the tribute gets to nailing it. But there is an unmistakable mid focus that mirrors and invites Ronnoās biting phrasingāparticularly in Bowieās live recordings from the time. The new pedalās sweep starts out squawky at the heel-down position, where my other vintage-voiced wahs just sound foggy. That midrange emphasis and presence remains through its sweep, suggesting the Ronson Wahās singing range is narrow. On the contrary, the many distinctly different vowel sounds within that range color the base tone more strongly than many wahs with a smoother, bassier taper. That profile lends itself to great control and multiple bold, distinct soundsāparticularly when an angry gain device is situated upstream.
The country artist and session weapon packed a range of acoustics for some recent studio time.
Charlie Worsham was just wrapping up some tracking down at Sony Studios in Nashville when PGās John Bohlinger caught up with him for a look at what tools he packs for a recording gig. Worsham had with him some of his most treasured acoustics, electrics, mandolins, banjos, and more, plus a collection of primo picks for all applications. Check out the highlights below.
Brought to you by DāAddario.
Guitar So Nice, He Bought It Twice
This 1963 Martin D-28, gifted to him from his parents, was Worshamās first serious vintage guitar. Around 12 years ago, he took it into a shop for a refret, and after a freak in-store accident left it in pieces, Worsham accepted a check for the guitarās value, and walked away.
A while later, he noticed it hanging on the wall of the same storeāreassembled and fit for service again. Worsham couldnāt help himself; he bought it back, making it āthe guitar so nice, [he] acquired it twice.ā
He runs it with DāAddario XS strings and likes bluegrass gauges: mediums for the E, A, and D strings, and lights for the G, B, and high E strings. Itās kitted out with an LR Baggs HiFi pickup. And the scratches around the soundhole and pickguard? Those came courtesy of John Osborneās heavy picking hand.
Check, Please
Worsham reckons heās probably played this treasured Gibson J-50 on more records than any other guitar he owns. After he took the check from the busted Martin D-28, he used it to buy this one.
Family Jewel
This Parker mando used to belong to John Osborne, Worshamās former bandmate. Worsham was always borrowing this mandolin, so when Osborne decided to sell it, Worsham picked it up to keep it in the family.
Burkett from āBama
This mini Burkett was built by luthier James Burkett in Alabama. Its nut is equivalent to a capo on the third fret of a regular acoustic.
Tune in to the full video to see Worshamās Ohm open-back banjo, P-90-equipped Gibson mandolin, an Osborne-owned Strat, and a super-special wedding-gift ES-335 from Vince Gill.
Tweed Fit for a Prince(ton)
Worsham took Tom Bukovacās wisdom and got himself a Fender Princeton Reverb, which he still loves, and he runs it alongside a Nashville Amp Works clone of a golden-era tweed Fender Deluxe.
Charlie Worshamās Pedalboard
At his feet, Worsham runs a pedalboard with a Sonic Research ST-300 tuner, Browne Amplification Protein, Mythos Mjolnir, Guyatone ST2, Electro-Harmonix Canyon, Neunaber Immerse, Strymon El Capistan, and Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl HiFi.
PG contributor Tom Butwin demos seven direct boxes ā active and passive ā showing off sound samples, features, and real-world advice. Options from Radial, Telefunken, Hosa, Grace Design, and Palmer offer solutions for any input, setting, and budget.
Grace Design m303 Active Truly Isolated Direct Box
The Grace Design m303 is an active, fully isolated DI box, delivering gorgeous audio performance for the stage and studio. Our advanced power supply design provides unbeatable headroom and dynamic range, while the premium Lundahl transformer delivers amazing low-end clarity and high frequency detail. True elegance, built to last.
Rupert Neve Designs RNDI-M Active Transformer Direct Interface
Compact design, giant tone. The RNDI-M brings the stunning tone & clarity of its award-winning counterparts to an even more compact and pedalboard-friendly format, with the exact same custom Rupert Neve Designs transformers and discrete FET input stage as the best-selling RNDI, RNDI-S and RNDI-8.
Telefunken TDA-1 1-channel Active Instrument Direct Box
The TDA-1 phantom powered direct box uses high-quality components and classic circuitry for rich, natural sound. With discrete Class-A FET, a European-made transformer, and a rugged metal enclosure, it delivers low distortion and a broad frequency response. Assembled and tested in Connecticut, USA, for reliable performance and superior sound.
Hosa SideKick Active Direct Box
The Hosa SideKick DIB-445 Active DI delivers clear, strong signals for live and studio use. Ideal for guitars, basses, and keyboards, it minimizes interference over long runs. Features include a pad switch, ground lift, and polarity flip. With a flat frequency response and low noise, it ensures pristine audio.
Radial JDI Jensen-equipped 1-channel Passive Instrument Direct Box
The Radial JDI preserves your instrumentās natural tone with absolute clarity and zero distortion. Its Jensen transformer delivers warm, vintage sound, while its passive design eliminates hum and buzz. With a ruler-flat response (10Hzā40kHz) and no phase shift, the JDI ensures pristine sound in any setup.
Radial J48 1-channel Active 48v Direct Box
The Radial J48 delivers exceptional clarity and dynamic range, making it the go-to active DI for professionals. Its 48V phantom-powered design ensures clean, powerful signal handling without distortion. With high headroom, low noise, and innovative power optimization, the J48 captures your instrumentās true toneāperfect for studio and stage.
PalmerĀ River Series - Ilm
The Palmer ilm, an upgraded version of the legendary Palmer The Junction, delivers studio-quality, consistent guitar tones anywhere. This passive DI box features three analog speaker simulations, ensuring authentic sound reproduction. Its advanced filter switching mimics real guitar speaker behavior, making it perfect for stage, home, or studio recording sessions.
Learn more from these brands!
PRS Guitars launches the CE 22 Limited Edition, featuring a 22-fret, 25ā scale length, mahogany body, maple top, and vintage-inspired 58/15 LT pickups. With only 1,000 made, this model offers classic PRS aesthetics and a blend of warmth and bolt-on articulation for vintage-inspired tone and modern versatility.
PRS Guitars today announced the launch of the CE 22 Limited Edition. Only 1,000 will be made, marking the brief return of a 22-fret version of this bolt-on mainstay. The 22-fret, 25ā scale length CE 22 Limited Edition combines a mahogany body and maple top with a bolt-on maple neck. The guitar is outfitted with PRSās vintage-inspired 58/15 LT pickups, push/pull tone control, three-way toggle switch, and PRS locking tuners with wing buttons.
āThis limited-edition, 22-fret model in our CE line offers classic PRS aesthetics and a voice that blends warmth with bolt-on articulation for vintage-inspired tone and modern versatility,ā said PRS Guitars Director of Manufacturing, Paul Miles.
The original CE, with 24 frets, first appeared in stores in 1988 and offered players PRS design and quality with the added snap and response of traditional bolt-on guitars. It wasnāt until 1994 that a 22-fret version debuted, just a few months after the release of the Custom 22. Last in stores in 2008, this refreshed CE 22 Limited Edition marks the modelās return to the market.
With a unique combination of specs, the CE 22 Limited Edition is a different animal from the CE 24. These differences include the model of pickups, placement of pickups, and, of course, the number of frets. That is all while retaining the CE familyās combination of maple and mahogany, nitro finish, PRS Patented Tremolo and Phase III Locking Tuners.
The limited-edition model comes in Black Amber, Carroll Blue, Faded Blue Smokeburst, Faded Gray Black and McCarty Sunburst.
For more information, please visit prsguitars.com.