EVH SA-126 Standard
Fender is kicking off this year with a lengthy list of new products.
The company is unveiling a broad range of new additions and updates to their 2025 lineup just in time for NAMM, which takes place this weekend in Anaheim, California. “We constantly strive to provide forward-thinking designs and unparalleled tonal adaptability with all of the guitars and amps that we release,” says Fender’s executive vice president of product Justin Norvell in a statement announcing the news on Thursday. “As with every product we develop, we aim to balance tradition whilst also evolving to meet the requirements of musicians spanning various genres and playing preferences.”
Tammy Van Donk, executive vice president of sales at Fender, says the company looked forward to engaging “directly with our dealers in this unique setting that NAMM provides.” She adds, “Designed with precision and passion, this collection delivers unmatched sound quality and playability for today’s musicians.”
If you’re in Anaheim, you might get to see all this first-hand, but if not, we’ve got you covered. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the highlights from Fender’s cavalcade of new launches—including new American Vintage necks—plus goodies coming this year from their other brands like Jackson and EVH.
If you’re in the market for accessories, you’re in luck. In addition to the bigger-ticket items highlighted below, Fender is revealing a swath of new go-bag and gigging essentials, including the Player Capo for electric, acoustic, and classical, new cables, picks, guitar stands, harmonicas, and straps.
The Return of the Standard Series
It’s been a number of years since Fender discontinued their American Standard series, replacing it with the Player, Performer, and Professional series. This April, Fender’s bringing the Standard Series back, this time as an entry-level Fender product “to accompany players on their formative musical adventures.” Made in Indonesia and starting at $599 across the board, the series includes Stratocaster, Telecaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass offerings in a range of finishes. They come loaded with new Fender Standard pickups, and all models have a modern C-shaped neck.
Limited Edition American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster
As part of their expansion of the American Vintage II series, Fender is releasing a limited edition model of their 1951 Telecaster in butterscotch blonde or prototype white, with a U-shaped maple neck, vintage tall frets, and narrow spacing on the 12th fret dots. It comes with Pure Vintage ’51 pickups, and the only Phillips-head screw on the guitar is at the truss rod nut. It comes in at $2,449.
Other models in the series, including the 1957 and 1965 Strat, the 1966 Jazzmaster, and the 1960 Precision Bass are being treated to new finishes like black, sonic blue, candy apple red, shoreline gold, and Sherwood green metallic.
Limited Edition Player II Finishes
Fender’s also zhuzhing up their Player II series with limited edition sparkle finishes for the Strat, Tele, P bass, and Jazz bass models. They’re all hitting the market in March in a sparkle three-colored sunburst.
Affordable Acoustasonics
To complement the more expensive Acoustasonic models, Fender is launching an Acoustasonic Standard Jazzmaster and Acoustasonic Standard Telecaster, both available in black, aged natural, and honey burst finishes. The Indonesia-made guitars are built with braced solid Sitka spruce tops, chambered bodies, and pickups designed in collaboration with Fishman. They hit the market in April at $599 each.
30th Anniversary Blues Junior Combo
For its 30th anniversary, Fender’s giving the iconic Blues Junior IV a limited edition run with a snazzy new look. The 15-watt amp will sell for $999.
Fender Link I/O Interface
Among the company’s brand-new offerings is their pocket-sized interface, the Link I/O Interface. According to Fender, it’s a “studio-grade audio interface” that provides bi-directional audio with USB connection, aiming to be a “one-stop solution” for interfacing with phones, tablets, Macs, or PCs. Its input stage promises to “replicate the dynamic response” of Fender amps, in 24-bit/96 kHz audio. It drops in the spring for $79.
Tone Master 2x12 Cabinets
Pitched as a perfect match for the Tone Master Pro system, the FR-212 is a 2x12 powered speaker intended for use with digital amp modelers and profiles. Its 1,000-watt power amp delivers “clear and accurate sound reproduction and perfectly replicates every detail of the amp and effect models,” says Fender. Onboard controls include a 3-band EQ and a high-frequency cut. The design is intended to give a genuine Fender backline feel.
EVH SA-126 Standard
EVH’s Wolfgang Van Halen-designed SA-126 is receiving a more affordable Standard edition this year, weighing in at $899. The hybrid semi-hollow and solidbody design is made with a maple-topped mahogany body, mahogany centerblock, and rosewood fretboard. It comes with a compound 12"-16" radius, and a 24.75" scale length, and it’s equipped with Tim Shaw-designed EVH pickups.
Jackson Surfcaster
Jackson’s short-lived Surfcaster model is back with this JS Series Surfcaster JS22 HT, which will retail for $249. Its offset body is made of poplar, with a bolt-on maple neck playing host to a 12"-16" compound radius amaranth fretboard. It should be a great choice for beginner shredders.