A Chambered Twist on a Revered All-rosewood Classic
Bearing a striking resemblance to the Tele wielded by George Harrison during the Beatles’ Let It Be sessions, this Fender Custom Shop ’60s Rosewood Telecaster melds the vintage charm of Fender’s late-1960s all-rosewood Telecasters with a searing set of Strat-inspired single-coils. This exquisite Tele’s foundation is comprised of a chambered rosewood body, a comfortable rosewood neck, and a 9.25-inch rosewood fingerboard. In fact, the only non-rosewood tonewood found on this instrument is the slim maple center strip that’s sandwiched between the body. Twisted Telecaster single-coil pickups split the difference between traditional Stratocaster shimmer and searing Telecaster twang. Next, the Telecaster’s classic ashtray bridge has a trio of steel saddles, offering a brighter, sharper contrast to the brass saddles you’d find on earlier 1960s Telecasters. You also get Fender Custom Shop Deluxe tuners that seal the deal with lock-tight tuning stability. Draped in a slick satin nitrocellulose lacquer Closet Classic finish, the Fender Custom Shop ’60s Rosewood Telecaster captures the rich tones and iconic aesthetics of one of Fender’s most legendary instruments.
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A tribute to Fender’s original late-1960s all-rosewood Teles
Sans a slim maple strip sandwiched between this guitar’s top and back, the Fender Custom Shop ’60s Rosewood Telecaster sports a stunning all-rosewood construction that pays tribute to Fender’s historic rosewood instruments of the late 1960s. In fact, the story goes that Fender planned to provide the Beatles’ George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix with their all-rosewood creations as a publicity stunt — a Tele for George and a Strat for Jimi, of course.
Unfortunately, the Strat never found its way to Jimi; however, the rosewood Telecaster sent to George Harrison has become one of the most iconic instruments in Fender’s history for its spotlight appearance during the Beatles final public performance. It’s a guitar that’s been forever memorialized in the Beatles original Let It Be movie and Peter Jackson’s Get Back partner documentary. The Fender Custom Shop ’60s Rosewood Telecaster melds the timeless tones and aesthetics of the original with a choice set of modern enhancements.
Lightweight chambered body
First introduced in the late 1960s, Fender’s rosewood Telecasters are revered by discerning tonewood enthusiasts and 6-string scholars alike for their elegant aesthetics and historic use in the hands of several 6-string legends. And while it’s tough to argue with the exquisite appearance of rosewood’s stunning grain lines and handsome hues, rosewood does have one major downside — it’s heavy, and it’s not uncommon to encounter all-rosewood Teles that clock in well over the double-digit mark on the scale. Luckily, this Fender Custom Shop ’60s Rosewood Telecaster features extensive chambering, which Sweetwater’s weight-conscious guitarists favor for its easier feel on the shoulders and slightly airier, thinline-like resonance.
Twisted Tele pickups capture Strat-style shimmer
High-output Twisted Tele pickups hand-wound by Fender Custom Shop deliver classic Telecaster tone with a touch of the Stratocaster’s more rounded characteristics. The result is a super-responsive guitar that howls with Telecaster twang when digging in but can easily mellow out with Stratocaster-like sparkle when gently finessed. Each Twisted Tele is calibrated with individual sonic character that excels where it is placed: the neck pickup’s slightly taller build and Formvar-coated wire accommodates more windings with a bright, clear tone, while the bridge pickup’s slightly shorter bobbin and enamel-coated wire deliver exceptional midrange with a dash of darkness that makes Twisted pickups so unique.
Fender Custom Shop ’60s Rosewood Telecaster Features:
- Tribute to Fender’s rosewood Telecasters of the late 1960s, famously used by George Harrison
- Rosewood body is chambered for a lightweight feel and airy, thinline-like resonance
- Comfortable rosewood neck topped with a vintage-correct 9.25-in. rosewood fingerboard
- Twisted Tele pickups blend the round, shimmering sound of vintage-style Strat pickups with the biting twang of traditional Tele pickups
- Old-school ashtray bridge with period-correct steel saddles that supply enhanced definition
- Satin nitrocellulose lacquer Closet Classic finish allows the guitar to gracefully wear in over time
- Rock-solid Fender Custom Shop Deluxe tuners provide superb stability
