A Tale of Two Customs
The Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition CuNiFe Telecaster Custom Heavy Relic mixes and matches between two iconic Tele models, both of which just so happen to share the exact same name: the early ’60s Telecaster Custom and the later humbucker-equipped ’70s Telecaster Custom. First, this guitar’s lightweight 2-piece select ash body boasts a not-so-typical aesthetic upgrade — handsome binding on both the back and front. The body is paired with a large “C” roasted quarter-sawn maple neck for maximum stability, then finished off with a sleek rosewood fingerboard which is fully modernized with a 9.5-inch radius and narrow tall frets for fret-out free bends. However, the real star of the show is the unique pickup pairing of an authentic CuNiFe Wide Range Humbucker and a reverse-orientation Hand-wound Loaded ’51 Nocaster single-coil pickup, unlocking everything from warm, jazzy neck-position cleans to a more mellow take on Tele bite. If you’re after a Tele that truly stands apart from the legions of unerring vintage-style re-creations, look no further than the Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition CuNiFe Telecaster Custom Heavy Relic.
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CuNiFe Wide Range humbucker packs a punch
When Fender originally launched the Telecaster Thinline and Deluxe models in 1972, they set out to create rock guitars that would appeal to a new generation of more aggressive guitarists. They knew it needed hot humbuckers. To design their Wide Range humbucker, Fender employed the talents of renowned pickup guru Seth Lover. The Wide Range humbucker spec’d for the Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition CuNiFe Tele Custom Heavy Relicare powered by magnets made from CuNiFe — Fender’s first use of this special alloy in over four decades. Boasting large bobbins and threaded CuNiFe-rod magnets, these pickups deliver rich, bell-like humbucking tone with robust lows, focused mids, and chimey highs. This “hi-fi” clarity allows for the articulation of individual notes even within heavily overdriven chords.
Reverse-orientation Loaded Loaded ’51 Nocaster
To pair with the warmth of the neck position, the Fender Custom Shop equipped the Limited-edition CuNiFe Tele Custom Heavy Relic with a genuinely unique reverse-orientation Hand-wound Loaded ’51 Nocaster single-coil pickup. The pickup itself is still all classic Tele, but, as you might have noticed, its orientation is flipped — the treble side is now farther up, while the bass side is closer to the bridge. When testing the guitar at Sweetwater, we found that this slightly softens your treble response on the bridge pickup. Yet, it also has the benefit of imparting a significantly higher definition and grit to your lower strings. Finally, the Fender Custom Shop loaded the Limited-edition CuNiFe Telecaster Custom Heavy Relic off with Dual Stack HS Tele wiring to optimize the tone of both pickups in every possible configuration.
Chunky large “C” roasted maple neck
While many vintage Tele Customs are beloved for their thin-profile necks, the Limited-edition CuNiFe Tele Custom Heavy Relic takes a slightly different approach — a substantial, large “C” neck profile. It’s a shape sure to please any player with larger hands or who prefers a full, meaty grip. What’s more, the sheer size of the neck dovetails with the neck’s roasted quarter-sawn maple construction provide you with an exceptionally robust level of structural stability that’s highly immune to shifting and warping with climate and humidity.
The Dream Factory
Since its founding in 1987, the Fender Custom Shop has been home to some of the finest luthiers in the world. Whether you’re investing in a unique, limited-edition, or one-off guitar like the Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition CuNiFe Telecaster Custom Heavy Relic, or having them build-to-order the Fender of your dreams, the Custom Shop earns its nickname — The Dream Factory — with every masterpiece they create. Custom Shop instruments are made from only the highest-grade, hand-selected materials, including impeccable tonewoods, high-end electronics, and premium hardware. And to protect your investment for many decades of playing enjoyment, your Fender Custom Shop instrument comes in a deluxe hardshell case, complete with a certificate of authenticity.
Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition CuNiFe Tele Custom Heavy Relic Features:
- 2-piece select ash body provides exceptional tonal balance with defined high-end clarity
- Classic “Tele Custom” binding on both the top and back of the guitar’s body
- Roasted quarter-sawn maple neck offers incredible stability in any environment
- Sleek rosewood fingerboard, planed into a modern 9.5-inch radius with narrow tall frets for playing comfort
- Chunky, large “C” neck profile is sure to please players with larger hands or anyone with a fondness for vintage-style baseball bat necks
- Wide Range CuNiFe humbucker produces a full, articulate tone inspired by Fender’s historic first humbucking pickup
- Hand-wound loaded ’51 Nocaster bridge pickup gives you classic 1950s Tele twang
- Reverse Nocaster bridge flips your bridge pickup around for slightly mellower highs and more defined lows
- RSD-compensated saddles give you far superior intonation to a traditional barrel bridge setup
- Dual-stack HS Tele wiring maximizes the tone of your H/S configuration
- Heavy Relic nitro finish offers a worn-in feel right out of the box
