Tele Twang with Garage-rock Attitude
Inspired by the catalog store instruments of the vintage era, Fender’s Gold Foil series seamlessly merges garage-rock swagger, vintage Fender flair, and effortless modern playability. Dual Gold Foil mini-humbucker pickups offer a crisp, punchy twist on the twang, packed with a fatter tone that retains a touch of Tele flavor courtesy of the chopped 3-saddle bridge. Next, a mahogany body rounds over some of the Gold Foil’s characteristic brightness and kicks up the midrange for an overall punchier sound. However, while the Fender Gold Foil Telecaster’s tone is inspired by the mail-order instruments of the past, the feel is a different story — this Tele’s maple neck sports an elegant ebony fingerboard planed into a 12-inch radius for high performance that your typical Teisco could only dream of.
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Gold Foil pickups straight out of a vintage catalog
Gold Foil pickups are a true underdog story in the history of the electric guitar. Originally found on import and department store instruments in the 1950s and 1960s, many high-level players scorned these pickups not for their tone, but because of the budget instruments they were attached to. However, as the ’60s garage rock movement began to bloom, young players started to adopt Gold Foil-equipped instruments out of sheer necessity. As it turns out, the classic low-output spark of the Gold Foil served as the perfect foundation for the era's loud, energetic, and unrefined rock music, later influencing 6-string icons such as Ry Cooder to hot rod their Fender instruments with a Gold Foil pickup. More than a half-century after the fact, Gold Foil pickups now rightfully reside among the pantheon of timeless pickup designs.
A powerhouse of playability
While the rest of the guitar sports a serious vintage vibe, the Gold Foil Telecaster’s neck detours from the budget guitar playbook with an ultra-high-performance feel. Starting with a piece of rock-solid maple carved into a chunky ’60s “C” profile, the Gold Foil Telecaster’s ebony fingerboard offers high-class refinement and a smooth, silky feel. Moreover, 21 medium-jumbo frets in a 12-inch radius afford you effortless modern playability up and down the fingerboard — even when pushing out multi-step bends on the fingerboard’s upper register.
A twist on the twang
The Gold Foil Telecaster’s mahogany body is a far cry from the typical alder- or ash-bodied Fender, providing a slightly warmer tone that Sweetwater guitarists find perfectly complements the natural brightness of the Gold Foil mini humbucker pickups. It smooths out the highs, reinforces the midrange response, and leads to a more powerful-sounding instrument. But have no fear, Tele twang fanatics: a “Cut-off” vintage-style Telecaster bridge with brass saddles prevents this guitar from straying too far outside Tele territory, imparting the iconic Tele bite and bark to your every note.
Fender Gold Foil Telecaster Electric Guitar Features:
- Inspired by the garage-rock-standard mail-order guitars of the vintage era
- Dual Alnico V Gold Foil mini-humbucker pickups capture the spark and chime of their vintage inspiration, but with added girth
- Mahogany body enhances midrange response and smooths over the highest highs
- Maple neck carved into a robust ‘60s “C” profile is sure to please fans of a more substantial neck feel
- Elegant ebony fingerboard in a high-performance 12-inch radius, with medium-jumbo frets for maximum playability
- “Cut-off” vintage-style Tele bridge with brass saddles delivers iconic Telecaster bite and twang
- Matching headstock for a touch of vintage flair
