“Play it, James”
From serving as Elvis’ sideman for the better part of a decade to shredding up the studio with a 6-string southern twang, James Burton’s influence on the development of rock and country guitar is simply incalculable. The Fender James Burton Telecaster harnesses his half-century-plus of guitar mastery, resulting in an instrument with exceptional playability and unmatched tonal versatility. This guitar starts with an ultra-light basswood body, loaded with a trio of Specially Designed James Burton single-coil pickups, 5-way switching, and an S-1 series switch to provide a sweeping array of tones befitting a studio maestro like James. Next, the maple-on-maple neck’s vintage-style frets and modern 9.5-inch radius combine the best specs of old and new for a slick, speedy feel perfect for high-speed chicken pickin’ finesse. Finally, the James Burton is finished with a sleek Paisley Flame finish — a nod to James’ iconic Paisley Tele that he often played onstage with Elvis during his Las Vegas period.
Custom James Burton single-coil pickups
This guitar may technically be considered a Tele, but the truth is that the James Burton Telecaster’s tonal Strat-meets-Tele versatility defies categorization. Three Special Design Burton pickups cover the entire Fender single-coil spectrum, sporting a 5-way switch that provides a plethora of tones ranging from James’ signature chicken pickin’ staccato strut to quacky Strat-style in-between tones and more. Moreover, the S-1 switch unlocks series circuitry on the two and four positions that Sweetwater guitarists favor when searching for a girthier tone with a hotter output.
Ultra-lightweight basswood body
Regarding tonewoods, basswood is about the lightest timber commonly found on a 6-string. It’s often favored by musicians who spend the majority of their career slinging a guitar onstage, where playing a guitar with a double-digit weight can quickly lead to fatigue and sore shoulders. Beyond that, the James Burton Telecaster’s basswood body features a Paisley Flame finish for a touch of vintage hot-rod flair — a necessary aesthetic precaution for any guitarist expected to back up the King of Rock ’n’ Roll on a Las Vegas stage.
Robust ’60s “U” maple neck
The James Burton Telecaster’s neck comes equipped with a somewhat robust “U”-shaped maple neck — by no means a classic Tele baseball bat shape, but large enough to give your hands a proper grip when punching out your favorite twangy licks. Topped with a matching maple fingerboard and fast-playing vintage frets, this Tele features a modernized 9.5-inch radius to crank up the playability and performance, allowing for singing double-stop bends in any register without a hint of fret out.
Fender James Burton Telecaster Electric Guitar Features:
- Ultra-lightweight basswood body finished with Paisley Flame attitude
- Maple neck carved into a chunky ’60s “U” profile
- Matching maple fingerboard with 21 vintage-style frets in a modern 9.5-inch radius
- A trio of Specially Designed James Burton single coil-coil pickups split the difference between Strat quack and Tele twang
- 5-way switch and S-1 series switch provide exceptional tonal versatility
- 6-saddle string-through hardtail Stratocaster bridge offers enhanced intonation compared to a 3-barrel Tele bridge
- Rock-solid Deluxe cast/sealed tuners with pearl buttons
