Personal guitar of owner of Watchtower Guitars, purchased from Carter Vintage in Nashville.
We have owned at least a dozen Fender Custom Shop Tele Jr’s in the past 25+ years, always been smitten with this chambered set neck model with two P90s. You know it’s a good one when it sounds great acoustically, and this has that thing. I’d say the condition is good, with a few dings. The back of the neck is nicely worn in, not dinged, but less shiny than the rest of the guitar – as it is a 21 yr old glossy lacquer (NOT poly) finish, typical wear.
OK, let’s discuss the history of Fender Custom Shop Tele Jr’s, from personal research and experience. A prototype I have seen stated it was originally a test guitar for the Custom Amp Shop at Fender around 1992. Obviously, it pays homage to Gibson Les Paul Special, but different for several good reasons. It’s 25.5″ scale, and it’s chambered, has a non-tremolo American Standard bridge (string thru) and non-locking tuners (thankfully). Earlier models, first appearing in Fender Frontline (which I have scans of) in 1994 had 11 ‘tone chambers’, which not only lightened the mahogany body, but gave it more acoustic resonance. Later on, Fender went with 3 larger chambers such as what you would find on a thinline (if it had F holes). This is very important, because this guitar is even lighter and more resonant than the earlier models. The fingerboard is Pao Ferro.
It’s no secret that in the mid 90’s, then contemporary producer of heavy guitar tones, Jerry Finn, was a fan and had many of these instruments – you know the tones on Blink-182, Sum 41, and many others. His stuff was for sale on this and other sites over past couple years, take a look.
I have also had a lot of success installing lower wind pickups in these guitars if you desire more chime / less heavy tones. These pickups are very hot Seymour Duncans. I would also point out that originally Fender built these with the control plate in reverse order from traditional Telecasters with the volume knob is closest to neck, switch closer to jack, making it less of a stretch to do volume swells.
The only “mod”, really maintenance, was I had our tech put new 500k CTS pots and and new switch, as the older stuff was getting scratchy. I want it to be the best it can be for the next owner down the line!
.85/915 C
Moderate sized
Weight 6 lb 14 oz !!
