We have owned almost a dozen Fender Custom Shop Tele Jr’s in the past 24 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 very good, with one ding in back of neck as pictured – as it is a 20 yr old glossy lacquer (NOT poly) finish, typical wear. The pickup switch tip looks replaced, and the control layout swapped to the traditional Telecaster arrangement. The pearl tuner buttons are stock, and rare. Same goes for the tortoise pick guard! The neck pickup was replaced with a stacked P90. Don’t know which brand, but it sounds great – smooth and buttery, more like a humbucker than the stock pickups. Bridge pickup is stock.
If you play heavy rock to metal, this guitar is a beast !!
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, such as this one, as 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. The fingerboard is Pao Ferro btw. 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. Not making claims on which guitars played on what tracks, but this is easily research-able. If you are looking for that sound, THIS IS YOUR GUITAR ! I have also had a lot of success installing lower wind pickups in these guitars if you desire more chime / less heavy tones. 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.
Weight 8lb 8oz
