The Telecaster Custom first appeared in 1959 with a bound body and a rosewood fingerboard, both firsts for the Tele. The Vintage Custom 1959 Telecaster Custom recreates it on a two-piece offset seam alder body in Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst flash coat lacquer, with no aging and a 1-ply parchment pickguard.
The neck is a 1959 Large "C", a full carve for players who like a substantial neck, with a 3A rosewood board, vintage clay dots and medium vintage frets. The 7.25" to 9.5" compound radius is rounder near the nut and flatter up the neck, so bends are less likely to fret out. Two Custom Shop Hand-Wound '58 Single-Coil Tele pickups run through Fat '50s wiring, with the familiar three positions: bridge, both, neck. The bridge has threaded steel saddles.
For a heavily worn take, look at the 1960 Telecaster Custom Heavy Relic. The 1959 Telecaster Journeyman Relic is the unbound Tele of the same year.
It comes in Chocolate 3-Color Sunburst.
The photos show one example. Wood grain and aging vary from guitar to guitar, so the one built for you will differ in the details.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: USA
Body Material: 2-Piece Offset Seam Alder
Body Finish: Flash Coat Lacquer
Body Shape: Telecaster
Pickguard: 1-Ply Parchment
Aging: NOS
NECK
Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple
Neck Finish: Flash Coat Lacquer
Neck Shape: 1959 Large “C”
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" to 9.5" Vintage Compound Radius (184 mm to 241 mm)
Fingerboard Material: 3A Rosewood
Position Inlays: Vintage Clay Dot
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Medium Vintage
Truss Rod: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust
Nut Material: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '58 Single-Coil Tele
Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '58 Single-Coil Tele
Pickup Configuration: SS
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge And Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
HARDWARE
Bridge: 3-Saddle Vintage Style Tele with Threaded Steel Saddles
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
Control Knobs: Knurled Dome
Strap Buttons: Vintage-Style
Strings: Fender USA 250R Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges), PN 0730250406
CASE
Case: Deluxe Hardshell