Jason Isbell's Telecaster takes the late '50s Custom layout, an alder body with cream binding on both the top and back edges, and finishes it in a Road Worn 3-Color Chocolate Burst that looks and feels like a guitar with years on it. The hardware is aged to match.
The neck is a mid '60s "C" on a 7.25" radius rosewood board with narrow tall frets. That rounder radius feels good for chords and the taller frets help with grip, though very wide bends high up can choke if the action is low. Two specially voiced Jason Isbell Tele single-coils sit in the usual three-way arrangement, and the bridge is a modified strings-through design with compensated brass barrel saddles, which helps the intonation on a three-saddle Tele.
It is made in Mexico and comes with a deluxe gig bag. For a USA-built early '60s Tele with a rosewood board, look at the American Vintage II 1963 Telecaster.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: Mexico
Body Material: Alder
Body Finish: Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Shape: Telecaster
Body Binding: 1-Ply Cream
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
NECK
Neck Material: Maple
Neck Finish: Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: Mid '60s "C"
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25" (184.1 mm)
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Position Inlays: White Dot
Side Dots: White
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Narrow Tall
Nut Material: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: Specially Voiced Jason Isbell Telecaster Single-Coil
Neck Pickup: Specially Voiced Jason Isbell Telecaster Single-Coil
Pickup Configuration: SS
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
HARDWARE
Bridge: 3-Saddle Modified Vintage-Style Strings Through Body Tele with Compensated Brass Barrel Saddles
Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
Strap Buttons: Vintage-Style
Strings: Fender USA 250R Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges), PN 0730250406
CASE
Case: Deluxe Gig Bag