Description
SOLD
Occasionally a truly beautiful guitar makes its way to PREMIER GUITARS, and this is certainly one of them. We have here a Fender Masterbuilt Custom Shop Telecaster from 1989. This is from the very first production run from the Fender Custom Shop. In 1988 Fender commissioned a numbered sequence of 300 40th Anniversary Telecasters, which were built by the craftsmen who were to become the first Master Builders of the Fender Custom Shop. Info on these as follows –
Fender Custom Shop 40th Anniversary Telecaster® 1989 Collectors Edition (1 of 300). These guitars were made to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Fender Telecaster. This superb guitar was inspired by the then prevailing mistake that the production of the Telecaster began in 1948. It was based on the American Standard design and had a bound ash body with book-matched flame maple top, curly maple neck with abalone inlays, 22 frets, pearloid button tuners, and gold plated parts. The bridge saddles were notorious for shedding their gold plating so Fender went for a “Rolex” look with gold bridge and non-gold saddles. There were 3 finishes: Honey Violin Transparent, Tinted Natural, and Translucent Red. 300 were produced between 1988 and 1990 and are numbered xx of 300. This was the first Limited Edition run for the newly formed Fender Custom Shop which was established in 1987. It is also a known fact that Keith Urban owns multiples of this beautiful release. Eric Clapton liked the model so much, he had the Custom Shop build SN# 0 for him. Recently seen on a Christie’s charity auction website for US$70,000.
This “First Run” of 40th Anniversary Telecasters sold out in short time, and have remained collector’s favourites ever since. This is number 205 of only 300 made.
Features –
- Body: Lightweight Louisiana Ash with Highly Figured Book Matched Maple Top with Binding
- Neck: One Piece Highly Figured Maple
- Fingerboard: Maple (9.5″ Radius)
- Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
- Scale Length: 25.5″ (648 mm)
- Width Nut: 1.650″ (42 mm)
- Hardware: Gold
- Machine Heads: Gold Fender Schaller
- Bridge: Gold American Standard Tele
- Pickguard: Grained Ivoriod Pickguard
- Pickups: 2 Vintage Handwound Tele Pickups
- Pickup Switching: 3-Position Selector Switch
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone Control
- Color: Tinted Natural
- Case: Original Fender Tweed Hard Shell Case
- Source: U.S. Fender Custom Shop
This guitar was built by Scott Buehl, one of the earliest craftsmen at the Fender Custom Shop. His stamp and signature is on the neck heel, along with a CS stamp, and the date 129h July 1989 – see pics.
This is an early example of what the Masterbuilders at Fender were capable of. Every piece of this limited run was built without a schedule, from the finest quality materials, one at a time, just like the 1950s vintage originals. Scott Buehl was one of the most respected and sought after Fender Master Builders of that generation, and Fender Custom Shop Master Built guitars have always been considered a solid investment and have continued to grow in value over time.
The bottom line is that these guitars are wonderful works of art and superb instruments to play. This one has its Certificate of Authenticity included in the sale.
Comes with its original Fender hard shell case in new condition.
