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Average Price: $650
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$400
$1001+
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Description
Embrace the spirit of the '70s with the Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom Electric Guitar. This iconic instrument is a modern homage to one of Fender's most successful hybrids, offering a unique blend of vintage aesthetic and contemporary functionality. The '72 Telecaster Custom fuses the standard single-coil Tele neck pickup with a Wide Range Fender humbucker, providing a powerful, gain-rich tone while preserving the classic Telecaster twang via the bridge pup. Sporting vintage touches such as skirted knobs and a three-way pickup shoulder switch, this guitar is a testament to Fender's legendary craftsmanship and the enduring allure of the Classic Series.
Key Features:
- Wide Range Fender humbucker for a hotter, gain-laden tone
- Standard single-coil Tele neck pickup for classic Telecaster twang
- Vintage skirted knobs for a retro aesthetic
- Three-way pickup shoulder switch for versatile tonal options
- Part of Fender's successful Classic Series line
- A modern homage to one of Fender's most popular guitar hybrids
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom |
| Finish | 3-Color Sunburst, Black, Walnut Stain |
| Year | 2000 - 2018 |
| Made In | Mexico |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder |
| Body Shape | T-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | String-Through |
| Color Family | Black, Brown |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Maple, Pau Ferro, Rosewood |
| Fretboard Radius | 7.25" |
| Model Family | Fender Telecaster |
| Model Sub-Family | Fender Telecaster Custom |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 21 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Nut Width | 1.65" |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | SH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Fender Classic Series, Fender FSR Limited Edition |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile of the Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster?
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The Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster features a "C" shape neck profile, which provides a comfortable grip for most players, making it suitable for various playing styles.
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How does the pickup configuration affect the sound of the '72 Custom Telecaster?
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The '72 Custom Telecaster has a humbucker in the neck position and a single-coil in the bridge, offering a versatile range of tones from warm and full to bright and twangy, suitable for rock, blues, and country.
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Is the Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster suitable for beginners?
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While the '72 Custom Telecaster is a high-quality instrument, its vintage neck radius and specific pickup configuration might be more appreciated by intermediate to advanced players seeking classic tones.
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What type of wood is used for the body of the '72 Custom Telecaster?
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The body of the Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster is made from alder, known for its balanced tone with good resonance and sustain.
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Does the '72 Custom Telecaster come with a case or gig bag?
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The Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster typically comes with a deluxe gig bag, providing protection and easy transport for the guitar.
Videos
N Stuff Music
Fender Classic Series 72 Telecaster Custom
Reviews
PROS
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Versatile sound with single coil and humbucker combination
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High-quality neck praised for its comfort and playability
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Excellent tonal range, especially in center position
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Vintage sound with modern versatility
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Great value for price compared to U.S. models
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Ready to play out of the box
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Infinitely moddable with many aftermarket options
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Distinctive warm and mellow humbucker tone
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Well-suited for a variety of rock styles
CONS
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Neck pickup sound may not meet expectations when used solo
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Tone control stiffness noted by some users
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Toggle switch and tone knob issues reported
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Some find the neck thick and narrow compared to other models
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom.
User experience
Mods and upgrades
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Upgraded black locking tuners are popular for improved tuning stability.
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A Lace Sensor Blue pickup in the bridge is favored for being nearly noiseless while preserving classic Tele twang.
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Owners often replace stock pickups with Lollar pickups or Creamery Pickups to achieve a more authentic '72 tone, as current Fender reissues differ from originals.
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Features and functionality
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The model is praised for its aesthetic appeal, with finishes like black and sunburst being popular choices among owners.
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The '72 Telecaster Custom features dual wide range humbuckers, providing a noise-canceling, fatter tone while maintaining some traditional Tele twang.
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The '72 Custom offers individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, unlike the master controls found on standard Telecasters.
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The '72 Telecaster Custom's separate volume and tone controls for each pickup make balancing the humbucker and single coil easier.
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Setup and maintenance
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The guitar's modern bridge with six saddles allows for easier intonation adjustments compared to the traditional three-saddle design.
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Comparisons
Use cases and applications
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Owners note that the guitar is particularly suited for indie music styles but may require pickup swaps for broader tonal versatility.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 9 Reviews and 38 Ratings
I love how it sounds!
I bought this guitar less than a year ago and honestly I'm still struggling a bit to get comfortable with its thick and narrow neck (I've been playing a SG standard for 15 years in a row so that's a big change, guess you know what I mean). But about the sound... I just love it! The center position gives me the clean tone I like the most so far, and the bridge coil is more or less the classic bright tele sound we all know. The humbucker alone is really dark and I find a bit difficult to fit it in the mix with other instruments, but it also has a very unique warm and mellow beauty, a lot different from the neck humbuckers you find on les paul or sg guitars. With overdrives, distortions etc I find it very versatile so I think this is a really cool guitar (mine's a japanese version so I guess an american model could sound even better!)
Tele Custom 72
Versatile and unique at the same time. It can sound similar to a Les Paul with the neck pickup without losing the classic sound of a Telecaster due to the aggressiveness of the bridge pickup. Together, they form a unique sound. It is perfect for having a vintage sound, the attack of a Tele and the bass of a Les Paul. In addition, conveniences such as the pickup selector switch on the top and a comfortable scale. It is the perfect Tele. The sound of a single coil to play riffs with fifths is super aggressive and sharp. And no matter which pickup you use, it doesn't sound like any other.
This review has been translated automatically into English. See original656
My Hellacaster from Hell!!
I got this Fender Telecaster off of Musicians Friend in early 2000's. I switched out the Fender Wide Range humbucker and the single coil for a 59 model SH-1 in the neck, and a EMG-81 in the bridge. Sounds fucking awesome \m/(-_-)\m/
58
Very versatile Tele
Classic twangy sounds through bridge and very clear, rich and defined tones through the humbucker at the neck
310
For the best of tele tones!
I use this to get an awesome country/dead tone that really rocks out! I also love the humbucker in the neck so when I want a sustainy thick I can have it!
Telecaste Custom
Great guitar. Classic rock sound inhanced by a humbucking pick up at the neck. I use it with an open G tuning Keith Richards style. A must have for any guitar player.
Great guitar, very versatile, all kinds of rock can be played with it.
Great guitar, very versatile, all kinds of rock can be played with it.
This review has been translated automatically into English. See originalArtist usage
Add artist
In this photo, Dave Grohl is seen playing a Fender Telecaster Custom. The pickup configuration can be clearly seen, which identifies it as a Tele Custom. The black and white photo makes it hard to say what the finish is with certainty, but it appears to be black with a black pickguard.
In this image, The Edge can be seen holding a Fender Classic Series Telecaster Custom electric guitar with a black pickguard and maple neck. The guitar appears to have a brown finish. Edge plays this guitar in the music video for U2's song Vertigo.
A good shot of the guitar can be seen at the 0:13 mark in this video of U2 performing Magnificent live in London at BBC Rooftop.
In this video of Arctic Monkeys performing the songs Teddy Picker and Crying Lightning at Eurockéennes de Belfort 2011, Jamie Cook can be seen playing a Fender Telecaster Custom. 0:25 into the video provides a good look at the guitar and some of its details. The pickup configuration (a humbucker in the neck position and a single coil in the bridge) identifies it as a Tele Custom. It also looks to have a tremolo installed. The concert lighting makes it hard to tell, but the finish appears to be "Mocha", paired with a black pickguard.
Another video of Arctic Monkeys playing Lollapalooza 2011 shows Jamie Cook with this same guitar at the 27:24 mark, during the song Crying Lightning. The lighting shows off the guitar finish more clearly.
Troy used a black Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom for songs from 2007 until 2013.
In this YouTube video you can clearly see that Shawn Mendes Uses Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom Electric Guitar.
Gerard posted a photo of his new Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom on instagram.
Adams was playing a Tele deluxe when Letterman had him play "Gimme something Good" twice in a row. http://www2.fender.com/experience/artists/letterman-audience-gets-another-ryan-adams-encore/
Lissack’s mid-2000s Fender Tele Custom. It’s totally stock—except for a plastic toy mounted under the pickguard that he uses for some weird, spacey noises mixed with ambient delays. It can be seen starting at 3:43 into this rig rundown video.
Album Usage
The Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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