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Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom

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Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom

^# 73

Equipboard's ranking is determined by analyzing factors such as professional artist usage, popularity, user ratings, reviews, and more.

$649.99 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (38)

9 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster

3 community setups

38 wishlisted

82 saved

Page last updated Jul 01, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated July 1, 2026.

Store

Reviews

Price

5.0 (15)

$649.99 13 available Used

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Average Price: $650

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Solid Body Electric Guitars category, Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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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

What is the neck profile of the Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster?: 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.
How does the pickup configuration affect the sound of the '72 Custom Telecaster?: 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.
Is the Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster suitable for beginners?: 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.
What type of wood is used for the body of the '72 Custom Telecaster?: The body of the Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster is made from alder, known for its balanced tone with good resonance and sustain.
Does the '72 Custom Telecaster come with a case or gig bag?: The Fender Classic Series '72 Custom Telecaster typically comes with a deluxe gig bag, providing protection and easy transport for the guitar.

Videos

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N Stuff Music

Fender Classic Series 72 Telecaster Custom

N Stuff Music

Fender Classic Series ‘72 Telecaster Custom 3-Colour Sunburst | Ex-Display | Bolton Store

Rimmers Music

Reviews

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PROS

Versatile sound with single coil and humbucker combination
High-quality neck praised for its comfort and playability
Excellent tonal range, especially in center position
Vintage sound with modern versatility
Great value for price compared to U.S. models
Ready to play out of the box
Infinitely moddable with many aftermarket options
Distinctive warm and mellow humbucker tone
Well-suited for a variety of rock styles

CONS

Neck pickup sound may not meet expectations when used solo
Tone control stiffness noted by some users
Toggle switch and tone knob issues reported
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

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Owners appreciate the black on black finish as it pairs well with other guitars, such as a white on white Strat.
Source
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An owner with both MIJ '72 Custom and MIM traditional configuration Teles finds value in the MIJ '72 Custom for its sound quality and affordable used pricing.
Source

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.
Source
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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.
Source

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.
Source
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The '72 Custom offers individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, unlike the master controls found on standard Telecasters.
Source
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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

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The '72 Telecaster Custom is positioned between traditional Telecaster models and more indie-rock sounding models like the '72 Deluxe.
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It's suggested to try a Player II Telecaster, as it offers a more comfortable rolled fingerboard compared to the Player I's sharper edges.
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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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Value and pricing

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Consideration between the '72 Custom and Player II Telecaster often comes down to used versus new pricing, with Player II offering fresh ownership at a comparable cost.
Source

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 9 Reviews and 38 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

sonounexcapellone

326

over 6 years ago

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!)

From Gear Setup

fedesanfilippo

over 8 years ago

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 original

Roles:

Guitarist

Genres:

Rock Funk / Soul Reggae

metal_messiah

656

about 7 years ago

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/

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Composer

Genres:

Metal old school thrash slayer

From Gear Setup

tgifribae

529

about 7 years ago

awesome guitar

While I don't use this guitar a whole lot the middle position for cleans is amazing.

pauleschulze

almost 10 years ago

Very versatile Tele

Classic twangy sounds through bridge and very clear, rich and defined tones through the humbucker at the neck

mevans4130

310

over 10 years ago

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!

cortez_rockartist

342

almost 12 years ago

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.

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Keyboardist

Genres:

Rock Folk, World, & Country Blues

andy_budge

284

about 9 years ago

Dirty

Good punchy telecaster. Big fat neck pick up does mellow well.

Roles:

Bassist Composer Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Rock Funk / Soul

robert_rowe_lineros

171

almost 9 years ago

Great guitar, very versatile, all kinds of rock can be played with it.

This review has been translated automatically into English. See original

Artist usage

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Win Butler

Singer, Guitarist

Arcade Fire

Verified via Photo

This photo of Arcade Fire front-man Win Butler performing live shows him playing a black Fender Telecaster Custom guitar. The year is not known - several sources on the web say it is between a 1972 and 1980 model, although none are backed up with legitimate proof. Looks like Win Butler's Tele has duct tape on a few spots.

Brody Dalle

Guitarist, Singer

Queens of the Stone Age

Verified via Photo

Brody Dalle can be seen holding a Fender Telecaster Custom electric guitar in this Instagram photo. Due to the wear and tear that can be seen on the guitar, it is very likely a vintage model. The photo is captioned as follows:

Brody Dalle with her Telecaster Custom. "I'm less afraid to play lead now. I have more ideas for leads. They're still simple – it's not like I'm f**king Van Halen, and nor would I want to be. I like more Pixies-style lead. I love playing the guitar. It's my favourite thing to do. I'm a good rhythm player – I just dig in." Dalle to "Guitar World." Photo by Richard Sibbald #fender #telecaster

Ritsuka Uenoyama

Guitarist

Given

Verified via YouTube

Main Unenoyama's guitar, a bit remodeled with a white pickguard

Justin Lockey

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Editors

Verified via YouTube

Justin Lockey plays a Fender Telecaster Custom electric guitar in this video of Editors performing the song All Sparks live @ Sziget 2013. Lockey's lead guitar riff carries the song on this performance, which he achieves using his Fender amps (which you can see pretty clearly behind him 0:41 into the video).

You can get a pretty good look at the guitar at several places in the video, like 0:26. It is likely a vintage model, and my best guess on the finish is an aged Butterscotch Blonde. 2:40 shows you the pickup configuration of the Tele, which identifies it as a Tele Custom model. Throughout this song All Sparks, Justin keeps the pickup selector switch in the "up" position.

Matt Diamond

Singer, Guitarist

Panucci's Pizza

Verified via YouTube

Matt Diamond used the Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Custom Electric Guitar in studio recordings. The guitar is visible in the demo video for "Dibs on the Bubble Slice" by Panucci's Pizza, uploaded by fallens memes dump on YouTube.

Tom Smith

Singer, Guitarist

Editors

Verified via Flickr

In this photo, Tom Smith of Editors is playing at T-mobile INmusic festival on June 6, 2009. The guitar he's playing (and can frequently be seen playing in other photos and videos) is a Fender Telecaster Custom, black finish, maple neck. This photo shows the tone/volume knobs and the pickup selector switch have been removed.

AMULETS

Guitarist, Music Producer

Verified via Photo

MIM Fender 72 Custom reissue with locking tuners and Seymour Duncan Hotrails bridge pickup.

Robert Pollard

Singer, Guitarist

Guided by Voices

Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post by @guidedbyvoicesofficial, Robert Pollard is depicted playing a black Fender Telecaster Custom Electric Guitar. The post, dated March 25, 2026, features a photo of Pollard with the guitar, confirming its use.

Drew Brown

Guitarist

OneRepublic

Verified via Photo

Drew is seen using '72 Tele Custom with rosewood fretboard when performs on ABC's "Good Morning America" at Rumsey Playfield on August 4, 2017 in NYC.