Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated .

Average Price: $4,400

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Fender Telecaster Custom Shop". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

The Fender Telecaster Custom Shop is a masterpiece that marries timeless design with modern innovation, offering musicians a versatile and dynamic instrument. Crafted for passionate players, this electric guitar is built from select ash, known for its superior resonance and iconic tone that Telecasters are celebrated for. Each element of this guitar is meticulously crafted to ensure a perfect blend of vintage charm and contemporary playability.

At its core, the Telecaster Custom Shop features a roasted AA birdseye maple neck, providing not only visual allure but also enhanced sustain and warmth. The rosewood fingerboard adds a classic touch, ensuring comfort and precision with every strum. This guitar is equipped with custom-wound pickups that give it a distinct voice. The bridge position houses a Custom Shop hand-wound Texas Special single-coil, perfect for those bright, twangy tones. At the neck, you'll find a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover pickup, offering a hum-canceling design that maintains clarity while reducing noise—a combination that covers everything from smooth jazz to gritty rock.

The hardware is equally impressive, featuring vintage-spec components that enhance resonance and durability. A period-correct Telecaster bridge with brass RSD saddles and precise Sperzel tuners ensure stability and tone preservation. Each detail is a testament to Fender's craftsmanship, from the nitrocellulose lacquer finish to the bone nut that promises impeccable intonation.

Key Features:

  • Select ash body with superior resonance
  • Roasted AA birdseye maple neck
  • Round-laminated rosewood fingerboard
  • Custom Shop hand-wound Texas Special bridge pickup
  • Seymour Duncan Seth Lover neck pickup
  • Vintage-spec '58-'63 Telecaster bridge with brass RSD saddles
  • Sperzel tuners for precise tuning stability
  • Nitrocellulose lacquer finish
  • Includes deluxe hardshell case, strap, and certificate of authenticity

Product specs

Body type Single cutaway
Body wood 2-piece select ash
Body finish Lacquer
Neck wood Roasted AA birdseye maple
Scale length 25.5"
Neck finish Nitrocellulose lacquer
Material Round-lam rosewood
Fret size Narrow-tall
Number of frets 21
Inlays Mother-of-pearl dots
Nut width/material 1.650" (42 mm) bone
Configuration SS
Neck Seymour Duncan single coil
Bridge Proprietary hand-wound single coil
Control layout Master volume, Master tone
Pickup switch 3-way
Bridge design 58-'63 Tele bridge with brass RSD saddles
Tuning machines Sperzel die-cast
Number of strings 6 string
Case Hardshell case
Orientation Right handed
Country of origin United States

FAQs

What is the neck profile like on the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop?

The Fender Telecaster Custom Shop features a neck made from roasted AA birdseye maple with a nitrocellulose lacquer finish, providing a smooth feel and enhanced playability. The neck profile is designed for comfort, catering to both traditional and modern playing styles.

What kind of tones can I expect from the pickups on the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop?

This guitar is equipped with a Seymour Duncan single coil in the neck and a proprietary hand-wound single coil in the bridge, offering a range of classic Telecaster tones with enhanced clarity and warmth, suitable for genres like blues, rock, and country.

Is the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop suitable for advanced players?

Yes, the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop is designed with high-quality materials and craftsmanship, making it an excellent choice for advanced players seeking superior tone and playability.

What type of finish does the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop have?

The body of the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop is finished with a nitrocellulose lacquer, which not only provides a vintage aesthetic but also allows the wood to resonate freely, enhancing the guitar's tonal qualities.

Does the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop come with a case?

Yes, the Fender Telecaster Custom Shop includes a hardshell case, offering protection and convenience for transport and storage.

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Telecaster Custom Shop.

Mods and upgrades

  • Cavalier Nashville Lion and Lion King pickups are popular upgrades for a Custom Shop Telecaster, enhancing the guitar's tonal range.

    Source
  • Consider a 4-way switch for a Fender Telecaster Custom Shop to add series/parallel options for more tonal versatility, particularly for hard rock.

    Source

User experience

  • A CS Telecaster typically offers exceptional acoustic properties, with a feel that is immediately comfortable and resonant even when unplugged.

    Source
  • One owner found a Fender Custom Shop '53 Heavy Relic to have a unique 3-D complexity in overtones, enhancing dynamic response.

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  • One player reported owning and maintaining a Nash guitar for over 14 years without regrets, indicating long-term satisfaction with its build and tone.

    Source

Comparisons

  • While Fender Custom Shop guitars are praised for their craftsmanship, some users find American Professional II models to offer comparable feel and playability.

    Source
  • Xotic guitars are noted for their superior sustain and slightly warmer tone compared to Fender Custom Shop, potentially due to pickup differences.

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  • Nash guitars, often compared to Fender Custom Shop, are praised for a thin neck, making them comfortable for players with smaller hands.

    Source
  • Owners highlight that Nash guitars, equipped with Lollar pickups, are a solid alternative to Custom Shop models, offering similar playability at a lower cost.

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  • G&L guitars are noted as offering custom shop quality at a Mexican-made price, but feature a poly finish, which differs from the nitro finishes preferred by some players.

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Value and pricing

  • It's noted that Custom Shop guitars can be found at a significant discount in second-hand markets, making them more accessible to budget-conscious buyers.

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  • Custom Shop guitars maintain their value better when bought used, allowing buyers to recover costs more easily if they decide to sell.

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Use cases and applications

  • The worn neck of a Journeyman Relic model contributes to a familiar playing experience, ideal for those seeking a vintage feel without extensive aging.

    Source

Build quality

  • Some boutique builders, like Danocaster, use a "French polish" process for neck wear, giving a feel akin to well-aged wood furniture.

    Source
  • Fender Custom Shop guitars are described as having hand-selected woods, with a maximum of two-piece bodies and hand-wound pickups, elevating their quality over standard models.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Some Custom Shop models feature vintage neck specs which may not appeal to everyone; alternatives like Dave's and Wildwood offer 9.5” radius necks for modern playability.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Mikael Akerfeldt uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

Mikael Akerfeldt

Singer, Guitarist

Katatonia

...
Verified via GuitarPlayer

Mikael Akerfeldt has confirmed in an interview with GuitarPlayer, conducted by Phil Weller, that he uses a 1990s Fender Telecaster Custom Shop, featuring a humbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge. Akerfeldt stated, "No one’s seen me with a Tele before," and humorously admitted, "I wouldn’t normally be caught dead with one because I think they’re ugly! But that’s the only guitar I used."

See how Marc Bolan uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

Marc Bolan

Singer, Guitarist

T. Rex

...
Verified via Photo

On this picture, we can see Marc Bolan with a Fender Telecaster Custom Shop. (With a black mounting ring on the humbucker - and a double white binding)

See how The Tallest Man On Earth uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

The Tallest Man On Earth

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

The Tallest Man On Earth is seen using a Fender Telecaster Custom Shop during the live performance of "Johnny and Mary".

See how Jimmy Herring uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

Jimmy Herring

Guitarist

The Allman Brothers Band

...
Verified via Jimmy Herring

In a photo accompanying the announcement of his summer tour dates, Jimmy Herring is pictured with a Fender Telecaster Custom Shop in sunburst.

See how Joe Robinson uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

Joe Robinson

Guitarist

...
Verified via Joe Robinson

"This guitar features 6105 frets and a really fat neck. Very lightweight. Joe uses this guitar a lot in the studio and sometimes brings it on the road also."

See how Keith Jeffery uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

Keith Jeffery

Singer, Guitarist

Atlas Genius

...
Verified via Photo

The guitar is the one at center, it was made by Paul Waller Masterbuilder at Fender, you can find another shot (commented by Keith) on @paul_waller_fender instagram profile:

https://instagram.com/p/BZHAupqFKaY/

See how Nicolas Chassagne uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

Nicolas Chassagne

Guitarist

...
Verified via Photo

Nicolas Chassagne uses a Fender Telecaster Custom Shop S.D, equipped with Seymour Duncan pickups and strung with 10-52 Savarez strings, as shown in the user-uploaded photo.

See how Angela Muñoz uses Fender Telecaster Custom Shop

Angela Muñoz

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

Munoz's main electric gutiar appears to be a seafoam green Fender Telecaster. Judging by the rosewwod neck and white binding, this could be a Fender Custom Shop 1960 Telecaster.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Telecaster Custom Shop, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Gretsch Falcon Jr
Gretsch Falcon Jr Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
1

1 alternative for Fender Telecaster Custom Shop, curated by the Equipboard community.

Shijie Guitars TLV Custom Series

 

similar sound cheaper alternative

For about a third of the price ($1400 new for the Shijie, $4k for the Fender CS), the Shijie TLV Pro might be a better guitar overall regardless of price. I gotta say the bridge pickup on the Shijie (made by Gotoh) is a lil warmer and not as twangy as the Fender's so if you're looking for a twang and drive a lifted pickup truck, go with the Fender. The Shijie TLV Pro comes with a beautiful, silky, and very stable highly pixelated quartersawn roasted maple neck outfitted with classic style Gotoh locking tuners (though it's Schaller on some examples). The body is alder for most with Gotoh compensated bridge. Fit and finish is immaculate. I highly recommend checking out the Shijie TLV before deciding on your next Tele.

More Fender Solid Body Electric Guitars

Community setups

Gear Guides

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