Description
The Fender Custom Shop 1955 Telecaster Relic Masterbuilt by Greg Fessler is far more than a tribute; it's a tone-soaked, handcrafted nod to one of the most iconic guitars in American music history. Built by one of Fender's most respected Master Builders, this guitar carries the soul of decades of craftsmanship, perfected by hands that have worked with some of the most revered names in guitar playing. Whether you're a discerning collector, a session veteran, or a tone chaser with a soft spot for vintage mojo, this Tele is built to meet you right where inspiration strikes.
Greg Fessler has spent over three decades refining his approach at the Custom Shop, shaping instruments for legends like Joe Bonamassa, John Mayer, and Robben Ford. His reputation rests on an unmatched eye for detail and a deeply intuitive sense of what makes a guitar not just sound great, but feel alive. This 1955 Telecaster Relic reflects all of that experience. From the roasted ash body to the hand-wound Josefina pickups, every inch of this guitar was designed to capture that sweet spot between heritage and modern playability.
A roasted quartersawn maple neck carved into a substantial '54 Soft V profile delivers vintage comfort with surprising agility. Paired with a 9.5" radius and narrow tall 6105 frets, this guitar bridges the gap between old-school feel and modern functionality. Whether you're digging into country twang, bluesy bends, or articulate rock riffs, the neck offers remarkable control and clarity. The Nocaster bridge and vintage-style tuners, both lightly relic'd, add to the classic aesthetic while ensuring dependable tuning stability and rock-solid intonation.
Tonally, this Tele lives in the golden zone. Josefina Campos' hand-wound pickups bring a special touch that only the most trained ears and experienced hands can achieve. The Twisted Tele neck pickup offers a rounder, more open tone perfect for clean passages and expressive phrasing. Meanwhile, the Original Blackguard bridge pickup is all grit and sparkle; perfect for that unmistakable Tele spank. Add in the modern Tele wiring and Greasebucket tone circuit, and you've got a wide tonal palette that never gets muddy.
Finished in a tastefully aged 2-Color Sunburst nitro lacquer, the relic work is subtle but evocative. It tells a story that doesn't feel forced or artificial; it looks and feels like an instrument that's been played with love, not just aged in a shop. The period-correct black pickguard and vintage silver Fender decal seal the deal on the guitar's authentic visual statement.
This is the kind of guitar we're proud to hang on our wall, but even more excited to get into a player's hands. From its masterbuilt pedigree to the unmistakable feel of a well-worn Tele, this instrument is a reminder of why we all fell in love with the electric guitar in the first place. If you're looking for a Custom Shop piece that feels like a lifer, you've found it.
Specifications:
- Builder: Greg Fessler
- Finish Package: Relic
- Color: 2 Color Sunburst
- Body Wood: Roasted Ash
- Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Neck Type: Custom Neck
- Neck Shape: 1954 Soft V
- Neck Wood: Roasted Quarter Sawn Maple
- Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .900"
- Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .980"
- Fingerboard: None (one-piece maple)
- Fingerboard Radius: 9.5"
- Side Dots: Micarta Black 3/32"
- Face Dots: Micarta Black .250"
- Fret Wire: Narrow Tall (6105)
- Nut: Bone
- Truss Rod: 50s Style
- Pickguard: Standard 51 Nocaster Relic
- Pickups (Neck): Handwound Twisted Tele Neck (Josefina hand-wound)
- Pickups (Bridge): Handwound Original Blackguard Bridge (Josefina hand-wound)
- Hardware: Chrome/Nickel
- Bridge: Nocaster w/o Pickup Gatton Relic
- Output Jack: Vintage Tele
- Controls: Modern Tele wiring with Greasebucket Tone Circuit (relic'd)
- Tuning Keys: Vintage w/Fender Logo (relic'd)
- String Gauge: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
- Neck Plate: Vintage Tele (relic'd)
- Control Knobs: '52 Tele Knurled Chrome (relic'd)
- Case: Includes Original Custom Shop Harshell Case
Sku: 9216040011
