Description
The Fender Custom Shop 1961 Telecaster Heavy Relic in Faded Aged Bleached 3-Color Sunburst is a time machine in every sense; built for players who crave the unmistakable vibe of a well-worn vintage Tele with none of the compromises. This is the kind of guitar that instantly feels like an old friend, complete with decades of soulful wear and road-earned character. For players who love classic tone, broken-in comfort, and stage-ready reliability, this '61 Telecaster is ready to deliver.
Inspired by the early '60s workhorses that defined the golden age of rock, country, and soul, this model features a 2-piece roasted alder body with offset seam construction for enhanced resonance and balance. It's finished in a thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer that's been given the Heavy Relic treatment-cracked, faded, and weathered to perfection. The quartersawn maple neck sports a mid-'60s Oval "C" profile that strikes the perfect balance between substantial and sleek, while the 3A rosewood fingerboard adds warmth both sonically and visually.
Tonally, this Tele has that classic snap and chime in spades. A set of Custom Shop Hand-Wound '63 single-coil pickups delivers the kind of Tele tone that's all about clarity, dynamic touch, and unmistakable twang. Whether you're chicken pickin' through a clean amp or pushing it into breakup, these pickups respond with nuance and authority. The vintage-style wiring and 3-way switch keep things simple but effective, offering versatile combinations that work for rhythm, lead, or layered studio work.
The playability is every bit as refined as the tone. A 9.5" radius and Jescar vintage frets provide smooth, articulate performance across the neck. Whether you're playing open cowboy chords or working your way up to the twelfth fret for soaring bends, it stays comfortable and accurate. The vintage-style Tele bridge with brass saddles ensures classic tone and dependable intonation, while the bone nut and vintage tuners keep everything locked in.
Visually, the Faded Aged Bleached 3-Color Sunburst finish tells a story all its own. The patina, hardware wear, and subtle discoloration evoke decades of gigs, sessions, and backstage moments. Clay dot inlays, parchment pickguard, and chrome hardware all add to the period-correct detail, giving this guitar a lived-in feel that's hard to fake.
This 1961 Telecaster Heavy Relic isn't just a tribute; it's a fully realized player's guitar that captures the soul of a true vintage instrument with the reliability and precision of Custom Shop craftsmanship. At Cream City Music, we're always chasing guitars that feel as good as they sound, and this one checks every box.
Specifications:
- Color: Faded Aged Bleached 3-Color Sunburst
- Orientation: Right-Hand
- Body Material: 2-Piece Offset Seam Roasted Alder
- Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Body Shape: Telecaster
- Body Style: Solid Body
- Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple
- Neck Shape: '60s Oval "C"
- Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
- Fingerboard Material: 3A Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
- Number of Frets: 21
- Fret Size: Jescar Vintage (45085)
- Nut Material: Bone
- Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
- Position Inlays: Vintage Clay Dot
- Headstock: Telecaster
- Headstock Thickness: 0.575"
- Neck Thickness: .790" (1st fret), .900" (12th fret)
- Neck Butt Width: 2.200"
- Truss Rod: Early '60s
- Pickup Configuration: SS
- Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '63 Single-Coil Tele
- Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '63 Single-Coil Tele
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
- Switching: 3-Position Blade
- Bridge: 3-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele with Brass Saddles
- Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
- Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
- Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome
- Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
- String Trees: American Vintage '59-'64
- Switch Tip: Top Hat Style, Black
- Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges)
- Neck Plate: 4-Bolt with Custom Shop "V" Logo, Serialized
- Included Accessories: Deluxe Hardshell Case, Strap, Certificate of Authenticity
Sku: 9235700027
Inspired by the early '60s workhorses that defined the golden age of rock, country, and soul, this model features a 2-piece roasted alder body with offset seam construction for enhanced resonance and balance. It's finished in a thin-skin nitrocellulose lacquer that's been given the Heavy Relic treatment-cracked, faded, and weathered to perfection. The quartersawn maple neck sports a mid-'60s Oval "C" profile that strikes the perfect balance between substantial and sleek, while the 3A rosewood fingerboard adds warmth both sonically and visually.
Tonally, this Tele has that classic snap and chime in spades. A set of Custom Shop Hand-Wound '63 single-coil pickups delivers the kind of Tele tone that's all about clarity, dynamic touch, and unmistakable twang. Whether you're chicken pickin' through a clean amp or pushing it into breakup, these pickups respond with nuance and authority. The vintage-style wiring and 3-way switch keep things simple but effective, offering versatile combinations that work for rhythm, lead, or layered studio work.
The playability is every bit as refined as the tone. A 9.5" radius and Jescar vintage frets provide smooth, articulate performance across the neck. Whether you're playing open cowboy chords or working your way up to the twelfth fret for soaring bends, it stays comfortable and accurate. The vintage-style Tele bridge with brass saddles ensures classic tone and dependable intonation, while the bone nut and vintage tuners keep everything locked in.
Visually, the Faded Aged Bleached 3-Color Sunburst finish tells a story all its own. The patina, hardware wear, and subtle discoloration evoke decades of gigs, sessions, and backstage moments. Clay dot inlays, parchment pickguard, and chrome hardware all add to the period-correct detail, giving this guitar a lived-in feel that's hard to fake.
This 1961 Telecaster Heavy Relic isn't just a tribute; it's a fully realized player's guitar that captures the soul of a true vintage instrument with the reliability and precision of Custom Shop craftsmanship. At Cream City Music, we're always chasing guitars that feel as good as they sound, and this one checks every box.
Specifications:
- Color: Faded Aged Bleached 3-Color Sunburst
- Orientation: Right-Hand
- Body Material: 2-Piece Offset Seam Roasted Alder
- Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Body Shape: Telecaster
- Body Style: Solid Body
- Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple
- Neck Shape: '60s Oval "C"
- Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
- Fingerboard Material: 3A Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
- Number of Frets: 21
- Fret Size: Jescar Vintage (45085)
- Nut Material: Bone
- Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
- Position Inlays: Vintage Clay Dot
- Headstock: Telecaster
- Headstock Thickness: 0.575"
- Neck Thickness: .790" (1st fret), .900" (12th fret)
- Neck Butt Width: 2.200"
- Truss Rod: Early '60s
- Pickup Configuration: SS
- Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '63 Single-Coil Tele
- Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '63 Single-Coil Tele
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
- Switching: 3-Position Blade
- Bridge: 3-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele with Brass Saddles
- Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
- Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
- Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome
- Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
- String Trees: American Vintage '59-'64
- Switch Tip: Top Hat Style, Black
- Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges)
- Neck Plate: 4-Bolt with Custom Shop "V" Logo, Serialized
- Included Accessories: Deluxe Hardshell Case, Strap, Certificate of Authenticity
Sku: 9235700027
