The last Fender Telecaster model, the Fender Spalted Maple Custom Telecaster HH, doesn’t look like a classic Telecaster, it has a very good looking natural finish and 2 humbuckers (instead of classic 2 single-coil pickups) not covered. Lets take a look to the guitar.
The Fender Spalted Maple Custom Telecaster HH features carved mahogany body with spalted maple veneer top, 1–piece mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, 25.5” scale length, Hardtail bridge, Seymour Duncan SHPGP-1B Pearly Gates Plus (bridge) and Seymour Duncan SH-1N RP ‘59 Reverse Polarity humbucker pickups, 3–way pickup switch, master volume and tone controls with push/pull coil select.
This guitar belongs to the Special Edition Series and I must say has one of the most beautiful designs I’ve ever seen. Fender hasn’t announced Spalted Maple Custom Telecaster HH’s price nor availability, but rumored price is near $1,100.
IS THIS MODEL MADE IN AMERICA,MEXICO,KOREA OR JAPAN ?
I don’t know where this model is being made, but as it belongs to the Special Edition Series we should suppose that is American made.
I’ve read in some sites that this guitar is probably Korean.
It’s made in Korea. I just bought one tonight and I simply love it! I was shopping for a guitar, but this wasn’t even in the running. Then I decided to try it. Unbelievable! I own many guitars (2 American Strats, 1 American Tele, A Gibson Les Paul Studio, a Gibson SG, etc.!), but this one might take the prize, all things considered ($$$, playability, looks, sound)! I can’t find a thing wrong with it, which is why I jumped onto the internet to see if I could find any user reviews (none so far). My unofficial rating (after about 2 hours’ playing time) is 10 out of 10!!!
Like Musica123, I bought one of these when I wasn’t even looking for a guitar. It’s an outstanding instrument and pretty much matches the quality of a handbuilt custom shop Fender I have, at a fraction of the price. But one thing it is not is yer archetypal Tele - if you want that typical Tele sound (or feel), you won’t find it here. This is really a totally different instrument. I play Les Paul, SG and other Gibson-type instruments, and this Tele has a good deal in common with them – mahogany neck and body, plenty of midrange, big frets and a big rich, full-bodied sustaining sound - even when the pickups are coil-tapped. I find the p/ups too hot for the kind of sound I’m after, but it’s no problem - that’s what the knobs are for, and it’s always nice to have volume in reserve. With the vol down a bit, it gives a nice combination of bark and singing sustain to create a sound that is definitely distinctive.
And one other thing makes it enjoyable to own: when I let someone play it, I always wait till they finish, then tell them that it’s made in Korea because I like to see the expression on their faces!