Description
Here we have a cool and interesting 2012 Fender Custom Shop '53 Telecaster Heavy Relic done in the style of Micawber! This one sports a heavily aged Nocaster Blonde finish with a neck humbucker and brass six saddle bridge.
The guitar appears to be factory original. These days it's difficult to come close to a copy of an artist's guitar, but this one seems to have snuck through. The part number on the hang tag matches the part numbers on the neck heel and neck pocket cavity. The serial number is also located on the neck plate, indicating this brass bridge unit was factory installed. Had the bridge been replaced, the serial number would have been located on the original ashtray bridge. The wiring, parts and aging all appear to be factory original.
The guitar is in very good condition. It seems to have been played a bit with some extra pick marks and signs of use on the guard. There is the slightest hint of wear on the first few frets. The factory dirt on the fingerboard and back of the neck look to have been played off a little bit, you can see where the upper register is still dark while the lower register is lighter.
This is a lightweight guitar that weighs just 6lbs 11oz. The neck measures .880 to .945 at the 1st and 12th. The guitar has a warm, punchy ash tone with nice clarity. It's a twangy guitar with excellent sound movement through the body. It has vintage style wiring where the 1st position is the bridge pickup with tone control, the 2nd position is neck humbucker alone without tone control, and the 3rd position is neck humbucker with the mud cap enabled. The guitar plays great and is a fun build overall.
Ships in the original molded hardshell case and includes the COA, hang tag, strap, cloth, sticker and other paperwork. This most likely originally came with a tweed thermometer case too, but it is no longer with the guitar.
