One year after releasing the Broadcaster, Fender received a cease-and-desist notice from Gretsch - and so had to find a new name for their flagship electric guitar. Drawing inspiration from the growing popularity and expansive reach of television, the Telecaster was born in 1951, and has been continually manufactured ever since. Boasting a simple, cutting-edge design, the Telecaster took solid body electric guitar to the mainstream - inspiring generation after generation of countless musicians along the way.

Finished in a stunning Butterscotch Blonde Ash body, the American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster faithfully captures the sound, style, and performance of the classic original. The comfortable '51 "U"-shaped Hard Rock Maple neck pairs perfectly with the 7.25" radius fretboard for incredible playing comfort and effortless fretting. With a triple brass-saddle bridge, single-line "Fender Deluxe" machine heads, and Pure Vintage '51 Telecaster pickups, the American Vintage II delivers that classic Tele twang and glorious Fender style.

The instruments in the American Vintage II collection are direct relatives of the original Fenders - designed for players who greatly appreciate vintage Fender tone and performance constructed with unparalleled quality, down to the last screw. The instruments in the American Vintage II collection are Fender in their purest form - the stuff of legends.

Features

• Ash Body
• Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish
• Pure Vintage '51 Tele® pickups
• "U"-Shaped Neck Profile
• Pure Vintage 3-Saddle Tele® with Brass Barrel Saddles, Serialized
• Pure Vintage Single-Line "Fender Deluxe" Tuners

Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish - Boasting the same finish found on Fender instruments from the '50s and '60s, nitrocellulose lacquer is a gorgeous finish that reveals the instrument's inherent character.

7.25" Radius Fretboard - For the comfortable playing feel of a vintage classic, the 7.25" radius fretboard features vintage-tall frets for effortless fretting and bending.

1951 "U"-Shape Neck - In Fender's early years, the profile and thickness of their guitar necks varied greatly. The American Vintage II Series employ vintage neck profiles for an authentic experience.

Pure Vintage '51 Telecaster Pickups - Constructed just as they were in Fender's golden years, Pure Vintage pickups have been meticulously voiced to recreate the authentic tone and classic performance of individual model years. Constructed with fiber bobbins and Alnico magnets

Vintage-Style Hardware - Each piece of hardware - from the bridge, to the string tree and machine heads - has been painstakingly designed to look, sound, and operate just as the originals did. Many pieces of American Vintage II hardware is still manufactured using the orignal machines from the '50s and '60s Fender factory.

Specifications

• Body
  • Body Material: Ash
  • Body Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Neck
  • Neck Material: 1-Piece Maple
  • Neck Construction: 4-Bolt
  • Neck Profile: 1951 "U"
  • Neck Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
  • Fretboard Material: Maple
  • Fretboard Radius: 7.25"
  • Frets: 21 Vintage Tall
  • Scale Length: 25.5"
• Electronics
  • Bridge Pickup: Pure Vintage '51 Single-Coil Telecaster
  • Neck Pickup: Pure Vintage '51 Single-Coil Telecaster
  • Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
  • Switching: 3-Way Blade Pickup Selector
• Hardware
  • Bridge: Pure Vintage 3-Saddle Tele with Brass Barrel Saddles, Serialized
  • Machine Heads: Pure Vintage Single-Line "Fender Deluxe"
  • Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
  • Truss Rod: Vintage-Style Butt Adjust
  • Neck Plate: 4-Bolt
  • Nut Material: Bone