A recreation of his favorite Tele, Isbell's new signature sports an ornate Chocolate Sunburst colorway, custom-modified bridge and set of specially voiced pickups
Fender has officially launched the latest addition to its Artist Series lineup of signature guitars – the ornate, Road Worn Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster.
Build-wise, the stunning single-cutaway sports a Road Worn alder body with a Chocolate Sunburst colorway and ‘59-style cream double-binding, which is partnered with a mid-’60s C-shaped maple neck and a 21-fret rosewood fingerboard.
Other functional features include a 7.25” radius and synthetic bone nut, as well as a custom-modified bridge with vintage brass barrel saddles that aims to accommodate a more robust chicken-pickin' playability.
Fender Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster(Image credit: Fender)
Fender Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster(Image credit: Fender)
Under the hood, the axe comes equipped with a set of specially voiced Jason Isbell Telecaster single-coil pickups designed by Fender tone guru Tim Shaw, which seek to serve up “sparkling, fiery tones”.
Of his new signature model, Isbell commented, “This collaboration with Fender is huge for me. I’ve owned and played Fender guitars since I was 12 years old and I consider their instruments to be a big part of my journey.
“I wanted to create a road-worn version of my go-to Telecaster guitar because you can enjoy the instrument without worrying so much about scratching it up!
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“I chose this guitar to re-create because I’ve put it to the test and it’s really proven itself,” Isbell continued. “I love the look, the sound and the playability of my custom Telecaster. It truly stays in tune and I can’t wait for guitarists to give it a try.”
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(Image credit: Fender)
(Image credit: Fender)
(Image credit: Fender)
(Image credit: Fender)
(Image credit: Fender)
Said Justin Norvell, EVP of Fender Products, “Jason Isbell writes and plays music for the soul of America, blending the sounds that have defined country music for decades with his unique genre-bending take on soul, blues and rock.
“We worked closely with Jason to recreate the ultimate road-worn version of his custom Telecaster for fans looking to emulate his celebrated, award-winning sound. This design is actually a combination of his favorite Tele guitars he’s played throughout the years, this one being the best yet.”
The Fender Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster is available now for $1,499.
Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
