Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Levi Perry 52 Tele | Relic Butterscotch Blonde

The Masterbuilt designation signifies that this particular Telecaster was conceived and executed entirely by a single Master Builder, Levi Perry.  These Master Builders represent the pinnacle of guitar craftsmanship, individuals who have dedicated years to mastering their art.  Perry's journey at Fender began in 2012, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of every facet of guitar production. His experience as a Relic artisan, specialising in creating the aged look of instruments, and his work in service repair, honing his understanding of guitar functionality and playability, uniquely qualify him for the Master Builder role.  His apprenticeship, working directly with other Master Builders, provided invaluable experience and allowed him to contribute to prestigious projects, including the "Game of Thrones" series and limited-edition instruments for renowned artists.  This breadth of experience is reflected in the quality and attention to detail evident in every Masterbuilt instrument.   

The foundation of this Telecaster is a carefully selected ash body.  Ash, a tonewood favoured by Fender for decades, is known for its balanced tonal characteristics.  It offers a resonant blend of brightness and warmth, with a well-defined midrange and a strong, clear low end.  The hand-selection process ensures that only the finest ash, exhibiting optimal grain patterns,weight, and resonance was used for this exceptional Tele.  The Relic Butterscotch Blonde finish gives the guitar the appearance of a well-loved and often-played instrument, complete with the subtle nuances of wear and tear that develop over years of use.  This ageing process, painstakingly applied, adds a unique character and vintage vibe to the instrument.  The finish checking, dings, dents, and worn areas all contribute to the story the guitar tells, giving it a sense of history and making it feel like a cherished instrument from the past.  This Relic treatment extends to the neck, which boasts a '52 Tele Style "U" shape, providing a substantial and comfortable feel in the hand. The back of the neck is finished with a "Closet Classic Relic" and a worn and dirty look, enhancing the vintage aesthetic.

The tonal character of the guitar is defined by its handwound pickups.  The neck pickup is a Handwound Twisted Tele, a design that delivers a higher output than traditional Telecaster pickups, with a hint of the sparkle and clarity associated with Stratocaster pickups.  This combination provides a versatile tone that's equally at home with clean, shimmering chords and overdriven, bluesy leads.  The bridge pickup is a Handwound Original Blackguard, a faithful recreation of the pickups found in the earliest Telecasters.  This pickup delivers the classic Telecaster twang, a bright, articulate tone with plenty of bite and character.  The modern Tele control setup, combined with a Tone Saver circuit, allows for precise tonal adjustments and ensures that the high frequencies are retained even when the tone control is rolled back.   

The neck of the guitar features a 9.5" radius fretboard, a popular choice that offers a comfortable balance between vintage and modern playing styles.  This radius provides a slightly flatter surface than vintage 7.25" radius fretboards, making it easier to bend strings and play with a lower action.  The Narrow Tall (6105) fret wire adds to the modern feel, providing a slightly larger playing surface than vintage-style frets.  The 1.650" nut width provides comfortable string spacing for most players.  The guitar comes with a Fender Custom Shop Tweed case, providing safe and stylish storage and transport.