Fender Custom Shop '63 Telecaster Relic Electric Guitar, Aged Melon Candy

For many Telecaster aficionados, this Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster Relic from our friends out west is sure to draw some attention. This FCS Tele, outfitted in a lush Aged Melon Candy finish, combines a captivating color with the Custom Shop’s Relic finish treatment. This Relic treatment results in some minor scrapes, dings and wear across the body for a well-loved and worn-in feeling right out of the case. Between the careful consideration given to both the aesthetic and audible presentations of this Custom Shop, like all other Custom Shop guitars, there is so much to be excited about.

This Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster Relic starts out with a two-piece alder body in a 63 Tele body style, embodying a classical kind of Tele feel when slung over the shoulder with a strap. The lacquer body finish splashed across the single-cutaway alder has some real depth to it, both concerning the sheen and color as well as the exposed body wood underneath. Fully, this guitar is multi-layered and multi-faceted in more ways than one.

A riftsawn maple neck meets up with this Custom Shop Tele’s alder body to form the time-tested Telecaster profile. This neck, fitted to a 1969 “U” profile is comfortable in hand for fretting. In addition to its profile shape, this neck features an unfinished Relic back which exposes some natural feel and grain for a unique, tangible experience for the left palm when playing. The neck is matched with a 9mm AAA rosewood fingerboard with twenty-one frets fitted with Medium Jumbo (6150) fret wire, ensuring smooth fretting and easy trips from higher to lower registers. Vintage Clay facedots line the board. Reaching from one end of the neck to the other, the riftsawn maple measures .850” at the first fret and .910” at the twelfth.

The electronic experience of this Telecaster comes alive with a pair of unique Tele single-coil pickups. In the neck position, this Custom Shop is outfitted with a hand-wound Twisted Tele Neck and is paired with a hand-wound Josefina Red Hot Tele pickup in the bridge. Mounted to the body, these hand-wound pickups create an interesting tonal spectrum with which to get imaginative and creative. The tone and playability of this Custom Shop piece are only enhanced by a number of fine hardware appointments. A Tele 58-63 Relic bridge and Vintage Relic tuning machines ground the strings across the length of the guitar while a bone nut and an American Vintage 56-58 Relic string tree contribute to fine intonation. This guitar ships with a Fender Custom Shop Black hardshell case.

Fully realized as a sweet Custom Shop treat, this guitar is the apple of the eye, the cherry on top, and any and all other winning fruit-based analogies you’re fond of. In so few words, it’s a delight.