Fender Telecaster

Despite garnering unflattering nicknames when it was introduced to the public in 1951, the Fender Telecaster has proved to be an incredibly versatile instrument that morphs depending on who is playing it. We look at a dozen who have made it their own.

This year Fender is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Telecaster, and Nashville was chosen to host the Tele Town birthday party. We caught up with the CEO and Chief Product Manager before rocking the Tele's big night out at the Ryman Auditorium.

Fender guitars were iconic from the get-go, so what does the newly launched American Professional Classic series bring to the table? I’m in Tokyo for Fender Experience 2025 to find out.

You could argue that the American Ultra II is a blasphemy against the purity of Leo Fender's first masterpiece – or you could evaluate this guitar without the baggage of its heritage. Either way, it's certainly a fascinating and inspiring instrument.

For more than 10 years, Loog has been making learning to play a guitar a less daunting task for youngsters. Now the company has teamed up with Fender for a pint-sized Tele and Strat – each rocking three strings, a single pickup and a short skinny neck.

Like Fender's Parallel Universe guitars, the Squier Paranormal series explores bizarre model combinations and "what if?" oddities, but at more budget-friendly price points.

Fender has released a whole range of guitars that come set up with quirky, 50s-style "gold foil" pickups – a nod to old-school pups you'd need to dig out of a vintage guitar or go to the aftermarket for. And they certainly have a unique vibe going on!

Following in the creative footsteps of the Old Growth Strat, the Front Row Legend Esquire and the 80 Proof Blues Jr, Fender has now used wood reclaimed from a famed Toronto nightclub for a pair of limited edition guitars by Master Builder Ron Thorn.

Toward the beginning of 2019, Fender introduced a new take on the electro-acoustic guitar called the Acoustasonic Telecaster. Now for the fourth model in the series, the company has introduced a more refined, versatile and accessible version.

For his latest limited-edition build, the Violinmaster Telecaster Relic, Fender Custom Shop's Principal Master Builder Yuriy Shishkov has been inspired by the 1713 "Gibson-Huberman" Stradivarius owned and played by celebrated violinist Joshua Bell.

Fender is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and is marking the occasion with special editions of its most popular models – the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass.

Fender mashed up different guitar models for its Parallel Universe series in 2018. The company launched the second edition in July, and has now released its fifth member – a gorgeous black and gold bruiser called the Troublemaker Tele Deluxe Bigsby.