Fender Custom Shop 1961 Telecaster Time Machine Series Faded Aged Bleached 3-Color Sunburst/Heavy Relic

A road-worn ’61 Tele with hand-wound ’63 pickups, broken-in feel, and all the snap, punch, and shimmer you’d expect from a true vintage-inspired workhorse.

There’s something special about a great early-’60s Tele - the way it feels worn in, alive, and ready for whatever you throw at it. This Fender Custom Shop Time Machine ’61 Telecaster leans fully into that spirit, capturing the vibe of a road-tested original with decades of honest wear behind it. The Relic treatment is expressive but never overdone: lacquer checking, finish wear, and aged hardware that make it feel instantly familiar from the first chord.

The roasted alder body, finished in nitro, keeps things resonant and responsive, while the quartersawn maple neck carved to a mid-’60s Oval “C” profile feels comfortably broken-in without sacrificing speed. Topped with a beautiful 3A rosewood fingerboard and vintage-upgrade frets, it strikes that sweet spot between vintage character and modern ease. The Custom Shop Hand-Wound ’63 Tele pickups deliver everything you want - snap, shimmer, punch, and clarity - with enough attitude to cut through a mix without ever getting harsh.

With a 9.5" radius for easier bends, threaded steel saddles, bone nut, vintage-style tuners, and classic ’63 wiring, this is a Tele that feels ready for whatever you want to throw at it. It ships with a deluxe hardshell case, strap, and Certificate of Authenticity.