Description

Fender Master Builder Paul Waller took inspiration from the earliest Telecasters for this incredibly cool Snakehead Tele, which was featured at the 2019 NAMM show. Named for its "snakehead" 3-on-a-side headstock - unusual to see for a brand that's so associated with its iconic 6-in-line headstock - this featherweight Tele is practically a lesson in early Fender design. 

Fender used pine bodies on the early Teles, known for its light weight, focused bass, and sweet midrange & top end. The 1 1/2" thick body on this Masterbuilt Tele yields one of the lightest Telecasters we've ever encountered - 5 1/2" pounds! It balances beautifully and is incredibly lively and resonant. 

The 1 piece AAAA birdseye maple neck features a very comfortable '53 neck shape (.84"-.91"), 9.5" radius, 1.65" bone nut, and 21 vintage sized frets. This is where the modern specs reveal themselves as previous runs of the early Snakehead Telecasters featured really fat "Nocaster" style necks and a 7 1/4" radius. This neck is beautifully shaped and would be a great fit for most any modern player. 

We love the tip of the hat to early Fender instruments via the early style '51 P Bass control plate which houses a concentric volume and tone knob setup and 3-way switch. The hand-wound open cover Nocaster neck pickup and Broadcaster bridge pickup pair beautifully with the pine body. Lots of classic Tele twang and bite, but with an airy midrange and a little extra muscle behind each note (again, thanks to the pine body). 

Condition: Like new. This guitar was purchased as a collectable and barely played.

If you're a diehard Fender fan like us, you'll love how Paul Waller managed to capture the early history of Fender guitar design in this build. If you simply love Telecasters like us, you'll really appreciate how lightweight, resonant, and lively this guitar is. Can't go wrong either way! Priced with hardshell case. 

Specs

• Master Builder - Paul Waller
• Black, Relic, Nitro
• Pine Body, 1.5"
• Maple neck, 1 Piece Tinted AAAA Birdseye
• '53 C neck shape, .84"-.91"
• 9.5" radius
• Bone nut, 1.650"
• 25 1/2" scale length
• 21 vintage frets
• Vintage style tuners
• 1 Hand-Wound Open-Cover Nocaster SIngle-Coil (Neck), 1 Hand-Wound Broadcaster Single-Coil (Bridge) pickups
• Volume, Tone, 3-Way , '51 P Bass Control Plate
• '51-'54 Telecaster w/Compensated Saddles
• Tweed hardshell case
• 5lbs 8oz
• SN 97236