Along with a handful of contemporaries, Jason Isbell has ushered in a fresh era of country music by returning to the genre’s roots of storytelling-based songwriting, raw emotions, and equally raw performances. But make no mistake: Jason Isbell is no mere revivalist; he’s a contemporary artist putting a modern twist on his country and rock ’n’ roll influences. The Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster is something of an analog for Jason’s style. Based on Jason’s Custom Shop master-built Telecaster, this gorgeous instrument pairs old-school soul with new-school attitude. Finished in a Road Worn chocolate burst with just the right amount of distressing, the Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster’s alder body features white double-edge binding, contrasted with a black-white-black 3-ply pickguard. And it’s specially voiced for the kind of Muscle Shoals-inspired swamp rock that Jason and the 400 Unit break out during live performances. Combine that with a comfy mid-'60s profile neck and chicken-pickin’-friendly modified bridge, and you’ve got a barn burner of a Tele that's ready to lay down some serious grooves.
The Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster features a balanced-sounding alder body — a mainstay on Fender bodies with a distinctive tone that’s at the center of some of rock ’n’ roll’s most enduring classics. A Road Worn nitrocellulose lacquer finish gives this solidbody electric guitar the look and feel of a well-used vintage instrument. A 3-ply black-white-black pickguard, modified brass-saddle Tele bridge, and vintage-style tuners put the perfect finishing touches on this Tele, supplying you with seasoned aesthetics, plus rock-solid performance and tuning stability.
Jason Isbell’s Custom Shop Telecaster went through a trial by fire shortly after he received it from Fender’s Master Builders. During a live performance at Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July picnic, Jason’s pedalboard unexpectedly died, leaving him with just his Custom Shop Tele plugged straight into his amp. Jason played the whole set with this stripped-back pairing and tore the roof off. The Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster’s custom-voiced Jason Isbell pickup set delivers serious Tele twang and swamp rock bark that absolutely sings through a tube combo — no pedals required!.
The Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster is a treat to play, largely because of its mid-'60s "C"-shaped neck profile. This is a pleasantly stout neck, and guitarists at Music Experience note that its increased mass yields an incredibly natural feel, as well as excellent sustain. Its 7.25-inch-radius rosewood fingerboard is complete with 21 vintage-tall frets that feel incredible. This neck secures to the guitar’s alder body with a traditional 4-bolt plate, emblazoned with Jason’s anchor and sparrow tattoo, and includes a synthetic bone nut.
Armed with blistering guitar chops, incisive lyrics and a powerful voice, Grammy Award winner Jason Isbell has emerged as a leading face of the Americana movement – a dynamic blend of traditional roots music and modern rock. The Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster is visually striking – the Chocolate Sunburst pops against the cream double-binding of the ‘59-style Telecaster Custom body while Fender’s Road Worn® aging process gives it the look and feel of a well-used instrument. The vintage-inspired mid-’60s “C”-shaped maple neck and 21-fret rosewood fingerboard combines with the sparkling, fiery tones of the custom Jason Isbell Telecaster Pickups and the chicken-pickin’ playability of the modified bridge to create a guitar that sounds and plays as a good as it looks.
Classy cream binding around the top and back of the instrument’s body.
The Road Worn Chocolate Sunburst lacquer finish and aged hardware give this guitar the look and feel of a lovingly broken-in instrument.
Custom-designed for Jason Isbell by pickup guru Tim Shaw, this single-coil Tele pickup set delivers the twang, sparkle and fire Jason is known for.
Vintage look with tapered sides for comfort; solid vintage-style brass barrel saddles for true Tele tone.
The comfortable and familiar “C”-shape neck profile allows easy playability, while the vintage-correct fingerboard radius delivers a classic feel.
Allows the truss rod to be adjusted quickly and easily.
Body Type | Solidbody |
---|---|
Body Shape | Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster |
Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
Number of Strings | 6 |
Body Material | Alder |
Color |
Chocolate Burst |
Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
Neck Joint |
Bolt-on |
Neck Material | Maple |
Neck Shape | Mid '60s C |
Radius | 7.25" |
Fingerboard Material | Rosewood |
Fingerboard Inlay | White Pearloid Dots |
Number of Frets | 21, Vintage Tall |
Scale Length | 25.5" |
Nut Width | 1.650" |
Nut Material | Synthetic bone |
Bridge/Tailpiece | 3-Saddle String-through body Tele with Brass Saddles |
Tuners | Vintage Style |
Neck Pickup | Specially Voiced Jason Isbell Telecaster Single-coil |
Bridge Pickup | Specially Voiced Jason Isbell Telecaster Single-coil |
Controls | 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone, 3-way blade pickup switch |
Strings | Fender USA 250L 9-42 |
Case Included | Deluxe Gig bag |
Manufacturer Part Number | 0140320364 |