Led by Joe Strummer, The Clash's punk, rockabilly, dub, and ska anthems captured the gritty sounds of London’s modern multicultural landscape like lightning in a bottle. Strummer was never a flashy guitarist (by his own admission), but he’s nevertheless a rock icon who showed off what a few simple Telecaster strums and some heartfelt lyrics can accomplish. The new Joe Strummer Road Worn Telecaster from Fender captures the attitude and character of the 1966 Telecaster Strummer trusted for most of his career. From tech specs like vintage-voiced pickups, a modified 6-saddle Tele bridge, and an eclectic Road Worn finish, this guitar grabs the spirit of Strummer's beloved workhorse and doesn't let go. Death or glory? This guitar chose glory.

Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster at a Glance:

• Alder body with Road Worn® Lacquer finish
• Maple neck with 7.25” radius rosewood fingerboard
• Custom Neckplate
• Vintage-style 6-Saddle Tele Bridge
• Custom Joe Strummer ‘60s Single-Coil Tele® Pickups
• Road Worn® Vintage-Style Hardware

The right profile

When pulling double-duty on vocals and rhythm guitar like Joe Strummer does, a comfortable guitar that does the job simply and does it right is indispensable. The Joe Strummer Road Worn Telecaster aims for just that with its classic Fender design. A sturdy but comfortable alder body delivers rich balanced tone while the maple neck sports a modern-leaning ‘60s-style “C” profile for easy access to barre, power chords, and everything in between. The guitar also features vintage-style hardware complete with a worn nickel finish and a unique neckplate engraved with Joe Strummer’s silhouette, so The Clash's leader is with you everywhere you go.

Custom-voiced single-coils

This Telecaster delivers plenty of versatile Telecaster tone with its two custom-voiced single-coil pickups carefully dialed-in to help nail the various tones of Joe Strummer. From warm, chirpy reggae strums to hefty punk power chords, these pickups are your quick ticket to sounding like the Clash. But while Strummer was known as . . . a strummer, these pickups still boast enough classic Telecaster power for bristling lead guitar work if you’re so inclined. Music Experience players love these pickups' versatile dynamic response. There's no better choice if you need a Telecaster that handles clean and driven tones like a champ.

Road Worn done right

According to legend, Strummer’s trusty sunburst Telecaster morphed into a roughshod multi-hued axe after The Clash's manager talked Joe into refinishing his guitar at an autobody shop. Joe’s Telecaster got a coat of grey primer with a black finish that covered parts of the pickguard, and that’s just what you’ll find here with swirls of sunburst, black, and grey primer. This Telecaster recreates that from top to bottom. Plus, it features a premium nitrocellulose lacquer finish which allows the wood to breathe and the tone to bloom. Because the finish is worn-in in all the right places, the whole instrument has a played-in feel, just as if it'd faced the front-line action of Spanish Bombs and Guns of Brixton night after night.

What Fender Says...

As front man and main songwriter of legendary punk band, The Clash, Joe Strummer created a fiery, passion-filled brand of up-tempo punk-rock that catapulted the band into rock and roll history. Strummer’s rebellious musical sensibilities injected the band’s songs with the lightning-in-a-bottle political urgency of the era. To capture the vibe of Joe’s well-worn ’66 model, the Joe Strummer Telecaster® features a Road Worn® lacquer-finished Alder body, a mid-‘60s “C”-shape maple neck with 7.25” radius Rosewood fingerboard and a set of custom-voiced Joe Strummer Telecaster® pickups. Other features include a vintage-style 6-saddle Telecaster® bridge, era-correct 3-ply parchment pickguard, vintage-style tuning machines and a custom neck plate, all featuring Fender’s Road Worn® finish to complete the look.

Alder Body

A light resonant wood known for balanced tone and a fat, punchy attack.

Mid-‘60s “C”-Shape Maple Neck With Rosewood Fingerboard

The comfortable and familiar neck profile allows easy playability up and down the neck, while the rosewood fingerboard adds complementary warmth to the snap of the maple neck.

7.25” Radius Fingerboard With 21 Vintage-style Frets

Vintage-spec fingerboard and frets like they came from the factory in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Custom Joe Strummer '60s Single-Coil Telecaster Pickups

Custom Joe Strummer Vintage single-coil ‘60s Telecaster pickups allow players to capture classic Tele tone.

Road Worn® Vintage-Style Hardware

From the vintage-style tuners and 6-saddle Telecaster bridge to the knurled knobs and control plate, the Road Worn hardware recreates the look of a well-played vintage instrument.

Road Worn® Lacquer Finish

The Road Worn lacquer finish aging process emulates the wear and tear on Joe Strummers’ original, well-loved Tele.