Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Jason Smith '60s Telecaster Closet Classic (Shoreline Gold) Overview
Here we have another beautiful Masterbuilt instrument From the Fender Custom shop. This one is by Jason Smith who is renowned for his inventive out of the box style. He goes back to a classic early '60s slab board era Telecaster in classy Shoreline Gold with understated Closet Classic ageing. This is pure class and as usual, the Masterbuilt attention to detail in every area is quite simply stunning, you really have to see this one up close to realise just how beautiful it is! Plugging this one in on the bridge pickup through a clean fender amp, we have a really fat warm tone. This guitar has a lot of body and tons of sustain, this is very typical early '60s rosewood board heaven, it really does make a massive difference from the earlier maple board models as you get more lower mid range punch and I think usually more sustain too. The middle position is very lively and has a beautiful almost Gretsch quality to it, I couldn't help but delve into Chet Atkins finger style guitar as the sound was so well suited. Neck pickup, well here this is pure Strat! Great full bodied bell tones. This is a Telecaster but as with a lot of classic Teles this can be a serious chameleon! Testing this theory I plugged into a Handwired Marshall combo and cranked it up, with the right approach you could close your eyes and it could be another classic solid body I won't name (+á la Jimmy Page!) What a guitar, this is a session players dream guitar! I literally can't think of any style of music that this instrument wouldn't excel at! If you have any further queries about this instrument or to discuss finance options then please don't hesitate to contact me, James Singer, GAK Fender Custom Shop specialist, on 01273 665412 or email [email protected].Call GAK now for product info, advice and the Best Prices - 01273 665400
- Body: Two-piece Ash
- Neck: Quartersawn Maple
- Neck profile: Mid '60s Oval 'C'
- Neck thickness at 1st fret: .790"
- Neck thickness at 12th fret: .930"
- Fingerboard: Handpicked flat-laminated Rosewood
- Fingerboard radius: 9.5"
- Frets: Vintage
- Nut: Bone
- Pickups: Custom Shop Twisted Tele
- Case: Blonde Tolex w/crushed red velvet interior
- As a 13-year Fender veteran and son of longtime Fender Research and Development legend Dan Smith, Jason Smith grew up on Fender-"It's always been in my family," he said, "And I was always extremely interested in everything my father did." Born in Rochester, N.Y., and raised in California, Smith remembers meeting guitar deities from about age five on through his father's work with Fender- Eric Clapton, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jeff Beck and Robben Ford, to name only a few. He went to his first big rock concert at age six-Rush- and Smith remembers going backstage with his dad and meeting Geddy Lee after the show. Before he was even in his teens, Smith was going to see Pink Floyd, ZZ Top and many other major artists.
- Rock music and Fender are simply part of his DNA. Smith joined the Fender Custom Shop in 1995, and in 2006 completed a 5-year apprenticeship under acclaimed Senior Master Builder John English. Smith is an accomplished player who brings a player's sensibility to his work in the Custom Shop in addition to his expertise as a builder. With the coveted Master Builder title that he's strived for over so many years now his, he is in his element. After all, Fender is practically in his blood. "I've always loved it," Smith said. "And it feels great that I've reached the goal that I've worked toward for five years in apprenticeship, and the eight years before that."
