1959 was a monumental transitional year for the Telecaster—marking the shift from the thick one-piece maple necks and single-ply guards of the '50s to the legendary slim profiles, rosewood boards, and multi-ply guards of the early '60s. This Custom Shop reissue beautifully captures those exact mid-year "in-between" transitional specifications.

"The Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition 1959 Telecaster® Journeyman Relic® takes you straight back to a pivotal transitional year in the history of the world’s original workhorse guitar. Crafted with premium appointments from both late-’50s and early-’60s eras, this instrument features a meticulously sorted two-piece select ash body paired with a gorgeous one-piece rift-sawn maple neck—or an era-accurate slab rosewood fingerboard.

The Journeyman Relic® Flash Coat Lacquer finish imparts the look and broken-in feel of a guitar that has changed hands over the decades, seeing steady use but receiving excellent care along the way.

Tonally, this '59 powerhouse breathes with exceptional resonance, driven by a pair of hand-wound Custom Shop Texas Special™ single-coil pickups. Wired to a modern Fat '50s Tele® circuit, it serves up a wider, punchier dynamic range with plenty of mid-range bite and clear, chiming highs that never get harsh. Complete with a rare transitional top-load/string-through bridge assembly with threaded steel saddles, this limited edition delivers unparalleled vintage character with modern, effortless playability."

Technical Specifications

Body

• Body Material: 2-Piece Select Ash (Sorted for light weight)

• Body Shape: Telecaster®

• Body Finish: Flash Coat Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Journeyman Relic® with fine checking and dulled hardware)

• Body Style: Solid Body

Neck & Fingerboard

• Neck Material: 1-Piece Rift Sawn Maple (

• Neck Finish: Flash Coat Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Tinted)

• Neck Shape: Late '50s Large "C" or 1959 Esquire "C"

• Neck Thickness: .850" (at 1st Fret) / .990" (at 12th Fret)

• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)

• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)

• Number of Frets: 21

• Fret Size: Narrow Tall (Jescar 6105 / 47095)

• Nut Material: Bone

• Nut Width: 1.625" (41.3 mm)

• Position Inlays: Black Micarta Dots (0.25" spacing) or Vintage Clay Dots

• Truss Rod: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust

Electronics

• Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special™ Single-Coil Tele®

• Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special™ Single-Coil Tele®

• Controls: * Master Volume

  • Master Tone

• Wiring Layout: Modern Tele® with Fat '50s Control Circuit (preserves high-end when rolling back volume, punchy mid response)

• Switching: 3-Position Blade Lever (CRL Switch)

  • Position 1: Bridge Pickup

  • Position 2: Bridge and Neck Pickups (In Parallel)

  • Position 3: Neck Pickup

Hardware & Accessories

• Bridge Assembly: 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Tele® Top-Load or Strings-Through-Body Dual Option

• Saddles: Threaded Steel Saddles (Era-accurate for '59)

• Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style with Fender® Logo (Relic)

• Pickguard: 1-Ply Parchment or 3-Ply Mint Green (8-Hole transitional style)

• Control Knobs: Knurled Aluminum / Chrome Relic

• Switch Tip: Top Hat Style, Black

• Neck Plate: 4-Bolt with Custom Shop "V" Logo, Serialized

• Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome Plating

• Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges)

• Included Accessories: Deluxe Custom Shop G&G Hardshell Case (usually Tweed or Center-Pocket Blonde), Custom Shop Leather Strap, Certificate of Authenticity (COA), and the official Shop Floor Traveler specification sheet.

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