Fender Tele Jr.
The Fender Tele Jr. (pronounced "Telly Junior") is a variant of the Fender Telecaster electric guitar, produced in a limited run of 100 by the Fender Custom Shop in the early 1990s. While its body shape and scale length are those of the Telecaster, many of its construction and electronic features are more similar to those of a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar.
- The neck is set-in (i.e. glued), while most Fender electric guitars' necks are bolted on.
- The body and neck are mahogany, while most Fender electric guitars' bodies are alder, ash, or poplar and most Fender necks are maple or rosewood.
- The magnetic pickups are P-90 single-coil pickups, which are used on some Gibson guitars such as the Les Paul Jr. but are rarely used on Fender guitars.
- The switching and tone-control electronics operate identically to those of a standard Telecaster: The 3-way switch allows use of the pickups singly or together, and the volume control and tone control each affects the combined output signal.
- The scale length is the Fender-standard 25.5" while most Gibson guitars have a scale length of 24.75".
- The body is chambered; some Gibson models are chambered but virtually no Fender models are.
- The entire guitar (except for the fretboard) has a glossy finish. Most Fender necks have a satin finish while most Gibson necks (including the headstock and neck joint) have the same glossy finish as the rest of the guitar.
- The non-tremolo fixed bridge is the same model as that used on non-tremolo Fender Stratocaster guitars.
- The pickguard is different from the ordinary Telecasters.
While many Fender Custom Shop guitars are simply higher-quality, handmade versions of common Fender models, the Tele Jr. is unique in its appeal to guitarists who want something in between a Fender and a Gibson. Its Fender-standard scale length, chambered mahogany body, P-90 pickups, and other distinctive features contribute to the Tele Jr.'s unique sound. (The Custom Shop Tele Jr. should not be confused with the later, factory-production model of the same name.)
See also
- Fender Custom Shop
- Electric Guitar
- Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
- Fender Telecaster
- Gibson Guitar Corporation
- Gibson Les Paul
- Gibson Les Paul Junior