Fender American Original
The Fender American Original series models are not exact by-year recreations but represent the spirit of decades worth of Fender's best innovations and player-preferred features from that era. The result is a best-of-all-worlds USA instrument that looks, plays and sounds like its forbearers, and performs like you’d expect a new modern Fender to perform.
AN ALL-NEW FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL SERIES
The new range of Fender American Original guitars revealed ahead of NAMM 2018 will definitely appeal to the vintage guitar purists out there. This new line of high-end electric guitars and basses have been constructed with a focus on specific decades, taking all the most coveted design features from the 50s, 60s & 70s to create a selection of decade-accurate guitars and basses for the modern musician.
Instead of focussing on specific years, the team at Fender have gone back through the history books to craft a “best of” or “greatest hits” guitar… if you love vintage style guitars with modern reliability – you’ll love this new Fender American original range. Let’s take a closer look at the new range which have all been designed with a lacquer finish which ages beautifully and a hard-shell case.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL 50S GUITARS
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘50S TELECASTER
The Fender Telecaster has always been the ultimate blue-collar guitar, effectively launching a musical revolution when Fender first released it, and although the Tele has gone through many subtle changes over the years, the 50s era guitars were the most appreciated.
The ‘50s Telecaster combines all the vintage aesthetics of the 50s style Tele’s but includes a more modern feel and far more reliable pickup switching for today’s musicians.
The ‘50s Telecaster features period-correct Pure Vintage ’52 single-coil Telecaster pickups that have been meticulously designed to replicate the sound of the 50’s style guitars. Everything has been thought of, from the enamel-coated coil wire to the cloth-covered output wires. The guitar even features fibre bobbins and alnico 3 magnets as well as copper-plated steel base plates and flush-mounted pickup pole pieces. This sound is like stepping back in time.
The ‘50s Telecaster also features a thick “U” shaped neck and 9.5”-radius fingerboard that is both comfortable and accurate to the decade. Vintage tall frets within a maple neck and fingerboard, original 50s era body radii and vintage-style hardware have all been included. In addition, the guitar also comes with a Butterscotch Blonde lacquer finish that lets the wood breathe and age beautifully over time as well as a hard-shell case. It’s like stepping back in time. Play this and you’ll realise why this guitar quickly became an icon!
Also available as a left-hand option.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘50S STRATOCASTER
Since the first Fender Stratocaster was released back in 1954, it has achieved iconic status and is one of the most played and widely known guitars ever created. Again, the 50s were a great year for the Strat and the team at Fender have decided to honour that period by including decade-specific features within the ‘50s Stratocaster.
This beautiful guitar still retains the legendary original-era style ground-breaking tone but pushes the guitar into the modern age with updated pickup switching and modern reliability.
Straight out of the box you have wax-potted Pure Vintage ’59 single-coil Stratocaster pickups, which are as period-correct as possible. Everything has been designed to make this guitar sound like it’s from the 50s with small details such as Formvar-coated coil wire, cloth-covered output wires, fibre bobbins and alnico 5 magnets all adding to the vintage sound. A thick “Soft V” neck profile ensures those chords are comfortable to play and the 9.5” – radius fingerboard means your fingers can fly across the maple fingerboard with ease.
There’s also authentic touches such as vintage-tall frets and original-era body radii, vintage-style hardware-including a six-point synchronized tremolo bridge as well as a thin lacquer finish that ages beautifully. Again, Fender has included a hardshell case with this beautiful guitar which is available in a variety of colours.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘50S PRECISION BASS
There are few companies that can actually claim to have changed the world of music with their bass guitars. Well, Fender can put their hands up and say that when they introduced the precision Bass in 1951 it made playing the bass guitar far more accessible and helped sculpt the way we hear music today!
So it makes sense that they should effectively recreate all the best parts of the original era 50s style P-bass guitars and create a “greatest hits” bass guitar for all to enjoy. The result is the Fender American Original ‘50s Precision Bass which is like stepping back in time!
You have a Pure Vintage ’58 P Bass split-coil pickup installed within the Alder body complete with period-correct enamel-coated coil wire, cloth-covered output wires, fibre bobbins and alnico 5 magnets. Vintage tall frets, maple fretboard, Thick “C” shape neck and vintage-style four-saddle bridge offer great playability and the Gold Anodized Aluminum pickguard just looks amazing! A fantastic bass for discerning players that also comes with a hard-shell case.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL 60S GUITARS AND BASSES
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘60S STRATOCASTER
The 1960s saw the Stratocaster undergo some slight, but very important changes, further cementing the guitar as a mainstay in the world of music. A white pickguard was changed to a mint green which aged beautifully and the fingerboard was changed to a warmer rosewood adding a smoother tone overall.
The ‘60s Stratocaster keeps these iconic changes and even includes the sought-after wax-potted Pure Vintage ‘65 single-coil Stratocaster pickups which are as period-correct as possible. Even the enamel-coated coil wire to the cloth-covered output wires, fibre bobbins and alnico 5 magnets have been included providing a classic sound. The Alder body is beautifully resonant and the maple thick “C” neck is comfortable to play. A pure vintage 6-saddle synchronised tremolo and Pure Vintage Single Line “Fender Deluxe” tuning machines ensure your guitar is resonant and reliable.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘60S TELECASTER
One of the most versatile guitars ever created, the Telecaster has been found in all genres of music, from country to prog rock, blues to heavy metal and still to this day is a highly sought-after model. The smooth sound of the Tele was made even smoother in 1960 when fender changed the fingerboard to rosewood, offering more warmth and launched what was then known as the Telecaster custom which also included a double-bound body and 3-ply pickguard. Fender has reintroduced this combination of features and crafted the ‘60s Telecaster which partners period-accurate sound and style with more contemporary playing experience.
The double-bound Alder body is warm, yet offers up that unmistakable Tele twang and the Maple 60s “C” shape neck with rosewood fingerboard is comfortable to play.
You have 2 x Pure Vintage ‘64 Gray-Bottom Single-Coil Tele pickups to utilise, both of which are as period-correct as possible, from the enamel-coated coil wire to the cloth-covered output wires, fibre bobbins and alnico 5 magnets – it’s all there!
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘60S JAZZMASTER
Although it was originally designed in the 60s to appeal to Jazz guitarists in need of more control over their sound, the Jazzmaster eventually found its way into the hands of musical rebels and became synonymous with surf rock, grunge and indie. Its versatility and interesting sound saw this guitar become the go-to for those who would think outside the box. Time and time again, guitarists will try and get their hands on a vintage 1960s model, but thanks to the introduction of the ‘60s Jazzmaster, we’ll no longer have to trawl the 2nd hand market to get that classic sound.
You have wax-potted Pure Vintage ‘65 Single-Coil Jazzmaster pickups in the bridge and neck positions to sculpt some great sounds, both of which have been crafted to capture the sounds of the 60s thanks to enamel-coated coil wire, cloth-covered output wires, fibre bobbins and alnico 5 magnets – all of which is period-accurate. Of course, Fender has also included the Vintage-Style floating tremolo with tremolo lock button and push-in tremolo arm so you can go from quick tremolo action to full-on divebombs with ease. A rosewood fretboard and alder body ensure a full and rich tonality at all times too.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘60S JAGUAR
Since the Fender Jaguar was first released in 1962, it’s been relied upon by musicians who wanted total control over every aspect of their sound as well as those who just want to rock out! This guitar became a mainstay in the musical underground and became the poster boy for grunge and post-rock enthusiasts everywhere.
Fender has gone back through the history books and recreated a period-accurate Jag with the ‘60s Jaguar, but added modern playability and reliability. Again, everything is as period-accurate as possible including wax-potted Pure Vintage ’65 Jaguar single-coil pickups with cloth-covered output wires and alnico 5 magnets.
You also have the familiar lead/rhythm circuits as well as the bass-cut “strangle” switch to sculpt your unique tone as well as a floating tremolo with lock button and push-in arm. The lacquer has been applied in such a way that it looks better as it ages, making your guitar unique to you.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘60S PRECISION BASS
By the time the 1960s rolled around, the Fender Precision bass was the go-to electric bass, from the clubs of Detroit to the beaches of Southern California. The team at Fender have captured everything that made the 60s style P bass so popular and updated it with modern reliability and a more comfortable feel in the form of the ‘60s Precision Bass.
Within the Alder body, you have the period-accurate (as much as possible) Pure Vintage ’63 P Bass split-coil pickup to create some thunderous tones whilst the thick “1963 C”-shaped neck profile feels great in the fretting hand. Original-era body radii, vintage-style hardware, which includes a four-saddle vintage-style bridge all ensure a vintage feel to the guitar and the rosewood fretboard provides a comfortable and warm playing experience.
This is your chance to get hold of the instrument that helped create the pop culture soundtrack of the 20th century without actually travelling back in time.
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL 70S BASSES
FENDER AMERICAN ORIGINAL ‘70S JAZZ BASS
When the 70s hit, the Jazz Bass was into its teenage years and had undergone a visual change. It had also inspired bass players to pursue new playing techniques such as slapping – so to say it’s iconic would be a little bit of an understatement!
The ‘70s Jazz Bass faithfully recreates the sound of the 70s and captures all the treble bite and growling midrange perfectly via period-correct Pure Vintage ’75 Jazz Bass single-coil pickups. These pickups have been meticulously designed to recreate that classic sound, with everything from the enamel-coated coil wire to the cloth-covered output wires, fibre bobbins and alnico 5 magnets constructed with period-correct techniques (as much as possible).
The Ash body provides some serious articulation and snap and the maple neck with Pearloid blocks is comfortable to play thanks to the sleek “’70s U”-shaped neck profile and 9.5”-radius fingerboard.
This is your chance to own an authentic recreation of the instrument that created funk and disco!
Also available in 3-Colour Sunburst.
Shop a full range of Fender American Original guitars over at PMT Online, or call into your local PMT store to try a full selection out for yourself.