Electric Guitar Review

Well, it’s official––Fender today confirmed what we reported a few days ago: the imminent release of the new Joe Strummer Telecaster, which will be based on the battered & beaten ‘66 Tele that Strummer played throughout his career, including his time heading British punk royalty the Clash, and his later work with the Mescaleros.

Having survived countless rowdy nights on stage, Strummer’s Telecaster was re-painted on multiple occasions (the original finish was a 3-color sunburst,) not to mention being plastered with various stickers over the years, painted with stencils, and generally worn down to within an inch of its life.

Fender’s new Joe Strummer Telecaster, which was apparently built in collaboration with Strummer’s estate, will be available beginning this month (July ‘07,) and the first 1,500 guitars will feature a Limited Edition “Customization Kit” of Clash-inspired stickers, stencils, and artwork by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey––all packaged in a classic LP-style album cover.

Unfortunately, full specs are still lacking, but it’s been said that in spite of the massive aesthetic changes that Strummer unleashed on his guitar, the instrument remained pretty much a stock ’60s Tele. You can get more info at Fender’s Joe Strummer Tele Mini Site.

UPDATE: The specs are in…

The Joe Strummer Tele will feature what Fender’s calling a “road worn” polyurethane finish, alder body, maple “C” shape neck, rosewood fretboard with vintage 7.25” radius, 21 vintage-style frets (read skinny,) a pair of vintage-style single-coil Tele pickup sw/Alnico magnets, Master volume & tone controls, 3-way pickup switching, vintage-style 3-saddle bridge, and a set of Fender/Ping vintage-style tuners.

Features unique to the instrument will include “Distressed” chrome hardware, a neckplate with “Revolution Rock” stamped on it, and a Customization Kit for the first 1,500 guitars.