Jason Isbell Teams With Fender for Signature Telecaster
Check out this gorgeous recreation of Isbell's favorite Tele.
Fans of Jason Isbell can now do more than just enjoy his Grammy-winning work — they can try to replicate it themselves. The Americana star has teamed up with Fender for a recreation of one of his favorite guitars.
Part of the guitar maker’s storied Artist Signature Series, the new Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster replicates one his go-to tools, and it’s available now. It features all the same specifications as Isbell’s favored axe — and it’s well-loved look — and the “Cover Me Up” hit maker says putting it together was like a dream come true.
“This collaboration with Fender is huge for me. I’ve owned and played Fender guitars since I was 12 years old and I consider their instruments to be a big part of my musical journey,” Isbell says in a press release announcing the news. “I wanted to create a road-worn version of my go-to Telecaster® guitar because you can enjoy the instrument without worrying so much about scratching it up! When I was a kid and got my brand-new Fender [guitar] for Christmas, just holding the thing terrified me until it had a few dings and scratches on it. Then I felt more comfortable with it.”
True to his idea, Isbell’s Signature Tele is a ‘59-style Telecaster Custom body decked out in Chocolate Sunburst with a cream double-binding, with vintage tuners and custom “Jason Isbell pickups,” designed by industry heavyweight Tim Shaw. All of that is married to a vintage-inspired mid-’60s “C”-shaped maple neck and 21-fret rosewood fingerboard, but what’s most striking is probably Fender’s Road Worn® aging process. This guitar comes out of the box looking just like the tried-and-true road warrior Isbell uses onstage every night.
“I chose this guitar to re-create because I’ve put it to the test and it’s really proven itself,” the 400 Unit frontman explains. “I love the look, the sound and the playability of my custom Telecaster.® It truly stays in tune and I can’t wait for guitarists everywhere to give it a try.”
The Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster retails for $1,499.99 (USD), and with its release, one of Americana’s leading voices now joins a group of guitar idols like Jimmy Page, Kurt Cobain, Brad Paisley, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and many more, all of whom have had their favorite guitars immortalized as well.
In related news, Isbell will also make his acting debut in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which is set to arrive later this year.
