Inspired by the rock icon's 1965 workhorse model.
Marking their first Artist Signature model launch for 2021, Fender have officially released the Chrissie Hynde Telecaster, honouring the longstanding influence of the Pretenders’ frontwoman.
Summary
- The Chrissie Hynde Signature Telecaster is the first collaboration between Fender and Hynde, who has fronted The Pretenders since the band’s inception in 1978.
- The signature guitar is based on a 1965 Telecaster Hynde purchased in New York in the mid ’80s, which she’s used frequently live and in the studio ever since.
- Notable additions to the signature model include a chrome mirror pickguard, Faded Ice Blue Metallic Road Worn finish and locking tuners.
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Fender Chrissie Hynde Signature Telecaster
Born in Ohio in 1951, Chrissie Hynde would move to London in 1973 and worked numerous jobs at NME and Malcom McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s iconic clothing store SEX before forming the Pretenders with Pete Farndon, James Honeyman-Scott and Martin Chambers in 1978.
The band found mainstream success throughout the ’70s and ’80s with radio anthems like ‘Brass In Pocket’, ‘Back On The Chain Gang’ and ‘Talk Of The Town’, establishing Hynde as a songwriting powerhouse and a formidable frontwoman to boot.
With their latest instrument, Fender seek to honour this legacy by recreating one of Hynde’s own favourite guitars, a 1965 Telecaster she purchased in New York some time in the mid ’80s and has subsequently appeared on over a dozen Pretenders albums in the years to follow.
The Mexican-made signature model combines an alder body with a custom ’60s C-shaped maple neck with a 7.25″ radius rosewood fretboard for a classic sound and feel, with the guitar’s lacquer Road Worn Faded Ice Blue Metallic finish giving it a rugged rock n’ roll aesthetic.
The guitar also features a pair of vintage-style ’50s single-coils and a six stainless steel barrel saddle bridge, with custom modifications including a chrome mirrored pickguard and locking tuners for quick string changing and improved tuning stability.
Discussing the launch of the new signature model, Hynde noted her desire for the guitar to land in the hands of young people looking to spark a passion for music.
“My guitar tech, David Crubly, convinced me to launch a Fender Signature Telecaster by telling me it might encourage more people to get into bands and music. I hope that’s true and know that those who do, won’t look back,” Hynde said in a statement shared today.
Hear the signature instrument in action below, and keep your eyes for them on the shelves of your favourite guitar store this month.
Find out more about the Chrissie Hynde Telecaster over at Fender Music Australia today.
