Fender launch the Road Worn Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster

Words by Will Brewster

A fitting piece of kit for the country shredder.

Initially announced as part of the Big F’s signature guitar rollout at NAMM 2021, Fender have today given the Jason Isbell Signature Custom Telecaster an official launch, sharing tantalising new details about the guitar.

Read the latest product news here.

Revered for his country guitar chops and discography with Drive-By Truckers and The 400 Unit, Jason Isbell is regarded as one of the biggest names in Americana music today. As such, it comes to no surprise that Fender are honouring him with a signature model, with the guitar being perfectly suited for Isbell’s twangin’ country lead style.

Boasting a double-bound alder body with a Road Worn Chocolate Sunburst lacquer finish, the Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster tips its hat to the esteemed ’59 Telecaster Custom favoured by so many professional players.

A maple neck with a mid ’60s C-shape profile and a vintage 7.25″ radius 21 fret rosewood fretboard are also bundled into the equation to deliver classic looks and tones alike, while a synthetic bone nut provides enhanced sustain at the top end of the guitar.

Perhaps most notably, the Jason Isbell Custom Telecaster features a custom modified bridge, opting for three brass barrel saddles without the typical overhang of standard Telecaster bridges. This modification allows for players to enjoy extra freedom around the bridge to suit country playing styles such as chicken picking, as well as claw-hammer style fingerpicking.

Other appointments include custom-designed Jason Isbell Telecaster pickups courtesy of Fender’s Tim Shaw, which provide sparkling cleans and gritty, twanging tones to complement Isbell’s stylistic leanings.

Additionally, the instrument features a black pickguard with a white tip on the three-way pickup selector, while a custom neck-plate indicates Isbell’s involvement with the signature guitar.

“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,” said Isbell of his new signature guitar.

“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!”