Fender Launches Ice Blue Signature Chrissie Hynde Fender Telecaster
The guitar is a tribute to the Telecaster that Hynde bought in a New York City store nearly 40 years ago.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) has released the Chrissie Hynde Telecaster. Marking the first collaboration with the singer, songwriter and frontwoman of the Pretenders, the guitar is a tribute to the ice blue metallic Fender Telecaster that she bought in a New York City store nearly 40 years ago.
Since then, Hynde’s beloved Telecaster has featured on more than a dozen studio albums and she has played it in shows all over the world. The Chrissie Hynde Telecaster is the latest addition to the Fender Artist Signature Series.
Says Hynde: “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.”
Photo: Fender
Her custom Telecaster has an alder body in faded ice blue metallic Road Worn lacquer finish, with vintage-style 50s single-coil Tele pickups voiced to match Hynde’s original set, and a 6-stainless steel barrel saddle bridge. It has a custom mid-60s “C”-shaped maple neck, a 7.25” radius fingerboard and a chrome mirror pickguard to match the look and feel of Hynde’s 1965 Telecaster model. It also has locking tuners to offer increased tuning stability, and to make string changes quicker.
“It was a true honor to bring the Chrissie Hynde Telecaster to life,” says Justin Norvell, EVP Fender Products. “This guitar is as legendary as the artist who inspired its namesake and personalized design features. Chrissie really wanted this model to be as faithful as possible to its original, and she was right to – this Telecaster is packed full of features that punch. From its beautiful Road Worn finish to its resilient stainless steel saddles, the musical possibilities really are endless with this Tele in your hands.”
Adds Neil Whitcher, head of artist relations at EMEA: “We were honored when Chrissie Hynde agreed to work with us on an Artist Signature Series guitar. The music that Chrissie has put into the world over the last four decades has helped shape the way thousands play guitar today and has defined the sound of the Fender Telecaster forever. We can’t wait to see what players around the world do with this guitar.”
