- Description
-
Details
The “Chicago Special” Story:
This guitar is part of the Chicago Music Exchange “Chicago Special” series, created in collaboration with the Fender Custom Shop. Together with Fender's best minds - including VP of Product Development Mike Lewis. CME designed these guitars to represent the best of Fender from top to bottom, carefully selecting specs that honor classic eras while adding modern refinements.Highlights of the Chicago Special line include:
Period-inspired specs like vintage fingerboard radii, classic plastics, matched headstocks, and iconic finishes.
Modern refinements such as rift sawn maple necks for added resonance and expanded control sets for tonal versatility.
Exclusive Chicago Special pickups, designed in collaboration with Fender Custom Shop, potted in shellac for an open frequency response.
This 1952 Telecaster “Chicago Special” embodies that philosophy perfectly — it feels vintage, sounds wide open, and is built with modern precision.
Features & Specs:
Heavy Relic
Ash body, sorted for lightweight
Lacquer finish in Faded Butterscotch Blonde
7lbs 3oz
Fender Custom Shop Tweed case
Hardware & Appointments
Chrome plating
51–54 Tele bridge assembly
Vintage output assembly
51 Mod Nocaster control assembly (original included, currently wired modern)
Vintage neck plate
Vintage w/Fender logo tuners
Vintage disk string guide (50–55)
String gauge: .010–.046
Rift sawn maple
Medium tint nitro lacquer finish
Nocaster “U” back shape
Nut width: 1.650"
Thickness: .860" (1st fret), .920" (12th fret)
9.5” radius
21 frets, Jescar 47095 medium vintage wire
Bone nut
Vintage silver Fender Tele headstock decal
No paint back of neck, frets 1–12
Maple Fingerboard
Wide dot spacing
Micarta black face dots and side dots
Pickups – Hand-Wound “Chicago Specials”
Bridge: Wide diameter AlNiCo 3 magnets + thinner 43 gauge enamel wire = hot, juicy tone
Neck: Wide diameter AlNiCo 5 magnets, overwound with 43 gauge enamel wire = high output, clarity, and punch
Both potted in shellac for a wide, open frequency response
Black pickguard
Knurled chrome control knobs - Reviews
-