Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Andy Hicks 1964 Telecaster HS Ultimate Relic Aztec Gold With Case

As the name says, the guitar was given the Ultimate Relic treatment - that's more than a Heavy Relic or even a Super Heavy Relic.  What you get is a ton of character.  We couldn't be happier with what he did.   We could describe but a picture is worth a thousand words, and we have some great pictures - we'll pause now so you can check them out.

With an alder body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard, you get the classic combination of woods, resulting in a sweet high-end, punch low end, and excellent sustain.  Even unplugged, it sounds great.  The finish being so worn really lets it breath.  The end result is a beautiful and very resonant guitar. 

We chose the 60 Oval C neck shape, which is the most popular choice for Custom Shop guitars, but with a custom carve (.820 - .890").  This gives you a bit more grip in the first position and a slimmer profile in the higher register.  The modernized tweak we added is that this guitar has a 9.5 - 12.0" compound radius and jumbo (6100) frets.  This makes it easy to play, even up high on the neck when bending notes and digging in.  That, coupled with the perfectly sculpted neck that has the finish worn off, makes this guitar a dream to play.

It's not just about looks and feel - the third element - the sound - is where this guitar really shines.  We agreed with Andy when he suggested doing it as an HS configuration, to give you the best of both worlds. 

In the bridge position, we like keeping it old school, so this Tele is equipped with a Custom Shop Original Blackguard bridge pickup, known for its throaty midrange and bite.  You'll get serious twang out of it, while retaining the ability to keep it smooth when cleaned up.  It's a top notch vintage sounding pickup.

In the neck position, we went with Andy's suggestion of a Seymour Duncan SH1 '59 Humbucker.  We love this one, so we weren't going to argue.  It's a vintage output humbucker that’s great for rock, blues, and more. This delivers classic P.A.F. voicing with modern versatility. The vintage-style coils produce an open, articulate character rooted in golden-era design, while alnico 5 magnets and vacuum wax potting provide enhanced compatibility with high-output amplifiers. The result balances authentic vintage warmth with a lifted treble response and controlled compression, offering players period-correct tonal DNA without sacrificing the dynamic range demanded by discerning ears.

We stayed period correct for the hardware, going with vintage tuners, bridge string guide, etc.  The idea is to have everything you'd expect in a vintage Tele from the 60's, with a unique level of customization and a modern feel to the neck.  The guitar comes with a Custom Shop tweed case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.