Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Paul Waller Cabronita Telecaster Journeyman Relic Gretsch Orange

 One of a Kind Masterbuilt Paul Waller Cabronita Tele

Truetone Music is proud to have a long and close relationship with Fender, especially with the Custom Shop.  Every so often, we make a pilgrimage there to sit down with Masterbuilders to cook up a batch of amazing guitars.  Sometimes we go for vintage-styled recreations, sometimes we go for modernized tweaks.  Sometimes it's a classic color, sometimes it's a totally new color or even reclaimed wood.  No matter what, they always knock it out of the park!

This very unique Cabronita Tele is a result of this partnership.  In 2019, we met with Masterbuilder Paul Waller and came up with the idea for this guitar.  We specifically asked him what he was interested in doing and worked on the design together.  That was the genesis of this unbelievably awesome guitar.

One of the first things you'll notice, of course, is that this is not a normal Telecaster.  It's a Cabronita, a version of Fender's original design, which debuted about a decade ago.  The traditional Tele pickups are gone, replaced by TV Jones pickups.  Along with that, the old school Tele bridge is replaced by a custom made smaller bridge, as seen years ago on the GE Smith Tele.  Also, the guitar has a custom Cabronita pickguard instead of what you would normally see on a regular Tele.

You'll also notice the color: Gretsch Orange.  Given that this Fender guitar has a lot of Gretsch characteristics with it, we felt this was the most fitting color for it.  It's a transparent finish, so the wood grain of the ash really shows.  The white nitro binding also really stands out, adding a very cool aesthetic to the guitar.  We chose to do this one as a Journeyman Relic, and Paul nailed it (of course he did!).  It has the look and feel of a guitar that has been around for decades as a workhorse, but also well taken care of but not thrashed upon.  So, you get finish checking, aging and fading of the hardware, and some small nicks/dings, but no serious wear.  We also chose gold hardware for this one, to add to the "Gretsch-ness" of it.

We really didn't know what the outcome would be when originally spec'ing it out, but couldn't be happier with the result.  It's truly unique.  

The neck is amazing too, being made from a sturdy piece of rift sawn maple with a Bi-Flex truss rod inside.  It has all of the feel & comfort you would expect from a masterbuilt instrument, especially with the 51 "U" neck shape.  Paul really does amazing work with the fine details on a neck, from the perfectly seated frets, rolled edges and overall playability.  Right off the bat, it's one of the best playing necks of any guitar we have here.  It's topped with a AAA Rosewood fretboard that has a 9.5" radius and Narrow Tall (6105) frets.  This makes it extremely easy to play, even up high on the neck when bending notes.  As added touch, we went with a painted head cap and Gretsch-style thumbnail inlays, to make it even more unique.

For the pickups, we entirely went with Paul's suggestions.  Here's what they are:

Neck: TV Jones Classic Plus  -  This bigger, badder, older sibling to the TV Classic that packs a mighty punch and more attitude. Using thinner gauge wire, it saturates quicker with punchy mids but keeps that "Classic" Filter'Tron vibe with a slightly rounder top-end and a touch more output. Many players wish for a Filter'Tron that has "more" to it's sound...this pickup fills that need very well.

Bridge: TV Jones Powertron  -  Born out of the desire to create a pickup that has the character of a PAF-style humbucker yet retains the essence of a Filter'Tron. Larger bobbins, standard HB sized wire, and more windings create a badder, gnarlier older brother to the TV Classic (and TV Classic Plus).  Mixing the vintage tone of a golden-age PAF with the rockabilly twang of a late-'50s Filter'Tron, it has a full body and a clear top end that is naturally dynamic. Digging in reveals a chunky low-end breakup paired with a barky top-end grit that sounds amazing through a tube amp. 

This guitar has all of the mojo of a vintage instrument, with a serious twist.  It comes with a special blonde hardshell case, strap and Certificate of Authenticity.

Paul Waller is a Southern California native with woodworking in his blood. He built his first guitar at age 14 in his high school woodshop, and after graduating from the acclaimed Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in 2000, joined Fender in 2003. He spent two years working closely with master arch-top craftsman Bob Benedetto, and became steeped in the many facets of building techniques from all the Custom Shop’s Master Builders. After an extensive seven-year apprenticeship, Waller became a Master Builder in 2010.  Since then, his work has become known all over the world, and is responsible for some of the most prestigious and recognizable guitars to come from Fender.  We've been fortunate enough to receive a few of them, including the famed 9-Neck guitar in 2018.  Not only are Waller's talents amazing, he is also a pleasure to work with, and we're always happy to partner with him on designing unique guitars like this '63 Strat HSS with a humbucker created by the master himself.

A Masterbuilt instrument is like no other, and this is truly a one of a kind.  Come to Club Fender at Truetone Music to experience it today, or make it yours right here.

• Serial # R122394
• Weight: 6.8 lbs
• Model# 9211002711
• Finish Package: Journeyman Relic
• Finish: Nitro Lacquer
• Color: Gretsch Orange
• Body: Ash
• Neck: Rift Sawn Maple
• Neck Shape: 51 "U"
• Fretboard: AAA Rosewood
• Frets: 21
• Fretwire: 6105 Narrow Tall
• Radius: 9.5"
• Neck Nut Width: 1.650"
• Neck Thickness at 1st Fret:  .950"
• Neck Thickness at 12th Fret:  1.00"
• Neck Butt Width: 2.200"
• Pickguard: Custom Single Ply Acrylic Cream
• Neck Pickup: TV Jones Classic Plus
• Bridge Pickup:  TV Jones Powertron
• Bone Nut
• Tuners: Vintage
• String Guide: Vintage
• Bridge: Custom GE Smith Tele 
• Neck Plate: Vintage
• Back Plate: Cream
• Switch: 3 way toggle
• Case: Custom Shop Blonde