Fender (2009) 1952 Hot Rod Reissue Telecaster - Butterscotch w/ OHSC

As early as 1950, Fender became the first company to successfully market solidbody electric guitars. Since then, the two-pickup, single-cutaway Telecaster has remained a simple, yet effective design that delivers versatile tone. There's a reason why players of all genres gravitate towards the Telecaster—its tone is transparent, dynamic, and straightforward. It seems to do everything well.

Of all the various iterations, no Telecaster is celebrated like the 1952 "Blackguard" examples. Made from 2007 to 2013, the Vintage Hot Rod '52 Telecaster is a tricked-out alternative to the more common American Vintage Reissue model. The name "Hot Rod" comes from the Seymour Duncan Mini Humbucker in the neck position, and this beefier, thicker rhythm sound adds another dimension to the Telecaster template. 

From there, the Vintage Hot Rod '52 has the right vintage-appropriate bridge, but it has intonatable brass saddles, instead of the less precise design. The saddles make the Hot Rod a true player's axe because you can dial in the intonation and stay in tune all the way up the fingerboard. Also, the brass saddles not only look right for 1952, but they are critical to nailing the classic '50s tone. Similarly, the Hot Rod has a full-feeling U-shape neck—just like the '50s originals—but the fingerboard radius is 9.5", optimized for modern players. 

This 2009 Fender Vintage Hot Rod '52 Telecaster is gently used and is in excellent condition with very little wear except with some moderate play wear on pickguard (see photos). The guitar plays nicely with low action, and when you plug in, it is an absolutely ripper of a Telecaster. Includes original hard case.  The Ash body shows beautiful grain character. Who needs a hard-working, reliable blackguard?