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The American Special Telecaster is a great choice for the player who wants a vintage-style Telecaster with modern features. The body is crafted from alder, a tonewood that is known for its lively midrange tone. The maple neck has a comfortable “C” shape, and the rosewood fingerboard has 22 jumbo frets for easy bending. The pickups are a pair of Texas Special single-coils, which are known for their twangy, country-infused tone.
The American Standard Telecaster is the perfect choice for the player who wants a classic Telecaster with modern upgrades. The body is crafted from alder, and the maple neck has a comfortable “C” shape. The fingerboard is maple with 22 jumbo frets for easy bending. The pickups are a pair of Fender Custom Shop ’69 single-coils, which are known for their warm, vintage-infused tone.
| American Special vs American Standard Telecaster | ||
|---|---|---|
American Special | 
American Standard Telecaster | |
Brand | Fender | Fender |
Price | $850-$2500 | $999 |
Number Of Strings | 6 | 6 |
Available Colors | Olympic White, Color Sunburst | Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Red, Sunburst |
Body | ||
Body Type | Solid Body | Solid Body |
Body Material | Alder | Alder Ash |
Body Bridge | Vintage Style 3-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body Tele Bridge | Fender American Series Tele Bridge |
Neck | ||
Neck Shape | Modern C | Modern C |
Neck Material | Maple | Maple |
Neck Joints | 4-Bolt Standard | 4-Bolt with Micro-Tilt™ |
Scale Length | 25.5″ | 25.5″ |
Number Of Frets | 22 Jumbo | 22 Medium Jumbo |
Nut Width | 1.685″ | 1.685″ |
Hardware & Electronics | ||
Bridge Pickup | Texas Special™ Single-Coil Tele | Custom Shop Single-Coil Broadcaster |
Neck Pickup | Texas Special™ Single-Coil Tele | Custom Shop “Twisted” Single-Coil Tele |
Switch | 3 Way | 3 Way |
Volume Knobs | 1 | 1 |
Tone Controls | 1 | 1 |
Overall Rating | 8.2/10 | 8/10 |
Is it worth buying the Fender American Special Telecaster Guitar?
The American Special Telecaster® guitar puts genuine U.S-made Fender quality into the hands of players at any level. It all starts with an alder body for classic Tele twang, then adds a pair of Texas Special™ single-coils for that distinctive Telecaster snap. The ‘C’-shaped maple neck feels just right, and the jumbo frets make for fast, comfortable playing. Other features include an alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, vintage-style bridge and tuners, three-way switching, and chrome hardware.
Is it worth buying the Fender American Standard Telecaster Guitar?
The Fender American Standard Telecaster is the original workhorse guitar that helped create country, rock, and blues. It features an alder body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard. The pickups are two single-coil pickups that create a classic, bright Telecaster sound. The 3-saddle bridge and vintage-style tuners complete the classic look. The Fender American Standard Telecaster is a great choice for any musician looking for a versatile guitar that can be used for any style of music.
Still unsure on which Fender guitar to play? Check out our other comparison guide: Jazzmaster vs Telecaster or a deeper dive into Fender vs Ibanez
