Fender Custom Shop 52 Tele Left-Handed - Relic Butterscotch Blonde

This Fender Custom Shop '52 Telecaster Relic - Left-Handed in Butterscotch Blonde is a rare and highly sought-after build, offering vintage tone and feel with Custom Shop precision, tailored specifically for left-handed players. With a 2-piece ash body, finished in thin nitrocellulose lacquer, and aged with Fender's Relic treatment, it captures the look and vibe of a well-worn Blackguard Tele from the early '50s.

The 5/4 quarter-sawn maple neck is carved to a robust '52-style "U" profile, offering a substantial grip and classic feel. A 9.5" radius and 6105 narrow tall frets provide modern playability while retaining vintage character. The absence of a separate fretboard keeps the look true to early Telecaster builds, with a smooth playing surface and direct tonal transfer.

At the heart of this guitar are its pickups, a set of handwound 50/51 Blackguard single-coils, crafted by Josefina Campos, Fender's Master Pickup Winder and one of the most respected artisans in the industry. Josefina's journey began in 1991 on the factory floor in Corona, California, where she sanded bodies and loaded them for finishing. Her path changed forever when she began apprenticing under Abigail Ybarra, the legendary pickup winder who learned directly from Leo Fender himself.

Josefina absorbed every detail of Ybarra's technique, eventually taking over her role and becoming the Custom Shop's lead pickup winder. Her pickups are revered for their vintage-correct voicing, and touch-sensitive articulation, and they carry a legacy that stretches back to the very origins of Fender. Each coil is wound by hand, with care and precision that reflects decades of tradition and a deep personal connection to the craft.

As Josefina herself puts it: "I think the pickups are the heart of the guitar. I put all my love, all my dedication in my pickups. I give it all my heart." That passion is felt in this guitar with its unmistakable Tele twang with warmth, bite and nuance. For left-handed players, finding a guitar with Josefina's pickups is exceptionally rare, making this build not just a tone machine, but a true collector's piece.