Fender launches American Vintage II series guitars

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Fender gives guitarists worldwide the opportunity to channel their inner rock star with a brand new line of guitars and basses modeled after the iconic instruments of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. The American Vintage II Series guitars are available now from Fender’s website.

The many new axes built in Corona, California are a “1:1 comparison to their original predecessors,” said Justin Norvell, Fender’s Executive VP of Product, adding, “Today they are built with precise, built using modern manufacturing processes that were not available in the past.”

The new line is endorsed by Patti Smith, Brothers Osborne, James Bay, Jeff Beck and other rock figures behind Fender’s campaign.

“If you’ve listened to popular music, your favorite songs, guitar solos and punchy bass lines have probably been played on a Fender [guitar]said Fender CMO Evan Jones. “It’s impossible to count the number of artists who have used these instruments to create some of the most memorable music of the last 76 years. Built to original specifications, these American Vintage II Series models demonstrate both the timelessness and relevance of the Fender brand.”

On October 14th, Fender is hosting a pop-up event near the Austin City Limits Music Festival with a performance by Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada. At this event, consumers will be able to purchase the ’51 Telecaster at the original price of $229.90.

Browse the new collection below.

1951 Telecaster

Revisit the Telecaster’s humble origins with this beautiful remake of the 1951 model. Based on the “deceptively simple and utterly groundbreaking” original Tele, this Blackguard Solidbody is available in Butterscotch Blonde. It has a maple neck and 7.25″ radius fingerboard, not to mention the brass triple saddle bridge, single-row “Fender Deluxe” tuners and Pure Vintage ’51 Telecaster pickups.

American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster

$2,249.99

buy it

1957 Stratocaster

Offered in Seafoam Green, Two-Tone Sunburst, and Vintage Blonde, this recreation of the 1957 Stratocaster features a vintage-accurate synchronized tremolo (for all your whammying needs) with cold-rolled steel block and bent steel saddles, as well as “Fender Deluxe” single-row tuners and a single-ply pickguard. The ’57 Strat also includes Pure Vintage ’57 Stratocaster pickups, body contouring and a V-shaped neck with a 7.25″ radius maple fingerboard.

American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster

$2,099.99

buy it

1966 Jazz Masters

This beautiful Dakota red, Lake Placid blue, and tri-color sunburst guitar is based on the 1966 Fender original, which was “intended to offer a luxurious playing experience and entice jazz guitarists to play solid-body electric guitars.” The ’66 Jazzmaster features a white neck binding, pearl blocks, and single-row “Fender Deluxe” tuners, as well as the patented “floating” tremolo, an adjustable bridge with threaded saddles, and Pure Vintage ’66 Jazzmaster pickups.

American Vintage II 1966 Jazzmaster

$2,399.99

buy it

1960 precision bass

Available in Daphne Blue, tri-tone sunburst and black, this version of the 1960 Precision Bass features a premium alder body, a Pure Vintage ’60 split-coil P-Bass pickup, and a beefy C-shaped hard rock maple neck paired with a Rosewood fingerboard with a 7.25 inch radius. Early adopters of this sleek model included Elvis Presley and his bassist, Bill Black.

American Vintage II 1960 Precision Bass

$2,099.99

buy it

1972 Telecaster Thinline

An ode to the second generation Telecaster Thinline that debuted in 1972, this semi-hollow body features a “bullet” style truss rod nut, three-bolt neckplate with Micro-Tilt™ mechanism, “F” stamped machine heads and a Six saddle string-through body hardtail with bent steel saddles. Modeled after Fender’s first six-string with humbucking pickups, the guitar is available in aged natural tone, tri-tone sunburst, and Lake Placid blue.

American Vintage II 1972 Telecaster Thinline

$2,399.99

buy it