Since the early '50s, the Fender Telecaster has remained a simple, yet effective design that delivers iconic tone. There's a reason why players of all genres gravitate towards the Telecaster—its tone is transparent, dynamic, and straightforward.
But what happens when you add a middle pickup to the mix? You get the classic Tele vibe with the Swiss-army-knife versatility of a Stratocaster. The three-pickup Tele is known as a "Nashville Telecaster" because it has long been a studio favorite of session guitarists. With a Stratocaster pickup in the middle position and a 5-way switch, you get a wider range of Fender tones.
Part of Fender's Mexican-made "Deluxe Series," the Deluxe Nashville Telecaster combines top-notch pickups and high-end parts to deliver a hard-working Tele at a reasonable price. The Deluxe Nashville Tele sports three of Fender's Vintage Noiseless pickups (regular Tele neck/bridge and a Strat middle position). If you've ever gigged in an old room with funky wiring, you know why this is helpful. But even if noise isn't a concern, you'll love the authentic pre-CBS tone these pickups produce.
For hardware, the Deluxe Nashville Tele has a modern 6-saddle bridge, which allows you to have proper intonation without needing to compromise (as you often do with vintage-style 3-saddle bridges). From there, it has locking tuners, too, for maximum tuning stability.
One other detail that is worth noting is the neck joint. Like most Fenders, it's a bolt-neck, but on the Deluxe Nashville Tele, the heel is rounded off slightly. The result is smooth, easy access into the upper register, further establishing the Deluxe Nashville Tele as a true player's guitar.
This 2016 Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster has an excellent setup thanks to a new nut. While the Made-In-Mexico guitars often come with high-quality parts, sometimes they need a little love before they're 100%. This one is properly set up and absolutely dialed. It shows some minor playwear (especially around the pickguard), but it's very clean cosmetically and has no history of damages or issues. It includes a high-quality Guardian hardshell case that looks pretty much brand new.