This is a like new, gently used and never gigged, 1951 reissue that has been lightly and tastefully relic'd by Chad Underwood, a boutique guitar maker in Lexington, KY. It looks and feels a bit worn in, but is an essentially new guitar. I bought this guitar new from Willcutt Guitars, and was really happy to find it, because I don't like a brand new high-gloss guitar with a slippery neck. This is kind of the best of both worlds - a new guitar with a little bit of a worn finish. The quality of the relic job can't be overstated, it's really nice. These come with the chonky "baseball bat" neck, which feels great - the guitar plays and looks amazing. Comes with original HSC and all case candy, as pictured. Weighs in at 8.1 lbs.

As described by Fender:

The Fender® American Vintage II series presents a remarkably accurate take on the revolutionary designs that altered the course of musical history. Built with period-accurate bodies, necks and hardware, premium finishes and meticulously voiced, year-specific pickups, each instrument captures the essence of authentic Fender craftsmanship and tone.

Just one year after launching the Broadcaster®, Fender received a cease-and-desist telegram from the Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co. and was faced with renaming its flagship electric guitar. Taking inspiration from the booming growth and expansive reach of television, the first blackguard Telecaster rolled off the line in 1951, and the model has been in continuous production ever since. Deceptively simple and totally groundbreaking, the Telecaster® brought the solid body electric guitar to the masses, inspiring countless musicians along the way.

The American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster features an ash body finished in Butterscotch Blonde to capture the tone and look of the original. The substantial '51 "U"-shaped hard rock maple neck plays like a dream with a 7.25" radius fingerboard and vintage tall frets. Characteristic of production in 1951, 12th fret face-dot spacing is narrow and the sole Phillips-head fastener on the guitar is at the truss rod nut. The triple brass saddle bridge, single-line "Fender Deluxe" tuners and Pure Vintage '51 Telecaster pickups deliver classic twang and authentic Fender style.

The instruments in the American Vintage II series are direct descendants of the original Fenders: designed for players with a fine appreciation for vintage Fender tone and feel and built with unmatched quality, down to the last screw. These are Fender electrics in their purest form: Fender American Vintage II, the stuff of legends.