Up for sale, a 2011 Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Yuriy Shishkov 1963 Telecaster Thinline B-Bender in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case, CoA, hangtags, and all case candy. The highest tier of Fender's Custom Shop, the Masterbuilt models are made by a singular master craftsman, in contrast to other "team built" Custom Shop tiers. This Tele was handcrafted by Yuriy Shishkov: rising from his humble origins building guitars in a Soviet-era Belarusian root cellar to his current status as Principal Master Builder, Shishkov has crafted instruments for Jimmy Page, Dimebag Darrell, and Paul Stanley, to name just a few.

This particular Telecaster Thinline has a distinctly Nashville-friendly feature set, boasting a genuine Parsons/Green B-Bender and a TV Jones Power-Tron in the neck position, along with a Strat-style headstock and a Closet Classic relic on the gloss three-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer finish. Interestingly, this Telecaster is branded as a ‘63 vintage reissue on the CoA, but the Tele Thinline was not introduced as a model until 1968.

At only 8lbs 2oz, the semi-hollow alder body pairs perfectly with the B-Bender to mitigate weight, offering plenty of natural resonance and chime. The handwound single coil in the bridge position offers quintessential Tele twang and sparkle, with a notably full midrange punch. The TV Jones Power’Tron in the neck position was designed to combine PAF-style warmth and power with classic Filter’Tron cut and jangle, featuring larger bobbins and more windings to create a “badder, gnarlier older brother to the TV Classic.” This Masterbuilt Yuriy Shiskov 1963 Telecaster Thinline benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Maple
• Shape: Medium C, measuring .830” 1st fret, .990” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Rosewood, 7 1/4“ radius
• Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3
• Scale Length: 25 1/2”
• Nut: 1 5/8”, bone
• Tuners: Kluson-style
• Serialization: Four-digit stamp on (contoured) neck plate
• Factory Markings: Neck heel signed by Shishkov, Custom Shop chevron logo with Shiskov signature on peghead

Body Specs:

• Wood: Alder
• Pickups: Hand-wound ‘63-spec single coil, TV Jones Power’Tron
• Harness: CTS 250k pots date to 8th week of 2011
• Controls: Volume, Tone, Three-way pickup selector
• Hardware: “Pat. Pend” bridge with threaded saddles, flat-top knurled knobs, Fender Parsons/Green B-Bender
• Plastics: Four-ply dark red tortoise pickguard, Strat-style switch tip
• Factory Markings: “YS” initials stamped in neck pickup cavity

The Closet Classic relic treatment on the gloss three-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer finish is quite subtle, designed (as the name would suggest) to evoke a well-kept instrument, with lacquer checking and some minor marks of simulated wear. Beyond the relic, there isn’t any wear distinguishable from the factory aging. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean, with just a couple tiny marks.

The original G&G Deluxe hardshell case is included, along with the CoA (dated 4/28/11 and signed by Shishkov), all hangtags and case candy (still sealed in the factory bag).