Fender has released a Tim Shaw-designed Jason Isbell signature Telecaster pickup set for players looking to mod their favorite Teles.
The pickups were designed back in 2021 as part of the modern Americana great’s signature Tele, and the release marks the first time the two single-coil pickups have been available outside of that guitar.
Based on one of Isbell’s favorite guitars, a ’65 Candy Apple Red Telecaster, the bridge, Fender says, delivers “the twang, sparkle, and fire,” that Isbell is known for. Plain-enamel wire has been chosen here for a ‘60s tonality to ensure that twang is suitably pronounced.
Shaw expands on that description, with Fender's in-house pickup guru saying players can expect “classic fat, full Tele tones,” but for the neck pickup, things get interesting.
Its partner pickup has been designed with a slightly taller bobbin and what Shaw calls a “twisted Tele” template. The increased bobbin height allows for more winds, ultimately sculpting a more “Stratocaster-esque” character with its output.
What’s left is “the best of both worlds” from Fender’s two flagship six-strings and their tonal character, with formvar-coated magnet wire helping accentuate its brightness.
Both pickups come loaded with Alnico 5 magnets for “focused and enhanced” dynamics and are wax-potted with a light, road-worn aging aesthetic.
The release follows on the heels of Gibson's painstaking recreation of Isbell's legendary "Red Eye" Les Paul, which formerly belonged to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ed King.
Two years after King's passing in 2018, Guitar Player detailed how Isbell came to own the iconic, sunlight-blotted guitar, with Isbell saying that its former owner “got the best versions of pretty much everything” he owned.
The Les Paul’s iconic release, as a limited edition run of just 59 builds, puts Isbell in the unique position of having signature guitars with both Fender and Gibson, and that is no mere coincidence.
The former Drive-By-Truckers guitarist and solo star has forged a sizable reputation for his powerful but tender chops and dynamic blend of roots and rock playing styles.
That’s propelled him to six Grammy wins – with 2023's Weathervanes taking Best Americana Album, and its track Iron Skillet taking home the Best American Roots Song – accolades as his most recent triumphs.
“This collaboration with Fender is huge for me," Isbell said at the time of his signature Telecaster's launch. "I’ve owned and played Fender guitars since I was 12 years old and I consider their instruments to be a big part of my musical journey.”
Now, a key part of its character is available for modders and tone chasers, without needing to purchase the full guitar.
Handily for Fender, it also puts the spotlight back onto that side of his playing after his headline-grabbing Gibson collaboration earlier this year.
The Jason Isbell Telecaster signature pickup set costs $149.99 and is available today.
Head to Fender to learn more.
"There was a guy walking down the street, singing it at the top of his lungs. I thought, 'Wow — that song can be interpreted a whole different way.' " Warren Haynes explains the lucky break that led to his transformational take on U2's "One"
“It took me months of searching through tens of thousands of photos. And there we had it: George Harrison at home with his collection of guitars.” An unusual guitar is at the center of a mystery about the Beatles' White Album, released 56 years ago today
