The 2013 Fender FSR American Telecaster Rustic Ash in Sonic Blue is a distinctive USA-made special-run Tele that combines familiar American Standard-era playability with a much less conventional finish and hardware package.

Its select ash body is finished in an aged-looking satin Sonic Blue lacquer that allows the wood grain to remain visible, complemented by a distinctive brown anodized aluminium pickguard. A maple Modern “C” neck with rosewood fingerboard provides the familiar Fender feel, while two Texas Tele single-coil pickups give the guitar a punchier, hotter response than a traditional low-output vintage Tele setup.

Serial number US13076640 places this individual instrument in 2013 production. This Pre-Owned example is offered in Very Good condition and includes a hardcase.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Fender
Model	FSR American Telecaster Rustic Ash
Year	2013
Country of Manufacture	USA
Finish	Sonic Blue
Body	Ash
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Pickups	Texas Tele Single-Coils
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good
Main Appeal	Limited-run USA Tele with unusual aged Sonic Blue ash finish
Best For	Blues, rock, country, indie, alternative and studio work

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This 2013 Fender FSR American Telecaster Rustic Ash is offered in Very Good condition.

Very Good condition reflects normal evidence of previous ownership while remaining well presented and suitable for continued stage, studio, rehearsal and home use.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ 2013 Fender FSR American Telecaster Rustic Ash Sonic Blue
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This individual guitar has been graded Very Good, making it an appealing option for players looking for a less-common American-made Fender that can be enjoyed as a working instrument rather than kept purely for collection.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Fender Telecaster has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Neck and bridge pickups tested
• Three-way selector checked
• Master volume tested
• No-Load tone control checked
• Output socket tested
• Frets inspected
• Rosewood fingerboard assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Tuning machines inspected
• Bridge and saddles checked
• Hardware assessed
• Tuning stability checked
• Overall playability assessed
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned electric guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes action, neck relief, fret condition, intonation, tuning stability, electronics, pickup output, bridge setup, hardware and overall playability.

Please note that guitar setup can shift slightly during delivery because changes in temperature and humidity can naturally affect wooden instruments in transit.

Why Choose The Fender FSR Rustic Ash Telecaster?

Distinctive Rustic Ash Finish

The Rustic Ash concept was designed to show off the character of the ash body rather than hide it beneath a conventional opaque gloss finish. The faded Sonic Blue satin lacquer allows the underlying grain to remain part of the guitar’s appearance.

Texas Tele Pickups

The two Texas Tele single-coils provide more output and midrange presence than many vintage-style Telecaster pickups, making the guitar particularly effective for blues, rock and driven amplifier tones while retaining recognisable Tele attack.

Rosewood Fingerboard

The Sonic Blue version was specifically paired with a rosewood fingerboard, giving this FSR model a darker visual contrast against the tinted maple neck and faded blue body.

No-Load Tone Control

At its maximum setting, Fender’s No-Load tone control removes the tone circuit from the signal path, giving access to the pickup signal without the normal tone-pot loading.

American Standard-Style Bridge

The six-saddle string-through-body bridge allows individual intonation and height adjustment for each string, offering a more modern setup approach than a traditional three-barrel Tele bridge.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

FSR Rustic Ash Telecaster vs 2013 American Standard Telecaster

The American Standard is the more conventional choice, while the Rustic Ash FSR adds an ash body, unusual faded lacquer treatment, brown anodized aluminium guard and hotter Texas Tele pickups for a noticeably different visual and tonal identity.

Rustic Ash Telecaster vs American Vintage Telecaster

An American Vintage model focuses more heavily on historically accurate neck, bridge and pickup specifications. The Rustic Ash is better suited to players wanting vintage-inspired looks combined with modern American Standard-era ergonomics.

Rustic Ash Telecaster vs Modern American Professional Telecaster

The American Professional family introduced newer neck profiles and pickup designs. This 2013 FSR instead represents the preceding American Standard era and is particularly appealing to players who like that generation of Fender neck and bridge hardware.

Rustic Ash Telecaster vs Traditional Ash Telecaster

A conventional ash Tele often uses Blonde or natural-style finishing to highlight the grain. The Rustic Ash takes the same visual idea in a less traditional direction with faded Sonic Blue and anodized brown hardware.

Who Is It For?

Blues And Blues-Rock Players

The Texas Tele pickups give this guitar enough output and midrange to work particularly well with valve-amp breakup, boosts and overdrive pedals.

Rock Guitarists

The bridge pickup retains the attack needed for cutting rhythm parts while offering enough power for driven lead sounds.

Country Players

The fundamental Telecaster clarity and string-through bridge still provide the fast attack and definition associated with country rhythm and lead work.

Indie And Alternative Guitarists

The unusual finish and punchier electronics make this a strong option for players who want something recognisably Fender without choosing a standard production colour or specification.

Fender Collectors

The FSR status, exact Sonic Blue/rosewood combination and short-lived Rustic Ash concept give the model additional interest compared with a normal American Standard Telecaster.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Blues
• Blues rock
• Classic rock
• Country
• Americana
• Indie
• Alternative
• Pop
• Punk
• Roots rock
• Rhythm guitar
• Lead guitar
• Edge-of-breakup tones
• Overdrive and boost pedals
• Studio recording
• Live performance

What Makes The Rustic Ash Telecaster Different From A Standard Tele?

The biggest difference is the way Fender combined premium American Standard-era hardware with a deliberately unusual aesthetic. Rather than simply offering Sonic Blue as another solid colour, the Rustic Ash treatment was designed to leave the character of the ash body visible beneath the aged-looking satin lacquer.

It also received Texas Tele pickups, a No-Load tone circuit and brown anodized aluminium pickguard, giving the model genuine specification differences rather than making it merely a cosmetic special edition.

Looking for advice on choosing the right Fender Telecaster, American-made Tele or Pre-Owned special-run Fender? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: Fender Rustic Ash Telecaster

The Telecaster itself dates back to 1951, when Fender introduced the name for the solid-body guitar design that had begun life as the Broadcaster. Its straightforward bolt-on construction, single-cut body and two-pickup layout became one of the foundations of modern electric-guitar design.

By 2013, the Telecaster had long since expanded into everything from vintage reissues to modern professional models. Fender’s FSR — Fender Special Run — programme gave dealers and particular markets access to shorter-run combinations that sat outside the regular catalogue.

The American Telecaster Rustic Ash was one of those more unusual 2013 offerings. Fender paired select ash bodies with deliberately faded satin finishes and a brown anodized aluminium pickguard, creating a look quite different from the standard American Telecaster range.

Two principal Telecaster versions were offered: a Butterscotch Blonde model with maple fingerboard and this Sonic Blue model with rosewood fingerboard. That makes the US13 example here a clear product of a specific and comparatively short-lived period in Fender’s American special-run catalogue.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Solid Body Electric Guitar
Brand	Fender
Series	FSR / Special Run
Model	American Telecaster Rustic Ash
Product Number	0170430772
Year	2013
Country of Manufacture	USA
Finish	Sonic Blue
Body Material	Select Ash
Body Finish	Satin Lacquer
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Shape	Modern “C”
Neck Finish	Satin Urethane Back
Fingerboard Material	Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius	9.5"
Scale Length	25.5"
Number of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays	White Dots
Pickup Configuration	SS
Neck Pickup	Fender Texas Tele Single-Coil
Bridge Pickup	Fender Texas Tele Single-Coil
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Master Volume, Master No-Load Tone
Pickup Selector	3-Way Blade
Pickguard	1-Ply Brown Anodized Aluminium
Bridge	American Standard String-Through-Body Telecaster
Saddles	6 Bent-Steel Saddles
Bridge Plate	Stamped Brass
Tuning Machines	Deluxe Staggered Cast / Sealed
Serial Number	US13076640
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the guitar’s passive electronics.

Connect it to a suitable guitar amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or recording interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned is often the only way to access Fender Special Run models once their original production period has ended.

The Rustic Ash Telecaster is particularly interesting because its appeal extends beyond an unusual colour. The ash construction, Texas Tele pickups, anodized pickguard, satin lacquer treatment and American Standard hardware create a combination that is no longer part of Fender’s regular range.

At Fair Deal Music, our Pre-Owned guitars are individually checked and assessed before sale, helping customers buy discontinued and limited-run instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The 2013 Fender FSR American Telecaster Rustic Ash Sonic Blue is a genuinely interesting variation on the American Telecaster rather than simply a standard guitar in a rare colour.

The visible ash grain, faded Sonic Blue satin finish and brown anodized guard give it real visual character, while the Texas Tele pickups and No-Load tone circuit make it particularly appealing for players who like a Tele with a little more output and punch.

Best suited for: Blues, rock, country, indie and Fender players looking for a less-common USA Telecaster.

Customers usually upgrade from: Mexican-made Telecasters, Player-series instruments and more conventional production Teles.

Most commonly paired with: Valve amplifiers, overdrive, boost, compressor, delay and spring-style reverb.

Our tip: Try the No-Load tone control fully open for maximum bite, then back it slightly into the normal tone-control range when you want to soften the Texas Tele bridge pickup.

Showroom feedback: The combination of faded Sonic Blue over ash and the brown anodized pickguard gives this model a character that photographs well but is even more distinctive in person.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps players find the right equipment whether they're purchasing their first serious instrument, upgrading an existing setup or searching for something distinctive within the Pre-Owned market.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Competitive prices on leading music brands
• Secure UK-wide delivery
• Friendly support before and after your purchase
• A trusted independent UK music retailer with decades of experience

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this an American-made Fender?

Yes. The US13 serial prefix identifies it as a 2013 USA-made Fender.

What does FSR mean on a Fender guitar?

FSR refers to a Fender Special Run, generally used for limited or market-specific combinations that differ from the standard catalogue specification.

Are Texas Tele pickups higher output than vintage-style Tele pickups?

Yes. They are voiced with more output and midrange push than many low-output vintage-style Telecaster sets, making them particularly effective for blues and rock.

What does the No-Load tone control do?

At its maximum position, it effectively removes the tone pot from the circuit, allowing a slightly more direct and open pickup signal.

Is the six-saddle bridge easier to intonate than a traditional three-saddle Tele bridge?

It allows each string to be adjusted individually, making precise intonation setup particularly straightforward.

Can this Telecaster be used with modern amp modellers?

Yes. Its passive single-coil output works with traditional amplifiers, analogue pedalboards, multi-effects processors and modern digital modelling systems.

Can I request a closer look before purchasing?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo option is particularly useful if you would like to see the Rustic Ash finish, visible grain and overall condition of this individual guitar in greater detail before purchasing.