Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster®, Maple Fingerboard, 2-Color Sunburst

Quick Product Summary

The Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster® in 2-Color Sunburst takes the professional-level Telecaster formula and gives it a genuinely special anniversary treatment. Rather than simply changing the finish, Fender combines an alder body with a figured flame maple top, elegant double binding, premium gold hardware and anniversary-specific electronics.

The Deep “C” maple neck is paired with a 9.5" radius maple fingerboard, rolled fingerboard edges and 22 medium-jumbo frets, providing the familiar combination of substance and contemporary playability associated with Fender's American Professional instruments. A Super-Natural satin urethane finish on the back keeps the neck feeling smooth and comfortable.

Two 75th Anniversary V-Mod II Single-Coil Telecaster® pickups cover the familiar bridge bite and warmer neck sound, but there is an additional trick hidden in the tone control. Pressing the push-push switch in the middle selector position places both pickups in series, creating a fuller, higher-output voice that expands the traditional Telecaster palette.

Finished with a compensated three-saddle top-load/string-through bridge, gold locking tuners, bone nut, treble-bleed circuit and an included Deluxe Molded Case, this is a distinctive American-made Telecaster designed for players who want premium modern performance with genuine limited-edition appeal.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Fender
Collection	Limited Edition 75th Anniversary Telecaster Collection
Model	American Professional Custom Telecaster®
Model Number	0171022703
Finish	2-Color Sunburst
Body	Alder with Flame Maple Top
Body Detail	Double Bound
Neck	Maple, Deep “C”
Fingerboard	Maple
Radius	9.5"
Pickups	Two 75th Anniversary V-Mod II Telecaster Single-Coils
Special Switching	Push-Push Series Mode
Hardware	Gold
Condition	New
Included Item	Deluxe Molded Case
Main Appeal	Premium anniversary Telecaster combining Custom-style looks with modern American Professional performance
Best For	Professional players, collectors, recording, rock, blues, country, indie and premium Telecaster buyers

What’s Included?

• Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster®

• Fender Deluxe Molded Case

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

As with the new electric guitars we sell, this Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster is checked by the Fair Deal Music team before leaving the shop.

We assess its general playing condition, tuning hardware, pickup operation, three-way switching, push-push series function, controls and output so that obvious issues can be identified before dispatch. With a premium limited-edition instrument, presentation and overall operating condition are particularly important.

Guitar setups can naturally shift slightly during delivery as instruments respond to changes in temperature and humidity. Players also have individual preferences for neck relief, string height and overall feel, so minor adjustment after the guitar has acclimatised can occasionally be beneficial.

Why Choose The 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster?

Flame Maple Top And Double-Bound Body

The alder body is topped with flame maple and finished in 2-Color Sunburst, while binding follows the front and rear edges for the refined Custom Telecaster aesthetic.

This gives the instrument a noticeably more luxurious appearance than a conventional American Professional Telecaster without abandoning the familiar solid-body Tele platform.

75th Anniversary V-Mod II Pickups

Fender's anniversary-specific V-Mod II Telecaster single-coils balance traditional Telecaster character with the clarity and output expected from a contemporary professional instrument.

The bridge position supplies the attack and definition that make Telecasters so effective for rhythm and cutting lead work, while the neck pickup provides the fuller, warmer side of the instrument.

Series Switching Adds Another Gear

Pressing the push-push tone control while using both pickups places them in series rather than the normal parallel configuration.

The result is a fuller, stronger sound that can be particularly useful for overdrive, lead work or any situation where the standard middle position feels too restrained.

Premium Gold Hardware

Gold hardware runs throughout the instrument, including the locking tuning machines and bridge appointments. Against the 2-Color Sunburst, flame maple and mint-green pickguard, it gives this anniversary model an immediately distinctive appearance without changing the fundamental Telecaster silhouette.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

75th Anniversary Custom Telecaster vs American Professional II Telecaster

The standard American Professional II Telecaster shares many of the same working-player fundamentals, including a Deep “C” neck, rolled fingerboard edges, V-Mod II pickups, compensated brass three-saddle bridge and Deluxe Molded Case.

Choose the anniversary Custom if the flame maple top, double binding, gold hardware, commemorative status and anniversary-specific pickup treatment justify the premium. Choose the regular American Professional II if you want the core professional playing experience in a more understated package.

vs 75th Anniversary Player II Sparkle Telecaster

The 75th Anniversary Player II Sparkle Telecaster offers a much more accessible anniversary option with a Modern “C” neck, six-saddle bridge and Thunderbolt™ pickups.

The American Professional Custom moves decisively into premium territory with its American construction, flame maple top, double binding, Deep “C” neck, series switching, locking tuners, gold hardware and molded hard case. The Player II Sparkle is the better value choice; the American Professional is the considerably more sophisticated instrument.

vs American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster

The American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster focuses on historically accurate early-Telecaster construction with a substantial vintage neck, 7.25" radius, period-style hardware and vintage-oriented pickups.

The Anniversary American Professional Custom approaches Telecaster heritage from the opposite direction. Its rolled 9.5" fingerboard, medium-jumbo frets, locking tuners and additional switching make it far more contemporary. Choose the American Vintage II for period feel; choose this for modern professional performance wrapped in premium anniversary styling.

vs American Ultra II Telecaster

The American Ultra II Telecaster is aimed squarely at the modern high-performance player, with sculpted body contours and Ultra II Noiseless™ pickups among its defining features.

The Anniversary Custom retains a more recognisably traditional Telecaster body and conventional single-coil personality while still offering modern neck comfort and additional electronics. It is the stronger option for someone who wants a premium Tele that still feels closely connected to the classic design.

Who Is The Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster For?

This model is particularly well suited to experienced players looking for a premium Telecaster that stands apart from regular production instruments without becoming impractical for everyday use.

Gigging guitarists get locking tuners, a comfortable rolled-edge neck, versatile switching and an included molded case. Recording players gain four genuinely useful electronic configurations from a deceptively simple two-pickup setup.

It also has clear appeal for collectors and long-term Fender enthusiasts. The combination of anniversary specification, flame maple top, gold hardware and Custom-style binding makes it visually identifiable without turning it into an instrument that feels too precious to play.

Looking for advice on choosing between an American Professional, American Ultra, American Vintage II or another Fender Telecaster? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in our Birmingham showroom.

Suitable Genres & Playing Styles

The American Professional Custom Telecaster is particularly well suited to:

• Rock

• Blues

• Country

• Americana

• Indie

• Alternative

• Pop

• Funk

• Soul

• Singer-songwriter work

• Studio recording

• Clean rhythm guitar

• Overdriven rhythm

• Lead guitar

• Effects-heavy rigs

• Professional live performance

The standard bridge and neck voices retain the versatility expected from a Telecaster, while series mode gives heavier styles and lead work a useful additional option without requiring a humbucker.

What Does Series Switching Do On A Telecaster?

A conventional Telecaster middle position normally runs the bridge and neck pickups in parallel. This creates the clear, balanced combined-pickup sound associated with the traditional Tele layout.

The anniversary Custom's push-push control can instead connect those pickups in series. The signal flows through one pickup and then the other, producing a fuller and stronger response. It gives you a useful fourth tonal option without adding extra visible switches or changing the classic two-pickup appearance.

Story & Context

The Telecaster's story began with Fender's earliest production solid-body electric guitars. The dual-pickup Broadcaster appeared in 1950 before Fender adopted the Telecaster name in 1951, creating a design that would become one of the foundations of electric guitar history.

While the basic Telecaster was deliberately simple and utilitarian, Fender soon explored more refined interpretations. The historic Custom Telecaster concept added visual sophistication to the familiar single-cutaway design, most notably through bound body treatments and premium finishes.

That idea remains relevant to this 75th Anniversary model. Rather than reproducing one particular vintage instrument, Fender takes the elegant Custom Telecaster philosophy and combines it with contemporary American Professional features.

The result celebrates 75 years of the Telecaster from 1951 to 2026 while showing how far the design can evolve without losing the simplicity and directness that made it successful in the first place.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Brand	Fender
Model	75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster®
Model Number	0171022703
Series	Limited Edition 75th Anniversary Telecaster Collection
Colour	2-Color Sunburst
Orientation	Right-Handed
Body Shape	Telecaster®
Body Style	Solid Body
Body Material	Alder
Body Top	Flame Maple
Body Detail	Double Bound
Body Finish	Gloss Urethane
Neck Material	Maple
Neck Shape	Deep “C”
Neck Construction	4-Bolt
Neck Finish	Super-Natural Satin Urethane on Back with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face
Fingerboard Material	Maple
Fingerboard Radius	9.5" / 241 mm
Fingerboard Edges	Rolled
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Number of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1.685" / 42.8 mm
Position Inlays	Black Dot
Side Dots	Black
Bridge Pickup	75th Anniversary V-Mod II Single-Coil Tele®
Neck Pickup	75th Anniversary V-Mod II Single-Coil Tele®
Pickup Configuration	SS
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Standard Switching	3-Position Blade
Auxiliary Switching	Push-Push Tone Control Activates Series Mode
Treble Bleed Circuit	Yes
Bridge	3-Saddle Top-Load/String-Through Tele®
Saddles	Compensated Brass “Bullet” Saddles
Tuning Machines	Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking, All Short Posts
Hardware Finish	Gold
Pickguard	3-Ply Mint Green
Pickup Covers	Neck: Gold; Bridge: Black
Control Knobs	Knurled Dome
Switch Tip	Black
Strap Buttons	Vintage-Style
Strings	Fender® USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel, .009–.042
Case	Deluxe Molded Case

Power Requirements

The Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster uses passive single-coil pickups and requires no battery or external power supply.

Connect it to a suitable guitar amplifier, audio interface, modeller, multi-effects processor or pedalboard using a standard ¼" instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster is exactly the sort of anniversary instrument we like to see: special enough to justify its existence, but practical enough to become somebody's main guitar.

The flame maple top, double binding and gold hardware provide the visual impact, but the real value is underneath. The Deep “C” neck, rolled fingerboard edges, compensated brass saddles, locking tuners and additional series wiring make this a highly capable professional instrument rather than simply a collectible finish.

Best suited for: Professional players, serious Fender enthusiasts and Telecaster fans wanting a premium limited-edition instrument.

Customers usually upgrade from: Fender Player, Player II, Vintera, American Performer and other mid-to-upper-level Telecaster models.

Most commonly paired with: Quality valve or modelling amplifier, premium instrument cable, overdrive, compressor, delay and reverb pedals.

Our tip: Don't overlook the push-push series position. It gives the guitar a noticeably fuller additional voice and can reduce the need to reach for another guitar when you want more weight from the pickups.

Showroom feedback: The double-bound flame maple body and gold hardware make the immediate impression, but the neck is what makes this a guitar you'll actually want to keep playing. The Deep “C” profile feels substantial without becoming cumbersome, and the rolled edges give it a comfortably broken-in quality.

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 has spent decades helping beginners, enthusiasts, collectors and professional players choose instruments and equipment that genuinely suit their needs.

With a premium limited-edition Fender such as this, we're happy to help you compare the instrument against American Professional, American Vintage, American Ultra and other Telecaster models so you can make an informed decision before purchasing.

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

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Secure online ordering

• A large Birmingham music showroom

• Decades of experience with new and pre-owned musical instruments and equipment

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

What makes this different from a standard American Professional II Telecaster?

The anniversary Custom adds a flame maple top, double-bound body, gold hardware and anniversary-specific V-Mod II pickups to the professional Telecaster formula. Its commemorative specification makes it considerably more distinctive visually while retaining modern American Professional playability.

What does the push-push tone control do?

With both pickups selected, pressing the tone control activates series wiring. This creates a fuller, stronger combined-pickup sound than the normal parallel Telecaster middle position.

Does series mode turn the pickups into a humbucker?

No. It changes how the two existing single-coil pickups are connected to one another. The result is fuller and higher in output, but it does not physically convert them into a conventional humbucking pickup.

What is the advantage of the compensated three-saddle bridge?

A traditional three-saddle Telecaster bridge shares one saddle between two strings. The compensated “Bullet” saddle design alters the contact positions to improve intonation while retaining the feel and appearance of a three-saddle Tele bridge.

Can the strings be top-loaded as well as fitted through the body?

Yes. The bridge supports both top-load and string-through-body installation, giving players another way to tailor string feel and response.

Are the tuners locking?

Yes. Fender fits Deluxe Cast/Sealed locking machines with short posts. Locking tuners simplify string changes and help keep the string wraps around the tuner posts neat and consistent.

Is the maple fingerboard suitable for lead guitar?

Yes. Its 9.5" radius and 22 medium-jumbo frets provide a more contemporary environment for string bending and lead work than the rounder boards and smaller frets used on many strict vintage recreations.

Can I use heavier strings?

Yes. The factory specification is .009–.042, but heavier gauges can be fitted. A significant change in tension may require adjustment to neck relief, action and intonation.

Is the gold hardware difficult to look after?

Gold-plated hardware can show fingerprints and gradual wear more readily than chrome or nickel. Wiping the hardware gently with a clean, soft cloth after playing helps keep it looking its best.

Should I choose this or the American Ultra II Telecaster?

Choose this model if you want traditional single-coil Telecaster character, a classic body outline and premium Custom-style presentation. The Ultra II is the stronger choice if noiseless pickups, extensive body contouring and Fender's most overtly modern performance features are higher priorities.

The Fender 75th Anniversary American Professional Custom Telecaster in 2-Color Sunburst successfully combines three distinct ideas: classic Telecaster simplicity, Custom-style elegance and modern American Professional functionality. For the serious player who wants an anniversary instrument that earns its place on stage as well as in a collection, it is an exceptionally strong Telecaster.

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