Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom Limited Run Gold, Ex-Display, Electric Guitar

Quick Product Summary

The Fender Made in Japan Hybrid Telecaster Custom Limited Run in Gold – Ex-Display combines distinctive Japanese Fender craftsmanship with one of the most versatile Telecaster pickup configurations.

A Fender Wide Range humbucker at the neck is paired with a vintage-style Telecaster single-coil at the bridge, giving you warmer, fuller humbucker sounds alongside the attack and definition that make a traditional Tele bridge pickup so useful.

Its roasted maple “U”-shaped neck, 9.5-inch fingerboard radius and 22 medium-jumbo frets create a comfortable balance between substantial Fender feel and contemporary playability, while vintage-style locking tuners add a practical modern touch.

Finished in satin Gold and offered here as an Ex-Display example, this is a particularly appealing opportunity for players looking for a limited-run Japanese Fender with a specification that sits well outside the standard Telecaster formula.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Fender
Model	Made in Japan Hybrid Telecaster® Custom Limited Run
Model Number	5501602378
Country Of Origin	Japan
Finish	Gold
Condition	Ex-Display
Body	Alder
Neck	Roasted Maple
Neck Profile	“U” Shape
Pickups	Wide Range Humbucker / Vintage-Style Tele Single-Coil
Included	Gig Bag
Main Appeal	Limited-run Japanese Telecaster with versatile SH pickup layout
Best For	Rock, indie, blues, alternative, country and versatile gigging

Ex-Display Condition Report

Condition: Ex-Display

This guitar has been used for display purposes rather than supplied as a sealed-box example.

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

As with all ex-display instruments, the guitar will be checked by our team before leaving the shop to ensure it is ready for its new owner.

What's Included?

• Fender Made in Japan Hybrid Telecaster® Custom Limited Run, Gold

• Fender Gig Bag

Condition Notes

This example is being sold as Ex-Display.

No specific cosmetic blemishes or functional issues have been supplied for the listing.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Before dispatch, our team checks the key functional areas of the guitar, including:

• Electronics and pickup operation

• Volume and tone controls

• Pickup selector operation

• Output socket

• Tuning machines

• Bridge hardware

• Neck and fret condition

• General structural condition

• Playability and basic setup

The guitar will be checked before leaving Fair Deal Music.

Service / Setup Work

The guitar will be checked and set up as required before dispatch.

As with any guitar, setup can shift slightly during transport because of changes in temperature and humidity, so minor adjustment after delivery may occasionally be beneficial depending on personal playing preference.

Why Choose The Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom?

Wide Range Humbucker Meets Classic Telecaster Bite

The pickup configuration is the biggest reason to choose this model. Its Fender Wide Range humbucker gives the neck position more body and warmth than a conventional Telecaster single-coil, while the vintage-style bridge pickup retains the cut and articulation that define the Tele sound.

Independent Volume And Tone Controls

Unlike a conventional Telecaster with master volume and tone controls, the Telecaster Custom gives each pickup its own volume and tone controls. This makes it possible to prepare two contrasting sounds and switch between them instantly.

Roasted Maple “U” Neck

The roasted maple neck uses a substantial “U” profile, giving it more presence in the hand than many slim modern Fender necks. The 9.5-inch radius keeps the playing surface comfortable for contemporary bends and lead work.

Satin Gold Limited-Run Styling

The satin Gold finish gives this Japanese limited-run model a distinctive identity, especially alongside its roasted maple neck, black control knobs and Telecaster Custom pickguard layout.

Vintage Character With Useful Modern Features

A three-saddle string-through Tele bridge maintains traditional Telecaster character, while the 22 medium-jumbo frets, 9.5-inch radius and vintage-style locking tuners make the guitar practical for modern recording, rehearsals and live performance.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom vs Player II Telecaster

The Player II Telecaster is the more straightforward choice if you want the traditional twin-single-coil Tele formula with a Modern “C” neck and contemporary playability.

The MIJ Hybrid Custom offers much greater contrast between its two pickups, plus a fuller “U”-shaped roasted maple neck and four-control Telecaster Custom layout. Choose the Player II for simplicity and traditional Tele tones; choose the MIJ Hybrid Custom for greater tonal variety and individuality.

Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom vs Squier Classic Vibe '70s Telecaster Custom

The Squier Classic Vibe '70s Telecaster Custom provides an accessible introduction to the same basic humbucker-and-single-coil concept.

The Fender MIJ model steps up with Japanese manufacture, roasted maple construction, vintage-style locking tuners and its distinctive limited-run Gold finish. It is better suited to a player looking for a higher-spec long-term instrument.

Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom vs Vintera II '70s Telecaster Deluxe

The Vintera II '70s Telecaster Deluxe moves further towards a humbucker-driven sound with humbuckers in both positions.

Choose the Deluxe if you want thicker tones across the whole guitar. Choose the MIJ Hybrid Custom if retaining the sharper attack of a traditional Tele bridge single-coil is important.

Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom vs American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

The American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe offers a more modern American-made interpretation with dual humbuckers and contemporary switching features.

The MIJ Hybrid Custom has a more traditional Telecaster connection thanks to its bridge single-coil, while its Japanese limited-run status, roasted maple neck and satin Gold finish give it a very different personality.

Who Is The Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom For?

This limited-run Telecaster is particularly well suited to:

• Players who want more tonal variety than a conventional Telecaster

• Guitarists who enjoy warm neck humbucker sounds

• Players who still want traditional Telecaster bridge attack

• Rock, indie and alternative musicians

• Blues and roots players

• Recording guitarists needing contrasting tones from one instrument

• Players who prefer fuller Fender neck profiles

• Fans of Fender Made in Japan instruments

• Guitarists looking for an unusual limited-run Fender

• Buyers looking for additional value from an Ex-Display example

Looking for advice on choosing between a traditional Telecaster, Telecaster Custom or Telecaster Deluxe? Our experienced team of musicians can help you compare pickups, neck profiles and specifications by phone, online or in our Birmingham showroom.

Suitable Genres And Uses

Rock & Classic Rock

The Wide Range neck humbucker provides the weight needed for driven rhythm sounds and smoother leads, while the bridge pickup retains enough bite to stay clearly defined in a band mix.

Indie & Alternative

The contrasting pickup types work particularly well with pedals. Use the bridge single-coil for articulate modulation and delay sounds, then switch to the neck humbucker for thicker fuzz, reverb and overdrive textures.

Blues

The independent controls make it easy to create two very different sounds directly from the guitar, such as a cleaner bridge setting and a warmer neck lead tone.

Country & Roots

Because the guitar retains a traditional-style Tele bridge pickup, it can still produce the focused attack and definition needed for country, roots and cleaner rhythm playing.

Recording

The difference between the neck humbucker and bridge single-coil makes this guitar especially useful in the studio, where contrasting guitar layers often need to occupy different spaces in a mix.

What Does The SH Telecaster Custom Pickup Configuration Offer?

An SH pickup layout combines a single-coil and a humbucker. On this Telecaster Custom, Fender places the Wide Range humbucker at the neck and retains a vintage-style Telecaster single-coil at the bridge.

The result is an unusually versatile Telecaster. You retain the crisp response associated with the bridge position but gain a broader, warmer neck voice for thicker rhythm parts, lead playing and driven sounds. Independent volume and tone controls make the contrast even more useful.

Story & Context

Fender introduced the Telecaster Custom in 1972, bringing a humbucking neck pickup to a design that had traditionally relied on two single coils.

A major part of the concept was Fender's Wide Range humbucker, developed by respected pickup designer Seth Lover. Pairing it with the established Telecaster bridge pickup created a guitar capable of moving between thicker humbucker tones and the sharper response of a traditional Tele.

The Telecaster Custom also introduced the large pickguard, upper-bout pickup selector and separate volume and tone controls that give the model its instantly recognisable appearance.

This Made in Japan Hybrid interpretation brings that underlying concept into a more contemporary specification with roasted maple, a 9.5-inch radius, medium-jumbo frets and locking tuners while retaining the distinctive Custom layout.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product	Made in Japan Hybrid Telecaster® Custom Limited Run
Model Number	5501602378
Orientation	Right-Handed
Country Of Origin	Japan
Colour	Gold
Body Shape	Telecaster®
Body Material	Alder
Body Finish	Satin Polyurethane
Neck Material	Roasted Maple
Neck Finish	Satin Polyurethane
Neck Shape	“U” Shape
Fingerboard Material	Roasted Maple
Fingerboard Radius	9.5" / 241 mm
Scale Length	25.5" / 64.77 cm
Number Of Frets	22
Fret Size	Medium Jumbo
Position Inlays	White Dot
Nut Material	Bone
Nut Width	1.650" / 42 mm
Bridge Pickup	Vintage-Style Single-Coil Tele®
Neck Pickup	Fender® Wide Range Humbucking
Pickup Configuration	SH
Controls	Volume 1 Neck, Volume 2 Bridge, Tone 1 Neck, Tone 2 Bridge
Switching	3-Position Toggle
Bridge	3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele® with Chrome Barrel Saddles
Tuning Machines	Vintage-Style Locking
Hardware Finish	Chrome
Pickguard	3-Ply Mint Green
Control Knobs	Black Plastic
Switch Tip	Aged White
Neck Plate	3-Bolt
Strings	Nickel Plated Steel .009-.042
Case / Gig Bag	Gig Bag Included
Condition	Ex-Display

Power Requirements

The Fender Made in Japan Hybrid Telecaster Custom uses passive pickups, so no battery or external power supply is required.

Connect the guitar to a guitar amplifier, modeller, audio interface or pedalboard using a standard instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender MIJ Hybrid Telecaster Custom Limited Run Gold is a strong choice for anyone who finds a conventional Telecaster slightly too limited but still wants to retain that unmistakable bridge-pickup attack.

The Wide Range neck humbucker substantially broadens the guitar's tonal palette, while the roasted maple “U” neck and Japanese limited-run specification give it an identity that goes well beyond a routine Telecaster variation. As an Ex-Display example, it also presents an appealing opportunity for a player prioritising specification and value over receiving an untouched boxed instrument.

Best suited for: Players wanting traditional Tele bridge character alongside a warmer humbucker neck tone.

Customers usually upgrade from: Squier Classic Vibe Telecasters, Fender Player-series Telecasters and standard twin-single-coil T-style guitars.

Most commonly paired with: Valve or modelling amplifiers, overdrive, fuzz, compression, delay and reverb pedals.

Our tip: Experiment with the independent pickup volume controls. Setting the neck humbucker slightly lower while keeping the bridge pickup more open creates two immediately contrasting sounds without touching your amplifier.

Showroom feedback: The combination of a substantial “U” neck, roasted maple construction and SH pickup layout gives this guitar a noticeably different personality from a standard modern Telecaster. It is particularly useful for players who need one guitar to cover both crisp and fuller tones.

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.

Our Birmingham showroom is backed by a knowledgeable musician-led team who understand guitars, amplifiers, effects and recording equipment and can help you choose the right equipment for your playing style and budget.

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 online ordering

• UK delivery available

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• A large Birmingham music showroom

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

Whether you're comparing Telecaster pickup configurations, looking for your first Japanese Fender or searching for a more unusual addition to your collection, our team is here to help.

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 does Ex-Display mean?

This guitar has been used for display purposes rather than supplied as a completely untouched sealed-box example. It is checked by our team before leaving the shop.

What is the difference between a Telecaster Custom and a standard Telecaster?

A conventional Telecaster normally uses two single-coil pickups. This Custom instead combines a Wide Range humbucker at the neck with a traditional-style Telecaster bridge single-coil and provides separate volume and tone controls for each pickup.

How does the “U”-shaped neck feel?

The “U” profile has a more substantial feel than Fender's common Modern “C” shape. It is particularly appealing to players who prefer a supportive neck with more shoulder rather than a very slim profile.

Is the 9.5-inch radius suitable for lead playing and bends?

Yes. The 9.5-inch radius and medium-jumbo frets give the guitar contemporary enough geometry for comfortable string bending, vibrato and lead work.

Can the neck humbucker handle heavier overdrive?

Yes. The Wide Range humbucker provides a fuller response than a traditional Tele neck single-coil and is a strong option for overdriven rhythm and lead sounds.

Why does the guitar have four control knobs?

Each pickup has its own volume and tone control. This lets you create two different pickup settings and switch between them instantly using the selector.

Is this suitable as an all-round gigging guitar?

Yes. The contrasting pickups make it particularly useful for musicians covering several styles or needing different rhythm and lead sounds from a single guitar.

Should I choose this or a Telecaster Deluxe?

Choose this Telecaster Custom if traditional Telecaster bridge attack remains important. A Telecaster Deluxe is the stronger option if you prefer humbucker-style sounds from both pickup positions.