Fender Artist Series Joe Strummer Telecaster 2007 Black Relic

2007 Fender Artist Series Joe Strummer Telecaster – First Year of Production – Road Worn – Original Hard Case & Unused Accessories

A particularly desirable example of Fender's Joe Strummer Artist Series Telecaster, dating from 2007, the first year of production.

This is Fender's Road Worn tribute to Joe Strummer's famously battered 1966 Telecaster, the instrument that became such an integral part of his identity as frontman of The Clash. Few guitars are as closely associated with the attitude, sound and visual identity of punk rock, and Fender did a lovely job of recreating the well-travelled appearance of Joe's much-loved original.

The 2007 factory specification includes an alder body, maple neck with a comfortable modern C profile, 7.25-inch radius rosewood fingerboard and vintage-style single-coil Telecaster pickups. Traditional Telecaster appointments include the vintage-style bridge, three brass saddles and classic control layout.

Tonally, this is very much classic Telecaster territory. The bridge pickup delivers that familiar cutting, wiry attack, with plenty of bite and presence for driving rhythm work and more aggressive lead playing. The neck pickup offers a warmer, rounder character, while the middle position gives you that useful balance of clarity and body. There is a lovely immediacy to the response, with the characteristic Telecaster snap and twang, making it particularly well suited to punchy rhythm playing, open chords and the sort of direct, no-nonsense guitar work that defined The Clash's sound.

The Road Worn finish gives the guitar its distinctive vintage character, replicating years of wear and playing marks rather than presenting a pristine, showroom-fresh Telecaster. It captures the no-nonsense, workhorse aesthetic of the original instrument and the spirit of the player who made it famous.

An especially interesting feature of this particular example is that it comes complete with its original Fender stickers and templates. These have never been used or applied by the previous owner, so remain untouched and unused. This is a rather unusual find and adds considerably to the appeal for collectors looking for a complete and unmolested example.

The guitar has a lovely feel and plays beautifully. We have given it a full workshop inspection and, in all honesty, it wanted for very little. The setup is lovely, everything is working as it should and it is ready to rock and roll straight out of the case.

Supplied with its original Fender black Tolex hard-shell case, along with the untouched original stickers and templates.

Joe Strummer was never about guitar collecting or vintage guitar snobbery. His battered Telecaster was a working instrument, used to deliver some of the most recognisable rhythm guitar parts in rock history. From the early Clash recordings through to the band's later years, that unmistakable Telecaster sound was central to his musical identity.

A lovely opportunity to acquire a first-year production example of an increasingly collectible Fender Artist Series guitar, complete with its original hard case and unused accessory pack.

A genuine piece of Clash-inspired guitar history, and a particularly nice find for any Joe Strummer fan, Fender enthusiast or collector of iconic artist models.