Fender Masterbuilt Telecaster Flame #009

The ninth instrument Fender ever built in its Custom Shop, and it shows

There are guitars, and there are historical artifacts. The Fender Masterbuilt Telecaster Flame #009 falls into the latter category. This is the ninth instrument the Fender Custom Shop ever produced — a time when the department was still in its infancy and each instrument was built by hand without the routines and processes that would follow later. Serial number #009 is not a marketing story; it is a fact that this instrument holds a unique place in Fender's history.

The combination of a flamed maple top on a bound mahogany body gives this Telecaster a tone that differs from the classic alder or ash Tele. The mahogany adds warmth and sustain to the typical Telecaster directness, while the flamed maple top keeps the overtones bright and defined. The flamed maple neck further enhances that brightness and gives the instrument a fast, direct response that you feel with every strum.

Visually, the guitar is a statement in itself. The flame figuring in both the top and the neck is of exceptional quality — the kind of figure you rarely see even on Custom Shop instruments. The bound mahogany body gives the whole a refined, premium look that matches the historical significance of this instrument.

For the collector or player who understands what #009 means: this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.