Fender American Professional Hot Shot Telecaster Electric Guitar in Dark Night, Rosewood Fingerboard

Marking 75 years of Telecaster history is the American Professional Hotshot, a modified version of the classic electric with the addition of a middle Strat single-coil pickup to expand on core twangy Tele tones with a touch of percussive attack. On top of all the new sounds, there are thoughtful hardware and neck upgrades to make playing this Tele even more seamless and satisfying day after day. An outstanding modern playing experience you expect from Fender’s top classic USA-made line within the vintage silhouette of the legendary guitar.

Features include the refined articulation of V Mod III single-coil pickups, a newly designed 3-Saddle bridge providing exceptional picking hand comfort, plus a Super-Natural satin finish neck with rolled fretboard edges bringing that classy played-in feel.

Three unique V-Mod III pickups including a Strat single-coil

The Hotshot stands apart from the rest of the American Pro line-up as it emulates a DIY modified guitar you could have found back in the day on the second-hand market. In addition to the two newly crafted V-Mod III series Tele pickups in the neck and bridge positions, you’ve also got a Strat single-coil sandwiched in between providing creative dimensions to your tonal palette. Combined with the pickups either side it injects a presence and warmth into your traditional Tele sound. On its own, the Strat single-coil possesses a balanced EQ and snap that a Tele can’t usually create.

Fender’s V-Mod III series of pickups have been re-voiced specifically for each position. In the bridge you get crisp attack and dynamism, while in the neck you can tap into a warm rawness perfect for glistening cleans and smooth leads.

You have precise control over volume and tone using the ClassicGear Precision Potentiometers, which benefit from a custom torque and sharp resistance letting you swell in and out with accuracy and musicality.

Sleek remodelled playing experience

The Fender team have added a deep “C” profile neck to the American Pro Tele range, treading the line between vintage depth and overall contemporary size. The satin Super-Natural finish and rolled fingerboard edges makes this an instrument to get stuck into straight away with little adjustment needed to the way you play, as if it’s been lightly played in. From there it’s iconic Tele touch, with 22 vintage-inspired narrow tall frets across everyone’s favourite 9.5-inch fretboard radius making for expressive bends and easy chord fretting.

The neck heel has been rounded and the plate bevelled, meaning there’s no chance to catch yourself on a square corner as you reach higher up the neck. There’s excellent access to upper frets, and this American pro Tele works with your body to accommodate natural movements.

ClassicGear personal bridge setup

Some players struggle with the classic Tele bridge. Not here – it's been redesigned with ClassicGear Compensated Brass Bullet saddles, which are without doubt the comfiest ever to feature on a Telecaster. They also provide long-lasting and accurate intonation in tandem with a hard-wearing bone nut. Working your own custom setup has never been easier, as you can reduce or add tension to each string, which in turn affects how mellow or twangy a string sounds.

• V-Mod III Pickups – voiced specifically for each position, creating a perfectly balanced tone with the vintage warmth and crisp, clear sound that made Fender a legend. A V-Mod III Stratocaster single-coil in the middle position delivers authentic Strat tones, giving this hot-shot Telecaster setup unmatched versatility.
• New Sculpted Neck Heel – The rounded neck heel and bevelled neck-plate improve access to the upper register and make leads easy and comfortable.
• Top-Load/String-Through Classicgear Compensated Brass Bullet Saddle Tele Bridge – Fender’s most comfortable, flexible Tele saddles yet. Retaining classic brass-saddle tone, they provide excellent intonation and flexible setup options, allowing you to tailor the tension and tone of each string to your liking. Strings can be top-loaded for reduced tension, resulting in a mellower twang and springy attack.
• “Deep C” Neck Profile with Rolled Fingerboard Edges – Delivering both comfort and speed, the neck profile is slim at the nut and fills out gradually as it approaches the neck joint to create a natural feel that’s perfect for chording and single note playing alike. The hand-rolled fingerboard edges and Super-Natural satin finish provide a supremely comfortable feel.
• Special Electronics – A performance-friendly push-push switch on the tone control adds the neck pickup into positions 1 and 2, unlocking tonal combinations not normally found on a Tele.
• Classicgear Precision Potentiometers – deliver smooth, consistent control with custom torque, precise resistance and a musical taper for effortless, reliable performance.

Body

• Body: Dark Night
• Body Finish: Polyurethane
• Body Shape: Telecaster
• Body Style: Solid Body
• Body Material: Alder

Neck

• Neck Material: Maple
• Neck Finish: “Super-Natural” Satin Urethane Finish on Back of Neck with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face
• Neck Shape: Deep "C"
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
• Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
• Position Inlays: White Dot
• Side Dots: White
• Number of Frets: 22
• String Nut: Bone
• Nut Width: 1.685" (42.8 mm)
• Nut Material: Bone
• Fret Size: Narrow Tall
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)

Hardware

• Bridge: 3-Saddle Top-Load/String-Through Tele with ClassicGear Compensated Brass Bullet Saddles
• Pickguard: 3-Ply Black
• Control Knobs: Knurled Dome
• Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
• Tuning Machines: Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered
• Strings: Fender USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges)
• Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Asymmetrical with Micro-Tilt Adjustment