62Caster
Tele-Meister
I’m picking one up from a guy this week for a pretty good deal. Curious if anybody has one or knows more about them. It’s natural/blonde with the reverse control layout. Thanks!
Anybody have an FSR Tele?
- Thread starter 62Caster
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Minivan Megafun
Tele-Afflicted
There's been dozens, if not hundreds of FSR runs over the years.
62Caster
Tele-Meister
Gotcha, this one is ash. From 2013. How can I find who this FSR was for?
FuncleManson
Tele-Afflicted
I have a 2016. Butterscotch Blonde with the Bill Kirchen-style reversed control plate. Purchased from Musician's Friend. What else would you like to know?
kuch
Poster Extraordinaire
Fender Special Release(?)
They're usually a typical model with a "special" color or finish.
I think they might have added "special" pickups/electronics on some.
I have a '13 FSR Strat. As far as I know, the only thing "different" from the typical Am Std for that year is the color, Sonic Blue
They're usually a typical model with a "special" color or finish.
I think they might have added "special" pickups/electronics on some.
I have a '13 FSR Strat. As far as I know, the only thing "different" from the typical Am Std for that year is the color, Sonic Blue
I have a Sam Ash special run (what was described as) Squier that came as a Standard Series fat Tele, humbucker in neck and bridge Tele single coil. I bought it (eBay) because of its maple fretboard, which was at the time hard to find in a Squier standard Tele; and it’s body-matching red headstock. The neck fretboard is among the narrowest of my Squiers, but my friend (mellecaster) made a nut with string spacing that made it a little easier to play.
BramptonRob1958
Tele-Holic
Your best bet would be to contact Fender directly with the Serial Number.....They can let you know who the original retailer was.
FSR's are usually offered by larger retail chains...... with a specific build sheet.... an interesting fact is that while the dealers often advertise and claim the runs are "Exclusive" and sometimes "Limited", the reality is Fender talks to it's dealers about models, specs, quantity etc...... Fender then builds the FSR.......
Sometimes the FSR build will end up in multiple regions.....ie Canada/US/Europe usually in one retail chain per region..... but not always...
Some retailers will order guitars to their personal spec.....ie Wildwood 10 Fender Custom Shop guitars.... NOT FSR.
Good Luck
Any dealer can place a commitment for a non-standard color run.
What Fender calls “models” the rest of the world calls “color”.
What Fender calls “models” the rest of the world calls “color”.
62Caster
Tele-Meister
So it’s essentially like any other MiM just a different color?
Ron R
Poster Extraordinaire
Mine is a 2016 as well, from Guitar Center.
I had gone in all but certain I'd be walking out with a G&L, but I preferred this one to all others I tried (G&Ls, American Fenders, Squiers). I wanted string through body, preferred the reverse control plate, and unlike the prevailing opinion here, I preferred the warmer, hotter ceramic pickups to the alnicos in the US Teles.
SparkleFart
Friend of Leo's
Here's mine if you're interested--a retirement gift a few years ago. Fender FSR two-tone telecaster thinline from Willcutt. Black-bound Daphne Blue over Arctic White back & sides. 9.5" radius Ebony fingerboard & maple neck, bone nut, & Custom Shop '51 Nocaster pickups.
Sea Devil
Friend of Leo's
That two-tone color scheme is the business! Works well with the fretboard and pickguard as well. Nice!
Gorgeous.
SparkleFart
Friend of Leo's
Thank you!
Sometimes it’s just paint and sometimes it’s a called feature set like unique pickups or hardware. Basically if a top dealer wants something special and they commit to a quantity the company will work with them. It’s a great way to make a unique line and also draw clientele to the dealer. Local shops and large online shops have done FSR runs.
Here’s a really clear explanation:
What Are Fender & Squier FSR Guitars? - Andertons Blog
Fender's limited run FSR line of guitars and amps. Some of the company's most unique gear, kitted out with cool new features and awesome finishes.
blog.andertons.co.uk 
1stpitch
Tele-Afflicted
I've got one like you are getting. It is a 2015 Made in Mexico Fender FSR, and was a special run for Guitar Center / Musician's Friend.
BobbyMac
Tele-Afflicted
Just for information, "FSR" stands for Factory Special Run. I believe it is used exclusively by Fender, Squier, and Gretsch.
LebanonOz
TDPRI Member
I have one of the 2014 MIM FSR Butterscotch Blonde Teles (is my Avatar) that was one of the Guitar Center FSR models. It has the reverse control plate from the factory. I was actually looking for a Baja or American Standard at the time because I wanted the Twisted Tele/Broadcaster pickup set but this guitar felt perfect and was about half price of the American Standard.
Picked up a used Twisted Tele set and added a 4-way switch when those went in. When you check it out see if the weight is good for you. Mine is not heavy but I checked them out whenever I was in a store and many of them were boat anchors. Granted that is a very small sample size and I'm not sure if that is characteristic of most or not. Mine is a 2014 model and is currently my favorite guitar. I think some of the earlier models had a more transparent and lighter shade of butterscotch which I actually would have preferred.
If you happen to be detail oriented when looking at the avatar ... I did swap the pickguard for a 5 screw model and mounted the neck pickup to the body but that was for aesthetic reasons more than anything. It came standard with the neck pickup mounted to an 8 screw pickguard.
Good Luck and have fun!
I do cut my strings after installation so ignore the hairy headstock. The pic was taken when I was still pulling strings on and off during rebuild.
Picked up a used Twisted Tele set and added a 4-way switch when those went in. When you check it out see if the weight is good for you. Mine is not heavy but I checked them out whenever I was in a store and many of them were boat anchors. Granted that is a very small sample size and I'm not sure if that is characteristic of most or not. Mine is a 2014 model and is currently my favorite guitar. I think some of the earlier models had a more transparent and lighter shade of butterscotch which I actually would have preferred.
If you happen to be detail oriented when looking at the avatar ... I did swap the pickguard for a 5 screw model and mounted the neck pickup to the body but that was for aesthetic reasons more than anything. It came standard with the neck pickup mounted to an 8 screw pickguard.
Good Luck and have fun!
I do cut my strings after installation so ignore the hairy headstock. The pic was taken when I was still pulling strings on and off during rebuild.
Attachments
basher
Friend of Leo's
My main tele is one of those too, but from 2012. The neck is gloss-finished, which some people have trouble with (I like it a lot, myself), and I didn't love the stock pickups. But it's a nice guitar; I've really enjoyed owning it over the years. You'd have a hard time finding a more telecastery telecaster.
Not necessarily. FSRs (factory special run) are better thought of as parts bin specials. Pretty much any dealer who spends enough with Fender can order FSRs. Most of the big guys get a run in every season to have something different. Also as above sometimes they're less 'unique' than they might be. They'll commission all sorts of wild non standard colours in FSRs. You canend up with wild combinations of hardware, neck, colour etc in FSR land. They really aren't that big a deal, but because the hardware isn't standard they're potentially easy to misidentify as modified. Serial through Fender is probably the easiest and most certainly.
