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Fender Custom American Custom Tele
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
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Playability
75
Sound
75
Build
75
Value
60
Score
75
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Playability
72
Sound
75
Build
69
Value
57
Score
72
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Fender Custom American Custom Tele vs '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom American Custom Tele over '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
9.5" to 12" vs 9.5"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
1960 Oval C vs 1959 D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups
SH vs SS
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Paint Finish
Poly vs Heavy Relic
Resistant paint that ages well
Value Score
60 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple over American Custom Tele

Neck Profile
1959 D vs 1960 Oval C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups
SS vs SH
Beautiful cleans
Paint Finish
Heavy Relic vs Poly
Looks like an old and heavily beaten up instrument

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom American Custom Tele vs '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple

Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Seth Lover SH-55 vs Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Single-Coil Tele
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Birdseye Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Custom American Custom Tele vs '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Tele Single-Coil
Same Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Ash
Same Body Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom American Custom Tele Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom American Custom Tele is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom American Custom Tele wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Custom American Custom Tele.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom American Custom Tele
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Custom American Custom Tele Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2020 American Custom series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Select Ash body
  • 2A Roasted Birdseye Maple neck
  • Round-Laminated Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Seth Lover SH-55 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • '58-'63 Tele Bridge with Brass RSD Saddles bridge
  • 1960 Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Sperzel Die-Cast with White Pearloid Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2017 Time Machine series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Select Ash body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • 1-Piece Maple Neck fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Compensated Brass Barrel Saddles bridge
  • 1959 D Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom American Custom Tele

Birdseye Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Birdseye Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Winner: Fender Custom American Custom Tele.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Custom American Custom Tele has an SH configuration while the Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple has SS pickups.

SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.

On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Fender Custom American Custom Tele pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom American Custom Tele's switch options
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom American Custom Tele
Pickups 100
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
Pickups 100
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Custom American Custom Tele compares to the Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Custom American Custom Tele's are Sperzel Die-Cast with White Pearloid Buttons while the Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple's are Vintage Style

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom American Custom Tele
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom American Custom Tele
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 75
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 69

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Custom American Custom Tele Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 41.9mm (1.65'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender Custom American Custom Tele and Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Custom American Custom Tele Neck Profile
Fender Custom American Custom Tele's neck profile
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple Neck Profile
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender Custom American Custom Tele has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Custom American Custom Tele Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender Custom American Custom Tele's Compound Fretboard Radius
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple Fingerboard Radius
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender Custom American Custom Tele is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple favors large hands more than the Fender Custom American Custom Tele. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Custom American Custom Tele:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom American Custom Tele and Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple Frets Size
Both have a similar Narrow Tall fret size

Both have a Narrow Tall fret size. Their height is very similar to Jumbo frets, but they have a narrower crown. They won't let you feel the fretboard when playing, which will make it easier to get clean notes. However, if you press down too hard you might get the notes out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom American Custom Tele
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
Fender Custom '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom American Custom Tele vs '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
General Fender Custom American Custom Tele '59 Tele Custom Relic Maple
Brand: Fender Custom Fender Custom
Year: 2020 2017
Configuration: SH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: American Custom Time Machine
Colors: Black, Brown Burst Sunburst, Black, Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 2-Piece Select Ash 2-Piece Select Ash
Bridge: '58-'63 Tele Bridge with Brass RSD Saddles 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Compensated Brass Barrel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sperzel Die-Cast with White Pearloid Buttons Vintage Style
Fretboard: Round-Laminated Rosewood 1-Piece Maple Neck
Neck Material: 2A Roasted Birdseye Maple Quartersawn Maple
Decoration: Mother of Pearl dot Micarta Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: 1960 Oval C 1959 D
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" to 12" 9.5"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Tele Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Seth Lover SH-55 (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1