Fender has been making Vintage Reissues since the AVR models of the early 80s. But the company has come a long way since then, and this new American Vintage II range looks set to challenge even the mighty Custom Shop
FENDER AMERICAN VINTAGE II ’61 STRATOCASTER & ’51 TELECASTER £2,049 & £2,099
What You Need To Know?
1 Another Strat, another Tele? A question we’ve pondered many times. Fender, with great commercial wisdom, builds its models in different factories in the USA, Mexico and Asia to cater to all price points and tastes. These American Vintage Reissue II models are made in Corona, California, and they represent specific model years: the ’51 Tele and ’61 Strat we have on review are designed to look, feel and sound as close to the originals as possible.
2 Are there more models? Yes (see our gallery on page 88 for a selection), including a fabulouslooking ’66 Jazzmaster, a ’73 Strat and three 70s Teles. Colours are limited to the classics – think two/ three-tone sunburst, Daphne Blue, Olympic White, Fiesta Red, Lake Placid Blue and so on. Seriously cool!
3 No relics here? No, for now at least, Fender is leaving that side of things in the hands of its Custom Shop: these are pristine. While plenty love the beaten-up look, many of us still prefer an instrument that’s unsullied in any way.
The vintage reissue side of Fender’s product range has undergone all manner of changes since the first AVR models appeared back in the early 80s. Hence the bewildering name and line-up changes that have befallen this vital portion of Fender’s income stream over the years. Its last iteration was the American Original series, which, rather than focus on specific years, amalgamated general aspects of a decade into each model. There were some great instruments among the range, but Fender has recently been feeling it’s time to go back to basics. So 2022 sees the launch of some very interesting guitars that Fender has titled American Vintage II. It’s a succinct but tastefully chosen range and includes most of the usual suspects, plus some that weren’t even considered ‘vintage’ back in 1982, such as the 1975 and 1977 Telecaster Deluxe and Custom. Here, however,
