Electric guitar Fender J Mascis Telecaster (Bottle Rocket Blue Flake)

Leo Fender once said that all artists were angels, and it was his, “job to give them wings to fly.” Now, nearly seven decades since Leo Fender debuted his first amps and guitars, the company is proud to carry on his vision–inspiring artists around the world and giving new players the tools they need to start their musical legacy.

Music as we know it today simply wouldn’t be the same without the existence of the Fender Telecaster. As one of the earliest mass-produced solid body electric models introduced to a curious post-war world, the Telecaster’s distinctive twangy tone and no-frills aesthetic was an instant hit with guitarists, and subsequently became a vital tool in the development of the blues, rock ‘n roll, country and R&B.

Over its near seventy years of existence, the Telecaster has fallen into the hands of many an iconic player. Just a few famous Telecaster players from a range of musical genres:

• Rock - Joe Strummer, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, John 5, Jim Root
• Pop - Jeff Buckley, Prince, Andy Summers, James Burton, George Harrison
• Blues - Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, Mike Bloomfield, Roy Buchanan
• Country - Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Clarence White
• Psychedelic Rock - Jeff Beck, Syd Barrett, Zoot Horn Rollo
• Jazz - Jimmy Bryant, Mike Stern, Howard Roberts, Barney Kessel
• Soul - Steve Cropper, Freddie Stone.

An icon of alternative rock, J Mascis’ penchant for running Fender® guitars into stacks of amps to create massive fuzzy riffs, incendiary leads and huge hooks have made his work in Dinosaur Jr. and on solo records an indispensable part of rock history, influencing countless artists to follow.

The J Mascis Telecaster® recreates J’s favorite guitar, an original 1958 top-loader Tele®, with which he recorded most of his lead work throughout his career. Features include a Dazzling Bottle Rocket Blue Flake finish, mirrored chrome pickguard, custom J Mascis Telecaster pickups, top-loader bridge and Road Worn® maple neck and hardware.

Whether it was his work as frontman of Dinosaur Jr. or as a solo artist, the Amherst, Mass., native set a standard that guitarists around the world have continually attempted to emulate. Fender guitar, running through stacks upon stacks of amps, generous use of fuzz … many have tried. Still, there’s only one Mascis. 

A percussive beginning

As he tells it, J caught the music bug when he was around 9 or 10 years old, influenced by his siblings’ records. His sister had a guitar, so that seemed like a logical first step, but he felt drawn to the drums. Eventually, after manning the kit for hardcore band Deep Wound, Mascis founded Dinosaur Jr. with fellow Deep Wound member Lou Barlow on bass and Patrick “Murph” Murphy on drums. With nobody else to play the guitar, J took over the duties for his own band. 

“I wanted to keep playing music, and thought I should switch to the guitar because I didn’t like any guitar players around here,” said Mascis. “I already knew Lou was good on the guitar, so he could just play the same thing on the bass. 

“I was looking for a guitarist with an original sound, a noisy sound, an aggressive sound, with a percussive style, and there wasn't anyone around here like that.”

Finding his voice

It would be understandable if most people associated J with the Jazzmaster — the main model he has played on stage for years — but a deeper dive into his history shows that a special Telecaster has also been a trusty companion. In fact, J’s preferred model for crafting those combustible leads in the studio throughout his career, including 1991’s acclaimed Green Mind and 1993’s groundbreaking follow-up Where You Been, has been a top-loader ‘58 Blue Sparkle Tele that he picked up from someone at a familiar Boston studio. Now, Fender is paying tribute to that iconic guitar with the J Mascis Telecaster. With custom J Mascis Telecaster pickups, a Bottle Rocket Blue Flake finish and top-loader bridge, it is truly as unique as the artist that bears its name. 

“I didn’t have any guitar that sounded like that,” he said. “I’ve played basically every lead on record since I got the Tele. It sounded more interesting to me than stuff I would play on other guitars. It led me in other directions. I don’t know why.”

Features

• Bottle Rocket Blue Flake finish & mirror pickguard
• Custom J Mascis Telecaster Pickups
• Top-loader Bridge
• Custom J Mascis “C” shape neck with Jumbo frets
• Road Worn® neck and hardware

Fender has offered a wealth of modern Telecaster models designed to suit the playing, personality and pockets of any guitarist. In addition to many artist models and the ongoing American Vintage series Telecaster guitars, Fender has introduced a variety of Telecaster variations, from authentically traditional to distinctively modified, from pristine to battered and from high-end to budget-conscious. Some of these models include Classic Player (2006), Road Worn (2009) and American Special (2010), all of which have kept the Telecaster at the forefront of modern electric guitar. In 2017 Fender released the American Professional Telecaster (also available for lefties and the Telecaster Deluxe Shawbucker featuring classic design and innovative new features.

Much of the history of modern popular music owes a great deal of its sound to the Telecaster, and to the spirit of innovation and design excellence embodied in its elegantly shapely form. Its look and sound are still instantly identifiable, and it is still the workhorse instrument of countless musicians worldwide who praise its form and function as much or more today than they did in the 1950s and every decade since. The Telecaster is an original that remains, simply and more than ever, indispensable.