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Fender Dealer Select 1959 Hot Rod Telecaster
“Why doesn’t this exist already?!?”
We ask ourselves this question quite often when designing new Custom Shop instruments. Especially Mr. Custom Reserve and YouTube veteran Olli Lohmann frequently come up with ideas that make you think: wait a second, surely that must already exist? And so, what had to happen, happened: Olli—well known as a passionate fan of HSS guitars from the Fender Custom Shop—began to dive deep into one of the most iconic and important guitars in history: the Telecaster!
Where We Come From
Of course, the Telecaster has long been inseparable from rock history: whether on the first two Led Zeppelin records, delivering fantastically gritty tones on early Springsteen albums, through blazing country licks from legends like Brad Paisley, or even equipped with two humbuckers in the hands of John 5 — the Telecaster, with its direct response and assertive sound, has always been much more than just “Leo Fender’s first.”
However, while the now-classic HSS configuration of a Stratocaster offered players maximum tonal flexibility — from Van Halen to Hendrix — the most common Telecaster mod was to place the humbucker in the neck position…
And so Olli wondered: why isn’t there a humbucker in the *right* position? At the bridge! Not in front of the Telecaster bridge, but further back—right where it would be on a Strat—perfectly balanced with a “Hot Rod”-style single coil in the neck position.
Then, when Gary Peel from the Fender Custom Shop UK came up with the idea of using a “cut-off” Telecaster bridge to place the humbucker in its proper spot, it was born: the Fender Custom Shop Dealer Select 1959 Hot Rod Telecaster!
The Result: A Telecaster That Can Do It All
The Custom Shop ’78 humbucker now sits exactly where it can unleash its full potential – further back, in the optimal position for maximum punch and sustain. But the genius of it all: the guitar retains its true Telecaster DNA. “It quacks like hell and just sounds like Fender,” as Olli puts it. Not a Gibson tone, not a Les Paul imitation – a genuine Telecaster with extra power.
The 4-Way Switch Makes the Difference
Position 1
Full humbucker: modern rock tone with bite.
Position 2
Split humbucker: suddenly, single-coil character.
Position 3
Both pickups, humbucker split: practically hum-free.
Position 4
The specially wound Hot Rod neck pickup: classic Tele twang.
“I prefer to do that with the guitar, using the volume knob.”
From creamy blues tones to brutal rock riffs—all without changing amps.
Check out the video further down below for more of Olli's guitar philosophy!
Electronics are all well and good, but what about the woods?
After extensive testing, it became clear: maple vs. rosewood really does make a difference here. The maple/ash combination sounds more focused, with less bass and more attack – perfect for assertive lead tones. The rosewood/alder version delivers more warmth, stronger low-end foundation, and that characteristic “sizzle” in the highs. It shouldn’t be an either-or situation! So we did both!
Four Spectacular Colors
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The Details That Matter
22 frets for modern playability
RSD saddles – frequency-corrected for perfect intonation despite the vintage bridge
Locking tuners – tuning stability with vintage looks
White pearl pickguard – Olli’s personal touch
Journeyman Relic – the perfect balance between new and vintage
Mike Ellis Hot Rod neck pickup – specially developed for this series
Custom Shop ’78 humbucker – already a favorite in our HSS Dealer Select Stratocaster
The Details That Matter
22 frets for modern playability
RSD saddles – frequency-corrected for perfect intonation despite the vintage bridge
Locking tuners – tuning stability with vintage looks
White pearl pickguard – Olli’s personal touch
Journeyman Relic – the perfect balance between new and vintage
Mike Ellis Hot Rod neck pickup – specially developed for this series
Custom Shop ’78 humbucker – already a favorite in our HSS Dealer Select Stratocaster
All Hot Rod Telecasters at a Glance
