Back to navigation


Premier Tones Tailored for Multi-platinum Production





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





It’s only appropriate that Raphael Saadiq’s signature Telecaster would feature a distinctive melding of modern and retro appointments. After all, the multi-platinum, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter/producer was barely 18 years old when he toured internationally to hold down bass and backing vocals on Prince’s Parade Tour. Suffice it to say, Fender’s spared no effort in crafting an instrument capable of conjuring his versatile, voltaic array of styles, utilizing ash, maple, and slab rosewood for a musical triumvirate of tonewoods, complemented by custom-developed Raphael Saadiq Tele pickups that have Sweetwater’s guitarists enamored by its vintage-style voicing. Outfitted with an old-school neck, era-accurate ’50s hardware, and oozing with eye-catching aesthetics, Fender’s Limited-edition Raphael Saadiq Telecaster is a refreshing step out of time and into inspiring sonic terrain just waiting to be explored.





Related Videos: Limited-edition Raphael Saadiq Telecaster Electric Guitar - Dark Metallic Red


Carefully crafted for diverse, powerful voicing





Raphael Saadiq’s sonic output spans numerous permutations of soul, R&B, hip-hop, and pop stylings, and Fender’s luthiers understood that a signature guitar capable of supporting Saadiq’s distinctive and diverse catalog left no room for error, placing that much more importance on crafting a malleable, yet reliable sonic foundation. Its ash body evokes bright tones with a natural resonance across the spectrum that bolsters nearly every frequency, save for a slight scoop in the midrange section to help highs pop without piercing. A maple neck complements the ash profile with warmth in each register that retains fantastic articulation. The tonal triad is completed with a slab rosewood fingerboard, imbuing your output with a crystalline veneer that serves as a welcome complement to the brightness of the ash and maple.





Serial RS230063


Serial RS230063


Custom pickups with vintage-fueled character





With its formidable foundation, Fender’s spared no expense in tailoring Raphael Saadiq’s signature Telecaster to suit his pantheon of playstyles, eschewing standard-production electronics for a custom-made sonic suite of vintage-inspired tones. Custom Raphael Saadiq Single-coil Tele pickups adorn both the neck and bridge positions, custom wound to faithfully re-create Saadiq’s hallmark retro-fueled tones. A 3-way pickup selector is paired with singular Volume and Tone control knobs ? a testament to the latent power and versatility of this set’s smoldering, articulate voicing and glassy, touch-sensitive tones. Plus, its period-precise clay dot inlays introduce a subtle yet pointed piece of panache to elevate this time-bending Tele.





Classic and contemporary playability collide





Playability is key to the execution Raphael Saadiq’s diverse catalog, and his limited-edition signature Tele pulls no punches in ensuring streamlined access to its vintage-accurate array. Its 21 Vintage Tall frets span a 25.5-inch scale, while a flatter 9.5-inch fingerboard radius is paired with a 1959 “C”-shaped neck for a time-tested blend of comfort and playability that expertly bridges the past and the present for a performance experience nearly any player can engage. Pure Vintage Single Line “Fender Deluxe” tuners and a vintage-style 3-saddle Telecaster bridge with threaded steel saddles bookend your strings, joined by a bone nut for buzz-free sounds and reliable tuning to get Saadiq through his seemingly-limitless repertoire of riffs. And that’s no joke. Raphael Saadiq has written and produced tracks both for and alongside such acclaimed artists as J Dilla, D’Angelo, Kelis, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Solange Knowles, Q-Tip, Marcus Miller, Stevie Wonder, and Ginuwine, following a meteoric rise touring with Prince and serving as the founder, bassist, and lead vocalist of Tony! Toni! Tone!





Serial RS230063


Fender Limited-edition Raphael Saadiq Telecaster Features:


Limited-edition signature guitar for multi-hyphenate singer/songwriter Raphael Saadiq, blending vintage panache with modern appointments for a time-bending Tele to suit soulful sonics


Ash body boasts a natural resonance throughout the spectrum that is naturally augmented via single-coil pickups for superlative sustain and excellent note separation


Maple neck imparts brightness and warmth throughout your sound for clear voicing that won’t ever feel stale


Slab rosewood fingerboard imbues your tone with a crystalline, glass-like veneer to tame incisive highs and support robust lows without compromising articulation


Custom Raphael Saadiq Single-coil Tele signature pickups are custom wound for retro-fueled tones that support a smoldering, touch-sensitive warmth with ample room for expression


Period-precise 1959 “C”-shaped neck profile offers a weighty in-hand feel with comfortable access to ensure players of nearly any style will be inspired


21 Vintage Tall frets and clay dot inlays blend form and function for a classically-derived audiovisual array


Modern 9.5-inch fingerboard radius and 25.5-inch scale support flexible playstyles to match Saadiq’s multi-genre catalog


Vintage 3-saddle Tele bridge and Pure Vintage Single Line “Fender Deluxe” tuners are complemented by a bone nut to guarantee buzz-free expressivity with eye-catching aesthetics