Afrigather Fender has partnered with multi-platinum artist, Grammy winner and multi-instrumentalist Raphael Saadiq for a limited-edition Telecaster signature guitar that’s been launched with the assistance of blues guitar titan Eric Gales.
In addition to a prolific songwriter and Tony! Toni! Toné! band member with quite a few solo and group albums to his identify, Saadiq can also be a extremely influential pressure within the manufacturing scene, having produced tracks for the likes of Stevie Marvel, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, John Legend, Joss Stone, and plenty of others.
All through his various profession, the R&B, soul and hip hop artist has been formally acknowledged with Grammy wins, in addition to Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations – and now he’s additionally acquired a Fender signature guitar so as to add to these accolades.
As for the guitar itself, it goes with out saying that Saadiq’s uniquely styled six-string is likely one of the extra attention-grabbing Telecaster releases of the yr up to now, and is a far cry from among the extra vintage-styled single-cuts the agency has put out in latest instances.
In truth, with its Darkish Crimson Metallic end, black binding, black headstock and customized acrylic pickguard, it wouldn’t look misplaced within the Fender Japan catalog, which is not any stranger to trendy beauty designs.
However in follow, the mannequin provides a deliberate old-school-meets-modern purposeful aptitude – one thing that Saadiq was very cautious to protect. To that finish, there’s a basic ash physique, a ‘59 C-shape maple neck and a 9.5”-radius slab rosewood fingerboard.
Different appointments price noting embody Customized Raphael Saadiq single-coils, voiced to have the mandatory quantity of “chew” required for Saadiq’s work, that are wired to a normal Tele management format.
It’s the aesthetics of this mannequin that basically make it stand out, although, and as Saadiq explains within the in-depth demo video above – for which he’s joined by Gales – the colour scheme was impressed by his debut solo album, Instantaneous Classic, the quilt of which noticed him don an particularly eye-catching piece of apparel.
As soon as the seems have been locked in, it was only a case of honing the tone with the intention to make it a flexible workhorse that will be appropriate for a variety of potential gamers and songwriters.
“I took it forwards and backwards to verify it had the chew I wished,” Saadiq defined. “I actually wished this full sound that has loads of depth, loads of chew for soloing. I wished it to be for gamers that like to put in writing and in addition gamers that prefer to shred, and play reside.
“It’s big for me as a result of I’m a songwriter and I really like to put in writing on guitar,” he went on. “So now that I’ve my very own signature guitar, I really feel like there’s loads of magic for me to start out making. I’m actually excited to see different individuals write on this guitar.”
Whereas operating by way of his debut signature mannequin, Saadiq additionally gave an honorable point out to the guesting Gales: “I’m glad to have him right here to play my guitar. That is in all probability rattling close to greater than having my guitar: having him enjoying my guitar.
“I actually do not really consider that I’ve a signature guitar,” Saadiq continued. “I really feel like I’m dreaming somewhat bit, that they only gave me a guitar and Eric is definitely enjoying one. If I stroll right into a retailer and I see some child enjoying this guitar, that’s going to blow my thoughts.”
The guitar was dutifully demoed with the assistance of Gales, who was readily available to showcase its snappy single-coil chew (and his stellar blues chops) whereas providing his personal two cents on Fender’s newest partnership.
“That is big, man,” he noticed of the transfer. “I wouldn’t want to be no different place than the place I’m proper now, with him celebrating one thing that’s effectively deserved for a extremely esteemed songwriter [with] a monitor file that’s greater than a cellphone guide.
“The issues that he brings to the desk is an enormous data of a lot that he is concerned himself with, inserting himself [into] film scores, and TV reveals, and data, and simply a lot that he brings to the desk.
“This man’s cellphone will not be persistently being rang off the hook due to what he cannot do, it’s due to every part that he can do and has performed. The dude, he delivers, man. He’s that dude.”
The arrival of Saadiq’s signature Telecaster is the most recent instance of Fender seeking to broaden its presence and formally champion the guitar in areas outdoors typical rock and blues genres. Beforehand, it partnered with Bruno Mars to release a similarly alluring signature Stratocaster.
The Raphael Saadiq Telecaster is on the market now for $2,399.
Head over to Fender for extra data.
