Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS

Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS review

The Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS is a vintage-style Telecaster with a mahogany body, maple neck, and bound, round-laminated rosewood fingerboard. Its transparent crimson red finish lets the body wood show through, while the glossy finish and parchment pickguard give the guitar a distinct period-inspired look. Fender has paired that styling with two Pure Vintage '63 Telecaster single-coil pickups and a traditional three-saddle bridge.

The guitar has been available since October 2022, and its listed price is $2,222. It comes with a brown vintage-style hard case with orange lining. A gig bag is not included.

Construction and playing feel

The maple neck has a 1963 C profile, a 648 mm (25.51-inch) scale, and a 42 mm (1.650-inch) bone nut. The rosewood fingerboard has a 184.1 mm (7.25-inch) radius, clay dot inlays, and 21 vintage-tall frets. Those measurements describe a distinctly vintage-oriented setup rather than a flatter, more modern fingerboard design.

One owner noted that the neck's rounded shape took some getting used to, especially compared with a more professionally familiar vintage-style neck. That is a useful point for players choosing by feel: the neck profile is a major part of the instrument's character, and the listed measurements cannot tell you whether it will suit your hand. Trying it in person, if possible, is the safest way to judge the shape.

The body is mahogany, with no separate top. One player described its contribution to the sound as pleasantly soft. Another called the guitar lightweight, though no weight is provided in the specifications, so that impression should be treated as an individual owner's report rather than a measured figure.

Pickups and controls

Two Pure Vintage '63 Telecaster single-coil pickups feed a straightforward control layout: master volume, master tone, and a three-way pickup selector. A player praised the range available across the three switch positions, describing the instrument as highly versatile. That assessment fits the layout's practical appeal. The selector lets you move between the individual pickup voices and their combined sound without a complicated control scheme.

Owners also describe the guitar's overall voice as a strong match for familiar vintage Telecaster sounds, with one comparing it favorably to a well-finished 1963 Japanese Telecaster. Another summed up the character as pure rock and roll. These are subjective impressions, but they point to the qualities buyers are likely seeking here: a direct single-coil response, traditional switching, and a recognizable Telecaster voice.

The bridge is a Pure Vintage three-saddle Telecaster design with threaded steel saddles. Fender also specifies Pure Vintage single-line "Fender Deluxe" tuning machines, nickel and chrome hardware, and a three-ply parchment pickguard. The guitar ships with Fender USA 250R nickel-plated steel strings in.010,.046 gauge.

Finish and specifications

The color is Crimson Red Transparent High Gloss, with a gloss nitrocellulose finish over polyurethane lacquer. That layered finish specification is worth noting for buyers who care about the exact finish construction, while the transparent red appearance is the most immediately visible detail. The bound fingerboard and clay dot inlays add period-style touches without changing the familiar Telecaster outline or control arrangement.

• Body: Mahogany, with no separate top
• Neck: Maple, 1963 C profile
• Fingerboard: Bound, round-laminated rosewood
• Scale: 648 mm (25.51 inches)
• Frets: 21 vintage-tall frets
• Pickups: Two Pure Vintage '63 Telecaster single coils
• Controls: Master volume, master tone, three-way selector
• Case: Brown vintage-style hard case with orange lining

Verdict

The Fender AV II 63 TELE RW RED TRANS makes a clear case for players who want a vintage-leaning Telecaster with a distinctive transparent red finish, rosewood fingerboard, and mahogany body. Its pickup and control setup stays close to the traditional formula, while owner comments support its appeal for classic Telecaster tones and broad sounds across the three selector positions.

The rounded neck profile deserves careful consideration, since one owner found it unfamiliar at first. At $2,222, the case is included, and the listed hardware and construction details give buyers a specific vintage-style package to assess. For players drawn to the reported rock-and-roll voice and classic Telecaster response, this model is a compelling option. The most important final check is whether the neck feels right in your hands.