Fender LTD 52 Tele 2CSB SHRelic

Fender LTD 52 Tele 2CSB SHRelic review

The Fender LTD 52 Tele 2CSB SHRelic is a limited-edition Custom Shop model based on the 1952 Telecaster. Its listed features combine an ash body, a quartersawn maple neck and fingerboard, two handwound single-coil pickups, and a vintage-style bridge. The finish is described as Super Heavy Relic in Aged 2-Color Sunburst. These specifications indicate a guitar built around a particular early Telecaster configuration, with modern fret dimensions and a 9.5-inch fingerboard radius.

The available information supports a feature-based assessment, not a firsthand playing review. No customer reviews are available, and there are no supplied measurements for weight, neck thickness, pickup output, or setup. Those details should not be assumed from the model name or finish description.

Body, finish, and neck

The body is made from selected ash, while the neck is quartersawn maple and the fingerboard is maple. The neck profile is specified as a '57 soft V. This describes the intended neck shape, but the listing provides no depth measurements, so the exact feel in the hand cannot be established from the specifications alone.

The fingerboard has a 9.5-inch radius and 21 narrow tall frets, identified as size 6105. The combination gives the guitar a flatter fingerboard radius than a tight vintage-style curve and frets that are taller than low-profile vintage frets. That is a concrete departure from a strict period-correct specification, even as other parts of the instrument draw on early Telecaster details. The scale length is 648 mm, equivalent to the standard 25.5-inch scale used on this model type.

The Super Heavy Relic finish and Aged 2-Color Sunburst are presented as part of the factory specification. The listing does not describe the aging pattern, the finish material, or the amount of visible wear, so those details cannot be evaluated here. The body has no separate top listed, and the pickguard is a single-ply cream design.

Pickups and wiring

Fender specifies two handwound Custom Shop '50, '51 Blackguard single-coil pickups in an SS configuration, meaning one pickup at the bridge and one at the neck. The supplied information identifies their model and winding method but does not provide resistance readings, magnet type, or measured output. Sound character therefore cannot be reliably judged from this data alone.

The guitar uses '51 Nocaster wiring. That wiring specification places the instrument in the early Telecaster family, but the product details do not explain the selector positions or control layout. Buyers who need a precise switching diagram should confirm it with Fender or the seller before purchase.

Bridge and other hardware

A vintage-style bridge with brass saddles is specified, along with Kluson tuning machines and nickel-plated hardware. There is no tremolo system. The fixed bridge and two-pickup layout fit the model's traditional design brief, while the listed brass saddles identify the bridge's contact material. No saddle arrangement, tuning-machine ratio, or hardware finish treatment is stated.

The package includes a case and a certificate. A separate gig bag is not included. The guitar is made in the United States, and the production run is identified as a 2026 limited edition. It has been listed as available since April 2026. The stated price is 5,899, though the supplied information does not specify a currency, so the figure should be checked against the retailer's listing.

Technical assessment

The strongest reason to consider the Fender LTD 52 Tele 2CSB SHRelic is its specific combination of Custom Shop details: selected ash, quartersawn maple, handwound Blackguard pickups, Nocaster wiring, and a brass-saddled vintage-style bridge. The 9.5-inch radius and narrow tall frets give the specification a more contemporary playing surface than a strict 1952 recreation would suggest. The soft V neck profile adds another defined period reference, although its dimensions are not supplied.

This model is best assessed as a limited-edition, vintage-inspired Telecaster with explicitly named components, rather than as a fully documented historical replica. The available specifications do not establish its weight, setup quality, tonal response, or the precise appearance of its relic finish. With no customer feedback provided, there is no basis for claims about reliability or owner experience. Prospective buyers should verify the currency, current availability, neck measurements, and wiring diagram before ordering.