Fender Tele Custom HS ACFM Relic

Fender Tele Custom HS ACFM Relic review

The Fender Tele Custom HS ACFM Relic is a U.S.-made Custom Shop guitar from a limited 2022 run. Its appeal rests on a specific combination: an aged charcoal gray finish, a roasted and figured maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, and an HS pickup layout. The reported owner experience is strongly positive, with particular praise for the build quality, light body, comfortable neck, and broad character of the pickup pairing.

This is a distinctly specified Tele Custom rather than a plain variation on the familiar formula. The ash body has double binding, while the three-ply black pickguard and nickel hardware give the gray finish a restrained contrast. The finish is listed as Relic, and the color is Aged Charcoal Frost Metallic. The appearance will depend on personal taste. One owner describes the gray as an acquired preference, but says it works especially well alongside the roasted maple's color and grain.

Build and feel

The neck is roasted AAA flamed maple, with a '60s Oval C profile and a rosewood slab fingerboard. The scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches, and the fingerboard radius is 9.5 inches. Fender specifies 21 frets in size 6105 and a bone nut. Those details point to a familiar, moderate-feeling playing surface, although comfort is personal and cannot be established from specifications alone.

The owner feedback gives the strongest evidence on feel. The neck is described as highly playable, and the body as light. The same report praises the overall workmanship. No body weight is provided, so "light" remains a player's impression rather than a measured figure. Still, it is a useful observation for anyone considering a solid-body guitar and concerned about how it will feel during a long session.

The Relic treatment is part of the model's identity, not a separate performance feature. Buyers should look closely at the finish if they have a specific expectation for how a Relic guitar should appear. The supplied details identify the finish and color but do not describe the extent or pattern of the wear.

Pickup system and controls

The HS configuration combines two different hand-wound pickups. At the bridge is a Texas Special single-coil pickup. The neck position uses a Custom Shop Josefina hand-wound humbucker designed by Paul Waller. Fender pairs them with HS Tele Dual-Stack 250/500k wiring. That is a more specialized setup than a conventional pair of matching single-coil pickups, and it gives this Tele Custom a clear point of difference on paper.

The owner's report says the pickup combination sounds excellent, but does not give detailed examples of particular settings, amplifiers, or musical styles. It would be misleading to claim a specific output level or tonal range from the available information. What can be said is that Fender has chosen a single-coil bridge pickup and a humbucker at the neck, with dedicated 250k/500k wiring. Players drawn to that contrast may find the layout more compelling than a standard configuration.

Hardware and included items

The guitar has a vintage-style Tele bridge fitted with RSD brass saddles, vintage-style machine heads, and nickel hardware. There is no tremolo. The package includes a case and certificate, while a separate bag is not included. Those practical details matter for a Custom Shop instrument, particularly for buyers who need a suitable case for storage and transport.

• Body: Ash with double binding
• Neck: Roasted AAA flamed maple, '60s Oval C profile
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, 9.5-inch radius
• Pickups: Hand-wound Texas Special single-coil bridge pickup and Josefina humbucker at the neck
• Bridge: Vintage-style Tele bridge with RSD brass saddles
• Included: Case and certificate

Verdict

The Fender Tele Custom HS ACFM Relic makes its case through details that work together: a distinctive aged charcoal finish, figured roasted maple, rosewood, and a less common single-coil-and-humbucker pairing. The available owner feedback supports its build quality and playability, while also making clear that the gray finish is a matter of taste. There is no tremolo, and buyers should be comfortable with the Relic look and the specific HS layout before choosing it.

At a listed price of 5222, this is a high-end, limited-run Custom Shop model. The supplied listing does not specify a currency, so the figure should be checked with the seller. For a player attracted to the finish and hardware, and who wants this particular pickup combination, the reported experience suggests a carefully made and satisfying instrument. Its strongest recommendation is for someone who already likes the unusual color and wants a Tele Custom with a roasted maple neck and a humbucker in the neck position.