Fender Telecaster Custom FMT HH BCBIL

Fender Telecaster Custom FMT HH BCBIL review

The Fender Telecaster Custom FMT HH BCBIL takes the familiar Telecaster outline in a different direction. Its set mahogany neck, mahogany body, flamed maple top, and two Seymour Duncan humbuckers give it a warmer, thicker voice than a conventional single-coil Telecaster. Player reports also point to a light, comfortable instrument that can cover clean, bright parts as well as heavier rock tones.

This special-edition model was listed at $1,090 and became available in May 2018. Its Black Cherry Burst finish gives the figured maple top a more dressed-up look than a standard Telecaster. The body is reported to be thinner and lighter than a traditional Telecaster body, and one player estimated the guitar weighs less than 3 kg. That low weight is especially welcome during long rehearsals or a three-hour concert.

Construction and playing feel

The guitar has a mahogany body, a flamed maple top, and a set mahogany neck with a Modern C profile. The Indian laurel fingerboard carries 22 jumbo frets, and the scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches. Nut width is 41.3 mm. The neck feels slim to some players, which makes moving between guitars straightforward for those who like a narrow profile. Others found it too skinny, so this is worth checking in person if you prefer a fuller neck.

Players describe the finish and fretwork as clean, with comfortable neck edges and binding on the neck and body noted in one review. Experiences with delivery and packaging were not uniformly positive, so it is sensible to inspect the finish when the instrument arrives. That feedback concerns the individual purchase experience, not an established flaw in the model.

There is no tremolo. Instead, a string-through-body bridge provides a stable, direct feel under the picking hand. One player who disliked the bridge on a standard Telecaster particularly liked this setup for palm muting. The guitar does not include a case or gig bag, so buyers should factor in separate protection for transport.

Pickups and sound

The bridge pickup is a Seymour Duncan SHPGP-1B Pearly Gates Plus humbucker, while the neck position uses a Seymour Duncan SH-1N RP '59 Reverse Polarity humbucker. Together, they give the guitar a strong, full sound while retaining enough clarity for brighter parts. Players describe the basic humbucker tones as warm and creamy, with enough output for blues and rock. The pickup response also draws praise from rhythm players who rely on changes in pick attack to shape a part.

Several owners report that the pickups can be split using a push-pull control, producing a more single-coil-like character. That adds another tonal option, though it does not make the guitar identical to a conventional single-coil Telecaster. One player found the push-pull function too noisy and resonant for live use, preferring to set it before a song or use it in the studio. Another reviewer kept the pickups in humbucker mode. The feature may suit recording and planned changes better than quick switching onstage.

Who should consider it?

The Custom FMT HH suits guitarists who want a Telecaster-shaped instrument with a thicker humbucker voice and a comfortable, lightweight build. It can serve as a main guitar for live rhythm work or studio sessions, particularly for players who want to move between clear, bright sounds and heavier tones without changing instruments. The set neck and dual humbuckers also appeal to guitarists coming from Gibson-style instruments who want to try a Fender while keeping a substantial rock sound.

There are a couple of practical caveats. The slim neck is a matter of preference, and one player reported that the upper frets felt cramped when soloing above the 12th fret. If lead playing in that register is central to your style, try the neck before buying. The push-pull control may also need careful use onstage because of the noise reported by one owner.

Overall, the Fender Telecaster Custom FMT HH BCBIL offers a distinctive blend of Telecaster ergonomics and humbucker weight. Its light build, versatile pickups, and straightforward bridge make it a compelling choice for players seeking one instrument for varied live and studio work. The neck dimensions and switching behavior deserve a personal check, but positive long-term reports suggest it can remain a dependable main guitar.