Fender

Aerodyne Special Telecaster2023

The Aerodyne Special Telecaster takes the classic Tele outline and gives it a sleeker, more modern build, with a lightweight basswood body and a maple fretboard for extra snap.

5 mods reviewed: 3 drop-in, 2 need verification.

Fender Aerodyne Special Telecaster guitar

The Aerodyne Special Telecaster takes the classic Tele outline and gives it a sleeker, more modern build, with a lightweight basswood body and a maple fretboard for extra snap. It keeps the familiar twangy SS pickup pairing but wraps it in a more contemporary look than a standard Player or Vintera Tele. The bridge is a Babicz Z-Series FCH string-through unit, not a standard vintage or modern Tele bridge plate, so bridge swaps need to specifically match the Babicz FCH mounting and saddle system rather than a generic Tele bridge.

Quick facts

Tailpiece

None (bridge-integrated, string-through)

Neck mounting

4-bolt

Scale length

25.5" (648mm)

Nut width

43mm (1.693")

Not published by Fender: string spacing, tuner hole size and bridge mounting spacing. Measure these before buying tuners or a bridge.

Watch out

Uses the Babicz Z-Series FCH-Tele bridge, a patented full-contact-hardware design distinct from a standard Tele bridge. String spacing has not been independently confirmed, and generic Fender-spec Tele bridge parts should not be assumed to fit.

We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It doesn't change the price you pay. How we make money

Bridge

1 option

Babicz FCH Z-Series Hardtail Bridge

Needs verification

This guitar's factory bridge is a Babicz design built jointly with Fender, not a standard Tele bridge plate, so generic Tele bridges will not fit. This is a Babicz-family option, but confirm the exact string spacing matches your guitar before buying.

Why we say this

This guitar ships with a Babicz FCH bridge developed jointly by Fender and Babicz specifically for the Aerodyne Special line, not a generic Tele bridge plate, so a standard 3-screw or 4-screw Tele bridge will not fit this mount. This Z-Series unit shares Babicz's eCAM saddle technology but its listed string spacing, 10.5mm or 10.8mm, needs confirming against this specific Telecaster variant's factory spacing before ordering.

Help confirm this fit

£74.99 at Andertons

View at Andertons

Pickup

3 options

Illustration, photo coming soon

Fender Gen 4 Noiseless Telecaster Pickup Set

Likely drop-in

Soldering

A hum-cancelling option that fits the existing Tele pickup route. Still needs soldering to install.

Why we say this

Genuine Fender hum-cancelling Tele set built to the standard Tele single-coil footprint.

£179.00 at Andertons

View at Andertons

Illustration, photo coming soon

Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Telecaster Pickup Set

Likely drop-in

Soldering

Fits the standard Tele pickup route. Needs soldering, not a plug-and-play part.

Why we say this

Standard single-coil Tele-shaped set, drops into the same route as the stock pickups.

See current price at Reverb

View at Reverb

Illustration, photo coming soon

Seymour Duncan JB Jr. for Tele (Bridge)

Likely drop-in

Soldering

A genuine humbucker squeezed into the stock Tele bridge slot, for players who want humbucker output without routing the body. Bridge position only. Needs soldering.

Why we say this

A true dual-coil humbucker built into a single-coil-sized housing, drops into the standard Tele bridge single-coil route without any body routing. Bridge position only, does not replace the neck pickup.

See current price at Amazon

View at Amazon Also at Andertons.