Featured image: Creative Commons License by Ian Abbott

Joe Strummer is a man who surely needs no introduction. But I’ll try anyway! Most well known as a co-founder, singer, guitarist, and lyricist of The Clash, this man has left a huge legacy in the world of rock. It’s no surprise that his new signature guitar, the Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster, looks like a road-worn, beaten-up gem.

It represents the rough and ready character that was Joe Strummer at his finest. A man who exuded an air of absolute independence and calm confidence in all his music and opinions. Of course, his music career started one fateful day, when he purchased his first Telecaster back in 1975. And that’s a story in itself…

The original Joe Strummer Telecaster

Creative Commons License by Joe Kerrigan

The UK was a very different place in the ’70s. People were moving around the country like dust in front of a fan, and bands were being formed left right and centre. Man, I wish I had been there.

It was one day in 1975 that Joe Strummer apparently found himself accepting £100 to marry South African citizen Pamela Moolman.

This would give her British citizenship and Joe the money he needed to buy his dream instrument: a 1966 Fender Telecaster.

It would be the guitar that he would use throughout his illustrious career, and which would eventually have his famous stickers stuck to it.

Just one look at it and you’ll notice its inimitable charm – it’s clearly a guitar that was well loved throughout its life.

From the faded black finish to the worn fretboard and overall aesthetic, there’s something about it which just screams ‘play me’.

The history

Joe Strummer bought his 1966 Tele in 1975. If you can do basic maths, that means it was nine years old – already a classic! But Joe could clearly see that this guitar was born for the modern stage. Well, modern to Joe. Those stages are all antiques now.

Believe it or not, the original sported a classic sunburst finish, rather than the sort of gouged-out black finish (or lack of) that it ended up with. It’s rumoured that he wanted a more stripped-back, authentic aesthetic for his beloved melody-maker, so took it to a shop for some alterations. This resulted in it being adorned with black car paint, which eventually flaked off to reveal the grey undercoat beneath.

He used the model – a true punk-looking guitar – for the entirety of the time since he bought it, up until his death in 2002. In many ways, you could say his spirit lives on in this absolute one-of-a-kind beauty. And its one-of-a-kind stickers.

The new Joe Strummer Telecaster

Can you see much of a difference? I certainly can’t. And that’s because Fender have gone to painstaking lengths to ensure this new Joe Strummer Telecaster matches the old one, string for string, scratch for scratch.

It looks like it’s been ripped straight from Joe Strummer’s hands and placed into yours. All except for one thing – the stickers. There’s plenty of space left for you to add your own.

This Strummer Tele features the same single coil layout as the original but with updated custom Joe Strummer pickups. They have the same rock ‘n’ roll punch that his own pickups had.

The maple neck, slab rosewood fretboard, classic Fender headstock – everything comes together to form a guitar which delivers an identical twang and rocking look to the original 1966 Tele.

It’s a tribute to and a continuation of his legacy, and has been designed to bring out your inner punk. Whilst nothing can replace the original, this still comes pretty darn close to it!

Find out more

Sometimes known as The Clash guitar, Joe Strummer’s Tele has long been one of Fender’s most esteemed and revered guitars. But here are some more signatures you might want to check out: Fender Nile Rodgers Hitmaker Stratocaster, Fender Eric Clapton Stratocaster, and Fender Brent Mason Telecaster.