2018 Fender Limited Edition '72 Telecaster Custom – Purple Sparkle – Curtis Novak Pickups – Includes Original Gig Bag – Used Excellent
The '72 Telecaster Custom is one of the more distinctive instruments in Fender's catalog — a Telecaster body paired with a Wide Range humbucker in the neck position and a standard single-coil at the bridge, three-way switching, and the four-knob control layout that gave players in the early 1970s considerably more tonal flexibility than a standard Tele. In 2018 Fender produced a very limited run of '72 Telecaster Customs in sparkle finishes — only 120 guitars worldwide — making this Purple Sparkle example genuinely scarce. The alder body, one-piece maple neck with 7.25-inch radius and vintage-style frets, three-saddle ashtray bridge with chrome barrel saddles, skirted amp knobs, and F-style tuners all carry the period-correct 1972 specification faithfully. Purple Sparkle is one of the more eye-catching finishes Fender has ever produced — metallic, deep, and visually commanding in a way that very few production guitar colors manage to be.
This example has been upgraded with a pair of Curtis Novak pickups — a Wide Range neck humbucker and a hum-cancelling bridge pickup — replacing the stock Fender units with two of the most respected boutique replacements available for this platform. The Wide Range neck delivers the warm, thick, fully voiced humbucker character that the position is known for, while the hum-cancelling bridge gives you the classic Telecaster snap and clarity without the 60-cycle noise of a true single-coil. The electrosocket output jack is a clean and practical upgrade that replaces the standard barrel jack with a flush-mounted locking socket. A bone nut completes the hardware upgrades. All original Fender pickups and hardware are available if the buyer prefers the stock configuration.
This one is in superb shape — very light pick scratching on the pickguard is the entire condition story. The original Fender gig bag is included, clean with tags. A rare and visually stunning guitar with meaningful tonal upgrades already in place.
- Make: Fender
- Model: Limited Edition '72 Telecaster Custom
- Year: 2018
- Production: Limited run of 120 guitars worldwide
- Country of origin: Mexico
- Body: Alder
- Finish: Purple Sparkle, gloss polyester
- Neck: Maple, C shape, gloss polyester finish, one-piece
- Fingerboard: Maple, black dot inlays
- Fingerboard radius: 7.25"
- Scale length: 25.5"
- Nut: Bone (upgraded)
- Nut width: 1.650"
- Frets: 21, vintage style
- Pickups: Curtis Novak Wide Range humbucker (neck), Curtis Novak hum-cancelling (bridge) — upgraded
- Controls: Volume (neck), volume (bridge), tone (neck), tone (bridge), 3-position blade switch
- Bridge: 3-saddle American Vintage ashtray style with chrome barrel saddles
- Output jack: Electrosocket flush-mount (upgraded)
- Tuners: F-style chrome
- Knobs: Skirted amp style
- Hardware: Chrome
- Modifications: Curtis Novak pickups installed, electrosocket output jack, bone nut
- Condition: Used Excellent – very light pick scratching on pickguard, otherwise presents superbly
- Includes: Original Fender deluxe gig bag (clean with tags)
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
