NAMM 2020: Fender Parallel Universe Volume II = More weirdness

16 Jan 2020 by Jef | Approximate reading time: 3 Minutes

Fender Parallel Universe II collection · Source: Fender

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Fender launches its Parallel Universe Volume II at Winter NAMM, a collection of unconventional looking, vintage-inspired guitars. This series reimagines iconic designs from the company’s history as if they were born in a different reality.

Parallel Universe Volume II

I already covered the new Maverick Dorado in a separate article, as it was a reissue-of-sorts of an obscure 1969 ‘parts bin’ model from Fender’s CBS era. The rest of the new Parallel Universe Volume II models are listed below and are a ragtag bunch of alternative versions of well-known, classic Fender instruments from over the years.

Spark-O-Matic Jazzmaster

The Spark-O-Matic Jazzmaster comes with Seymour Duncan SM-1N and SM-3B mini-humbuckers loaded onto a three-piece ash/mahogany/ash body. The pickups are wired via a 5-way selector switch with single volume and tone controls. It comes with an American Pro Jazzmaster bridge and ClassicGear tuners.

The guitar looks a bit like a cross between Gibson Firebird and a Jazzmaster to me.

RRP – USD 1999.99

Spark-O-Matic Jazzmaster

Jazz Strat

The Jazz Strat is a straight up Stratocaster with Jazzmaster components. There’s a set of Pure Vintage ’65 single-coil Jazzmaster pickups as well as a Jazzmaster trem. It has a custom Decoboom Streamline Pinstriped pickguard with aluminium radio control knobs.

It all looks very strange, but could sound great?

RRP – USD 1999.99

Fender Jazz Strat

Strat Jazz Deluxe

More offset guitar weirdness here with the all-new Strat Jazz Deluxe model. Put Strat pickups and hardware on a Jazzmaster and this is what you get. The design looks a little lost to me, the hardware looks too small on that body.

It has a flame-maple top and a one-piece rosewood neck. The hardware consists of a Pro Strat bridge and three Texas Special single-coil pickups.

Available in a Transparent Seafoam Green finish.

RRP – USD 2299.99

Strat Jazz Deluxe

Tele Mágico

Designed in conjunction with Custom Shop Master Builder Ron Thorn, the Tele Mágico features custom Fender Gold Foil pickups and a 3-saddle Tele bridge. It has an ash body and a nice flame maple neck. The Pearloid block inlays and pickguard give it a bit of pawnbroker-style chic.

Comes in Transparent Daphne Blue or Transparent Surf finishes.

RRP – USD 2299.99

Fender Tele Mágico co-designed with Ron Thorn

Uptown Strat

The Uptown Strat is the result of a meeting between Leo Fender and Ted McCarty from a parallel universe. It has a familiar Gibson layout of two humbuckers and a four-pot pickup control setup. The mahogany body is paired with a mahogany neck and has a regular Strat-style bridge system. This could be the most normal looking model of the bunch.

RRP – USD 1999.99

Fender Uptown Strat

Troublemaker Tele Deluxe Bigsby

The new Troublemaker Tele Deluxe Bigsby looks like it is wearing a tuxedo and is the most ‘refined’ design of the lot. This guitar is clearly a Gibson Les Paul Custom touting as a Telecaster. It comes with three humbuckers, an LP style control layout and a Bigsby Bridge. Other obvious similarities to the Gibson model are the pearloid block inlays, white neck binding and gold hardware. This one is possibly my favourite of the bunch.

RRP – USD 2499.99

Troublemaker Tele Deluxe Bigsby

Troublemaker Tele Deluxe

This version of the Troublemaker Tele Deluxe has push-pull volume controls to access coil-taps on both of its Custom Double Tap humbuckers. No Bigsby and just two pickups this time, but still a great looking instrument. Especially with that maple fretboard and black blocks for fret markers.

RRP – USD 2399.99