Fender American Professional Hot Shot Telecaster RW 3-Color Sunburst Electric guitar

American Professional Hot Shot Telecaster — Tele Bite with Strat-Style Versatility

The Fender American Professional Hot Shot Telecaster RW 3-Color Sunburst is a USA-built solidbody that blends the unmistakable snap of a Telecaster with the tonal range of a three-pickup layout. Built around a traditional alder body with a polyurethane finish and a maple Deep "C" neck with a rosewood fingerboard, this instrument delivers classic Fender character with thoroughly modern playability. The Hot Shot layout adds a V-Mod III Stratocaster® single-coil in the middle position, opening up glassy in-between tones that a standard Tele cannot reach. From studio tracking to stage work, this model delivers the depth, punch, and sparkle that define a working musician's Telecaster. A Deluxe Molded hardshell case is included for transport between gigs and sessions.

What Sets This Telecaster Apart

The defining feature is the Hot Shot pickup arrangement: two V-Mod III Telecaster single-coils flanking a V-Mod III Stratocaster single-coil in the middle position, all wired through a 5-way blade. A push-push tone control adds the neck pickup for even more combinations, while ClassicGear™ Precision™ potentiometers deliver smooth, consistent control with custom torque, precise resistance and a musical taper. The new 3-saddle top-load/string-through Tele bridge with ClassicGear™ compensated brass Bullet™ saddles retains classic brass-saddle tone with excellent intonation.

Alder Body Construction — Balanced, Lively, and Lightweight

The body is the foundation of every Telecaster's voice, and alder has been Fender's go-to tonewood for decades thanks to its balanced resonance and beefy midrange. A solid slab construction keeps the weight comfortable for long sets while delivering the punchy attack that defines the Tele character.

• Body Material: Alder — balanced tone with lively resonance and clear note separation
• Body Finish: Polyurethane — durable finish that protects the wood for years
• Body Shape: Telecaster — the iconic single-cut slab silhouette that has defined the model since the early 1950s

Deep "C" Neck Profile — Comfortable Feel, Easy Upper-Register Access

The Deep "C" neck profile with smooth rolled fingerboard edges fills the hand comfortably, and the "Super-Natural" satin urethane finish on the back of the neck keeps the hand moving freely. A newly sculpted neck heel gives easy access to the upper register.

• Neck Material: Maple with Fingerboard: Rosewood — bright, articulate response paired with a warm, woody feel
• Scale Length: 648 mm — full Telecaster tension for snap and clarity on every string
• Fingerboard Radius: 241 mm (9.5") — a modern curve that supports comfortable bending and chord work
• Nut: Bone, 42.8 mm — comfortable string spacing for chords and fingerstyle
• Frets: 22 Narrow Tall — easy bending and clean note articulation

Hot Shot Pickup Configuration — Tele Twang Meets Strat Shimmer

The Hot Shot wiring is the heart of this model's tonal range. Two V-Mod III Telecaster single-coils cover the bridge and neck positions, delivering the twang, snap and snarl that made the Tele famous, while a V-Mod III Stratocaster middle pickup adds glassy, Strat-inspired in-between tones. The 5-way blade switch unlocks combinations that span from classic Tele bite to Strat-style shimmer.

• Pickup Configuration: SSS — V-Mod III Tele (bridge) / V-Mod III Strat (middle) / V-Mod III Tele (neck)
• 5-Position Blade switching — bridge, bridge+middle, middle, middle+neck, and neck-only positions
• Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone — push-push tone control adds the neck pickup
• Bridge: 3-Saddle Top-Load/String-Through Tele with ClassicGear™ Compensated Brass Bullet™ Saddles
• Tuning Machines: Fender Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered — reliable tuning stability

Who Should Play This Guitar

This Hotshot Telecaster is the right choice for working guitarists who need one instrument that can cover country twang, indie jangle, blues grit, and modern rock textures without compromise. Studio players benefit from the expanded 5-way switching, which delivers everything from spanky bridge-position Tele bark to quacky in-between Strat tones in a single session. Live performers appreciate the Deep "C" neck with rolled fingerboard edges, the narrow-tall frets, and the "Super-Natural" satin finish that keeps the hand moving fast across long sets. Players coming from a standard Tele who want more tonal options without giving up the slab-body feel will find the Hotshot layout especially appealing. Right-handed players looking for a USA-made professional instrument with vintage character and contemporary comfort will feel right at home on this model.