Two Signature Fender Buck Owens Models
The limited editions Fender Buck Owens Telecaster and Buck Owens Kingman, in the distinctive red, blue and silver (or cream – Kingman) finish, honour the memory of the musician who pioneered the electrified, so-called "Bakersfield" sound and changed the then relatively conservative world of American country music. Owens was also one of the first players to use Fender acoustic guitars almost exclusively, contributing greatly to the brand's popularity early period of the brand.
To build the dreadnought body of the Fender Buck Owens Kingman, with innovative Performance X bracing contributing to better resonance, solid mahogany was chosen for the back and sides, while the soundboard is made of proven spruce. The result is a flexible, sufficiently assertive tone, providing a solid bass foundation, the necessary midrange projection, and a treble defined in detail.
The mahogany neck with an ergonomic C-profile carries a rosewood fretboard with 20 frets and a flat 16-inch radius. The electroacoustic gets period tuning pegs with plastic rondelles, a bone zero fret, a rosewood bridge and a Fender/Fishman Presys VT Plus sound system consisting of a pair of pickups (piezo + internal sensor) and a module with Volume and Blend potentiometers hidden in the soundhole.
The limited edition Fender Buck Owens Telecaster 2024, a follow-up to the earlier signatures of the same name with a rosewood fretboard (see the last attached video), is based on Owens' original and has an alder body, with white binding protecting the front and back edges, a maple neck with a Late '50s "C" profile, and an identical wood fretboard with a rounder vintage 7.25-inch radius, 21 subtle frets and a 42mm-wide synthetic bone nut.
The sound is carried by a Custom Buck Owens Alnico 3 Tele bridge single-coil and Custom Buck Owens Alnico 2 Tele neck, with the choice of 1950s-style pickups designed with a piercingly bright tone in mind. The traditional control system includes a common volume, tone pot and three-position footswitch. The gold chrome hardware consists of vintage machines and a tub base bridge complemented by a trio of brass barrel saddles. The luxurious look is accentuated by a gold mirrored pickguard.
The official European price of the special edition Fender Buck Owens Telecaster is around 1,850 euros, while the electroacoustic Fender Buck Owens Kingman comes in at around 790 euros. Both instruments come with a hard case and other accessories.
If you have found an error or typo in the article, please let us know by e-mail info@insounder.org.
