Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announces the launch of the sophomore signature guitar in honour of a melodic-punk icon, the fan favorite Tom DeLonge Starcaster®. This semi-hollow, offset guitar is turbo-charged with Seymour Duncan SH-5 pickups and is perfect for playing chunky power chords and crunchy riffs, just as its namesake loves to do on stages around the world with his band Blink-182. Initially released in the ‘70s to offer versatile sounds for players, DeLonge was drawn to the Starcaster® only recently, with him first using it on stage in 2022. Its infamy was quick and fast, with die-hard fans of this punk icon rushing to modify their own Squier® Starcaster® guitars at home into makeshift replicas of the instrument, unable to wait until this official signature release.
“I love this guitar, I really do. It’s the coolest guitar ever made. Firstly, it is called a Starcaster®—that’s the most important thing. It goes to space and expands your mind,” exclaimed DeLonge. “I made some changes to the original Starcaster®; I’ve streamlined the electronics, added the 70s headstock to round out the weight, and chose the matte finish with black hardware, so its look matches its modern feel. This guitar shows my evolution as a player but also has the hallmarks of where I came from and what I’m about.”
From a kid who originally wanted to become a fireman to a co-founder of one of the most successful rock outfits ever, DeLonge has forged his own, punk rock, path in his music and business. His affinity for guitar started early in life, with this initial spark accelerating into warp speed after discovering bands such as Stiff Little Fingers, the Descendants, and Dinosaur Jr, whose influence is still heard in DeLonge’s playing today. In 1992, DeLonge acquired a Fender® Stratocaster® and co-founded Blink-182. This outfit personified Southern California Skate culture and gave him the creative space to hone his signature pop-punk guitar style, characteristics of which are now endemic to third-wave punk. In the following
years with the band, he won 22 music awards, from Teen Choice Awards to Grammys, released nine albums, and toured worldwide. In 2005, after Blink-182 went on a temporary hiatus, DeLonge had hits and toured with his space-rock outfit Angels and Airwaves. The direction of that band saw him explore more creative sonic horizons before returning to play with Blink-182 in 2022. DeLonge is not one to stay in his lane with guitars, as this new release suggests, nor with his business venture, which includes founding the vegan footwear company Macbeth and entertainment company To The Stars, which aims to “turn the world onto new ideas and new possibilities.”
Fender first worked with DeLonge in 2002 on the release of the Tom DeLonge Stratocaster® guitar. This guitar embodied the spirit of Tom’s playing in the early 2000s with streamlined features and bright colourways, and due to the fanfare around the Blink-182 2022 reunion, was re-released to unprecedented demand. Today’s release, however, honors DeLonge’s guitar evolutions as a player, from skate punk to space rock, back to skate punk and to accomplished musician and idol.
“We are happy to unveil the Tom DeLonge Starcaster®, our latest collaboration with this music icon we consider family. This guitar is a testament to Tom’s distinctive style and the third act in his instrument lineage, from the Strat® to bigger semi-hollows and back to Fender® with a unique semi-hollow that’s just for him. Fender is proud to continue our legacy of honouring legendary artists through instruments that inspire players worldwide,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product at FMIC.
Tom DeLonge Starcaster® ($1,199.99 USD, £1,149.00 GBP, €1,349.00 EUR, $2,099.00 AUD, ¥181,500 JPY) Designed with an offset semi-hollow body, the Tom DeLonge Starcaster® boasts a Seymour Duncan SH-5 Duncan Custom humbucker for turbo-charged tone that’s perfect for chunky power chords and crunchy riffs. But it’s not all about power — the streamlined control setup consisting of a single master volume combined with a treble bleed circuit preserves the guitar’s natural high-end, ensuring sparkly
cleans and chime-y edge-of-breakup tones. The comfy modern “C” neck features medium jumbo frets on a 12”-radius rosewood fingerboard for a modern feel with superior playability. Other highlights include Fender locking tuners for rock-solid tuning stability and fully adjustable bridge with stop tailpiece for classic looks, superior setup adjustment and enhanced tuning stability. DeLonge’s original signature artwork is featured on the back of the headstock, along with a custom-crafted neck plate. The Tom DeLonge Starcaster® is offered in Satin Shoreline Gold, Satin Surf Green, Satin Olympic White and Satin Shell Pink.
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