Fender Telecaster Specs: Scale Length and Neck by Model

Quick answer: The Fender Telecaster has a 25.5" (648 mm) scale on every model below, the same as a Stratocaster. The nut is 1.650" (42 mm) on the Squier, Player II, Vintera III and American Vintage II, 1.685" (42.8 mm) on the American Professional, American Professional Classic and American Ultra II, and 1.6875" (42.86 mm) on the Standard. Most have a 9.5" (241 mm) fingerboard radius; the vintage-style Vintera III and American Vintage II have 7.25" (184.1 mm), and the American Ultra II has a 10" to 14" compound radius.

Every number here comes from Fender's spec sheet for that model on fender.com, checked on 21 October 2026. The table is built from those sheets, and each model links to the page its numbers came from.

Photo by Charles G on Unsplash

Fender Telecaster specs by model

The American Professional rows are the models Fender announced on 13 October 2026, not the 2017 series with the same name.

Scale length: 25.5 inches, the same as a Strat

Scale length is the distance from the nut to the saddles, and it sets how tight each string has to be to reach pitch. Every Telecaster in the table has a 25.5" scale, the same as the Stratocaster and Jazzmaster, so the same strings feel the same tension on each. The differences between a Tele and a Strat are in the body, pickups and bridge: the Telecaster vs Stratocaster comparison covers them.

Nut width and neck shape

Fender lists three nut widths for current Teles: 1.650" (42 mm) on the Squier Classic Vibe, Player II, Vintera III and American Vintage II, 1.685" (42.8 mm) on the American Professional, American Professional Classic and American Ultra II, and 1.6875" (42.86 mm) on the Standard. The widest and narrowest are less than a millimetre apart, so the neck shape usually matters more to how the guitar feels, and the Telecaster range spans more shapes than most: Slim "C", Modern "C", Deep "C" and Modern "D", plus the Soft "V" on the Vintera III Late '50s and the 1951 "U" on the American Vintage II. The Fender neck profiles guide compares them.

Fingerboard radius and frets

The radius describes how curved the fingerboard is from side to side; a smaller number is rounder. Most current Teles use 9.5". The Vintera III Late '50s and American Vintage II 1951 keep the vintage 7.25", and the American Ultra II has a compound board that runs from 10" near the nut to 14" higher up. Radius matters at setup time, because Fender's string height and relief starting points change with it: the Telecaster factory setup specs give them by radius.

The Squier Classic Vibe, Standard, Vintera III and American Vintage II have 21 frets; the Player II, American Professional, American Professional Classic and American Ultra II have 22. The fret wire differs too, from narrow tall to medium jumbo and vintage tall. Fender's description of fret sizes explains each.

What Fender's spec sheets don't list

Fender's model pages give neck, fingerboard and hardware specs, not body measurements, pickup dimensions or weight. If you need those for a case, a pickguard or a pickup swap, measure your own guitar rather than relying on a figure for a different model or year. For how high the pickups should sit, see Telecaster pickup height.

Not sure which Telecaster you have?

The serial number gives the year and where the guitar was made, which narrows down the model. Try the Fender serial number lookup, or read the Telecaster serial numbers guide for what each prefix means.

Set your Telecaster up

These are build specs. For neck relief, string height, pickup height and intonation, the Telecaster setup guide walks through each step, and Telecaster intonation covers the three-saddle bridge.

Frequently asked questions

What is the scale length of a Fender Telecaster?

25.5" (648 mm). Every model in the table above, from the Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster to the American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster, lists that scale on its Fender spec sheet.

Is a Telecaster the same scale length as a Stratocaster?

Yes. Both are 25.5" (648 mm), so strings feel the same tension on each.

What is the nut width of a Fender Telecaster?

1.650" (42 mm) on the Squier Classic Vibe '50s, Player II, Vintera III Late '50s and American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster; 1.685" (42.8 mm) on the American Professional, American Professional Classic and American Ultra II Telecaster; and 1.6875" (42.86 mm) on the Standard Telecaster.

What fingerboard radius does a Fender Telecaster have?

9.5" (241 mm) on most current models. The Vintera III Late '50s and American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster have the vintage 7.25" (184.1 mm) radius, and the American Ultra II Telecaster has a 10" to 14" compound radius.

How many frets does a Fender Telecaster have?

22 on the Player II, American Professional, American Professional Classic and American Ultra II; 21 on the Squier Classic Vibe '50s, Standard, Vintera III Late '50s and American Vintage II 1951.

Related Telecaster guides

• Telecaster hub
• Ultimate Telecaster setup guide
• Telecaster factory setup specs
• Telecaster pickup height
• Best strings for Telecaster
• Telecaster vs Stratocaster