Fender’s Hoey Brasler on the LE Vintera II Road Worn Series

By Christian Wissmuller

Fender’s Vintera II series has already carved out a passionate following among players who crave vintage feel without the vintage-guitar price tag. Now the brand is dialing that nostalgia even further with the Limited-Edition Vintera Road Worn lineup — models finished in tastefully aged nitrocellulose lacquer that aim to recreate the look, tone, and tactile familiarity of instruments that have lived decades of real stage time. According to Joey Brasler, VP of Fender Guitars & Amps Product, the Road Worn additions bring “a whole other dimension to the playing experience,” offering the thin, traditional lacquer finish that defined the company’s ’50s and ’60s golden era.

The Road Worn treatment isn’t new to Fender, but its return has clearly struck a chord. After several years without a dedicated Road Worn series, players and dealers had been asking for more — and Fender listened. The 2025 limited-edition lineup features updated aging techniques, subtly checked and dinged finishes, and era-correct components designed to deliver authentic feel right out of the case. As Brasler hints throughout the conversation, the appeal is equal parts romance and realism: guitars that look, sound, and wear like the classics, but with the consistency and reliability modern builders can offer today.

The Vintera II series has been a runaway success — what do you feel the Limited-Edition Vintera Road Worn™ lineup adds? What players/customers are going to be drawn to these models?

Limited-Edition Vintera Road Worn offers a whole other dimension to the playing experience. These instruments are finished in our tastefully aged nitrocellulose lacquer. 

Nitrocellulose Lacquer, the traditional finish used by Fender in the ‘50s and ‘60s recreates the tonal character, authentic feel and classic look of vintage guitars. In addition, lacquer is thinner and more delicate than other finishes and will age gracefully and uniquely depending upon how it’s played and handled. 

For all these reasons, players that appreciate the characteristics of vintage-style lacquer will love these instruments, especially the new Road Worn aging treatment. 

What was the catalyst behind launching this series? Was it customer interest/demand, did someone on the FMIC design team hatch the idea?

Fender has been making Road Worn instruments for over 18 years. In that time, they’ve developed a loyal following. Players love the way we age our instruments, especially the necks, which are hand-crafted so that they feel worn in and comfortable.

It’s been several years since we offered a Road Worn series and we’ve heard from both players and dealers that it’s time — they want more. 

It’s early days, but what has the reaction been, both from players and dealers to the Road Worn series?

Initial reactions have been fantastic. Players and dealers are loving the new Road Worn aging treatment. For this series, we have tweaked the paint recipe for the bodies. We’re using a semi-gloss finish and adding light checking and dings, and the overall aging effect is more subtle and authentic than in the past. The new look is really resonating with everyone who gets their hands on these instruments. 

The lineup boasts “era-correct pickups” — how do you go about recreating those components accurately?

Fender has been making “vintage” pickups since 1945. We use the same materials — fiber bobbins, cloth wire, AlNiCo magnets and more — for the Fender vintage-style pickups we make today. 

I’ve had conversations with plenty of guitarists (and dealers) who prefer the “classic” models of guitars — not just Fender — and whenever there’s a reissue or a newly introduced model that mimics guitars from the past, the frequent question is, “Why don’t they just make them ALL like this?” What is it about older designs and techniques that you think trumps many newer models? Or is it just a cost consideration, as I’d imagine things like era-correct pickups and nitro finishes simply involve more money than other methods?

It’s less a cost consideration than a personal preference decision. Fender appeals to a wide array of players that have varying tastes. Some love the vintage nitrocellulose lacquer finish, and some love the smooth, durable modern finishes. Some love glossy finish necks with a 7.25” radius fingerboard. Some love a satin-finish neck with a 9.5” radius fingerboard. Some love low output vintage-style pickups and some love modern high-output pickups. We make guitars that appeal to all those varying tastes.

Speaking of nitro — everyone loves nitrocellulose finishes. Why do you think that is and why has nitro taken a back seat to poly finishes on many models of guitar. Again, is it primarily a price issue?

What appeals to players about nitrocellulose finishes is that they’re romantic and traditional. Lacquer is a thin finish that allows the wood to breathe and enhances tonality. Plus, vintage colors look more authentic in lacquer. Over time, it will check, age and change color in an appealing way. However, lacquer requires more care. It’s susceptible to damage from heat, cold, changing climates and direct sunlight. 

In contrast, modern finishes are very durable. They resist damage well; they stay shiny and new looking for a very long time and require less care. Some players want their guitars to be perfect, lustrous and unfaded for the life of the instrument. 

Fender uses several finishes – American Vintage II, Vintera II Road Worn, Ultra Luxe Vintage and a number of limited runs use lacquer; other series use other various modern finishes. 

I know it may be an “insider secret,” but can you share how the Fender team is able to achieve checking on the finish without the “normal” method of just years and years of time passing by?

You’re right – it’s an insider secret! 

So far the Road Worn lineup is a total of four models of guitars and basses. Any chance of expansion that includes other Fender classics — J-Bass, Jaguar, Mustang?

The Vintera II Road Worn Series is a limited-edition collection, so we won’t be adding new models for this round. But there is always a chance that we’ll include the Jazz Bass, Jaguar, Mustang and more in the next Vintera Road Worn Series.

“It’s been several years since we offered a Road Worn series and we’ve heard from both players and dealers that it’s time — they want more.”

Any other features or aspects of the Vintera II Road Worn lineup that you’d like to draw readers’ attention to?

We pulled in some Fender vintage colors that aren’t see that often, like Burgundy Mist Metallic and Charcoal Frost Metallic. The ‘60s Strat and Telecaster feature an era-correct maple cap fingerboard on their necks, which is something new for this limited series. These instruments arrive in premium cases to protect the lacquer finish, and of course, they all have era-correct pickups, neck shapes and vintage-style hardware.