Amidst the buzz surrounding Blink 182’s recent triumphant return , Tom DeLonge, often hailed as the elder statesman of pop-punk, has once again joined forces with Fender to introduce his second signature guitar. Following the welcomed reissue of his Limited Edition Stratocaster last August, the founding guitarist of Blink, in collaboration with the renowned luthier, has unveiled the Tom DeLonge Starcaster—a guitar that breaks the mold both in appearance and functionality. And we must admit, upon glimpsing its design, we are very intrigued.
Available in a palette of four captivating colors—Shoreline Gold, Surf Green, Olympic White, and Shell Pink—the latter particularly catching the eye with its matte finish and contrasting black binding, the Tom DeLonge Starcaster features a semi-hollow offset body design that sets the stage for a series of unique modifications inspired by DeLonge himself. Among these alterations is the addition of a single Seymour Duncan SH-5 pickup, tailored to deliver the robust power chords and gritty riffs emblematic of DeLonge’s musical style on stages across the globe. Moreover, this pickup is governed by the guitar’s sole knob (volume), complemented by a treble bleed circuit crafted to retain the instrument’s crisp high frequencies even at lower volumes, enabling players to replicate DeLonge’s distinctive chime-y, on-the-edge tones.
Augmenting the visual appeal of the offset body, DeLonge has chosen to replace the traditional Starcaster headstock—an element that has often raised eyebrows among aficionados—with a bold, vintage-inspired ‘70s-style headstock reminiscent of classic Stratocasters. This not only enhances the guitar’s aesthetic charm but, as per DeLonge’s assertion, also contributes to an improved weight distribution for enhanced balance during play.
“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”
The Tom Delonge Starcaster is currently available from Fender, priced at £1,149.
