Fender and Capcom have announced a collaboration to create a Monster Hunter-themed guitar, with the King of the Skies himself, Rathalos, providing the principal inspiration for the instrument.
In a press release, Fender and Capcom describe the Rathalos-themed guitar as an "extraordinary instrument for both game enthusiasts and music lovers", which I suppose it had better be, given that it'll cost you a whopping $2000.
The guitar is a special-edition Telecaster, but unlike most Telecasters, it's got a humbucker for its neck pickup and a single coil for its bridge, so you can choose between heavy, chunky tones "perfect for pairing with distortion pedals" and the thinner twang for which the Telecaster is known.
The basic model of this Telecaster features a Monster Hunter-inspired design on both the body of the guitar and its twelfth fret marker, so you can rock out and pay tribute to Rathalos at the same time.
On the special Japan-only Limited Edition model, you'll find "Rathalos' distinctive wings and flame patterns", and the pickguard features "claw marks", as if Rathalos himself has attacked your guitar (or as if he's been playing it).
You can also expect a glow-in-the-dark effect for the fretboard's side dots and twelfth fret marker on the Limited Edition model, so if you're playing this one during a gig and you want the lights to go down, you'll still create a striking impression.
If you pick this one up, you won't just get the guitar; you'll get a black hardshell case as well, in addition to a certificate of authenticity proving that you own a genuine version of the instrument rather than a replica.
This guitar is just one part of Monster Hunter's 20th-anniversary celebrations, and the franchise is still very much going strong today; the latest installment, Monster Hunter Wilds, is set for release in February.
Fender's Monster Hunter Telecaster will be available via Fender.com and via "authorized Fender dealers worldwide" starting from March next year. The Limited Edition model will only be available via Fender Flagship Tokyo and Fender's official Japanese online store.
