Queens Of The Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen has developed a second Fender signature model, bringing a 12-string Telecaster design to Squier’s Paranormal range.
by Paul Cashmere
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has introduced the Paranormal Troy Van Leeuwen Telecaster XII, a new Squier signature guitar developed with Queens Of The Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen. The instrument is designed around the distinctive tonal characteristics of a 12-string Telecaster, with Fender positioning it as an accessible entry point for players interested in expanded harmonic and textural possibilities.
The guitar is Van Leeuwen’s second signature model with Fender and reflects an approach to guitar playing built around texture, atmosphere and layered sound. His work with Queens Of The Stone Age, A Perfect Circle, Failure, Gone Is Gone and The Armed has established him as a versatile figure within alternative rock, where his guitar parts frequently operate as much as sonic architecture as conventional rhythm or lead playing.
“When creating my second signature with Fender, I wanted an instrument at an affordable price point that could inspire anyone who’s ever been curious about playing a 12-string,” Van Leeuwen said. “Having worked with the team for over a decade, they easily connected with my vision for a guitar that’s designed for functionality, aesthetically striking, and would sound great right out of the box.”
The Paranormal Troy Van Leeuwen Telecaster XII is intended to produce the shimmering harmonics and layered tones associated with 12-string guitars while retaining the familiar Telecaster format. Fender describes the instrument as combining Van Leeuwen’s preferred aesthetic with modern playability and a design intended for both ambient passages and chord-driven rock.
Justin Norvell, Fender’s Chief Product Officer, Guitar, said Van Leeuwen’s approach to the instrument was central to its development.
“Troy has always approached the guitar differently,” Norvell said. “He hears texture, harmony and space in a way that’s uniquely his own.”
Van Leeuwen has been a member of Queens Of The Stone Age for more than two decades and has contributed to several of the band’s major releases. Noise11 has previously documented his role in the group’s evolving multi-guitar sound, including the band’s 2013 album …Like Clockwork and its 2023 album In Times New Roman….
His association with A Perfect Circle also predates his tenure with Queens Of The Stone Age, with Van Leeuwen contributing to the band during its formative recording and touring years.
The new Squier model extends a relationship between Van Leeuwen and Fender that has lasted more than a decade. Rather than reproducing a conventional six-string configuration, the Paranormal model places the 12-string format at the centre of the design, reflecting the guitarist’s emphasis on harmonic density and layered guitar textures.
The announcement also comes during an active period for Van Leeuwen. Queens Of The Stone Age are scheduled to return to Australia and New Zealand in December 2026, with shows planned across the region.
The Paranormal Troy Van Leeuwen Telecaster XII gives players access to one of rock guitar’s more distinctive configurations through Fender’s Squier range, extending Van Leeuwen’s influence beyond his recordings and live performances and into the instruments used by the next generation of guitarists.
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