Fender '52 Tele, made in Japan 1991, charcoal burst. Mmmmmm... caramel! The charcoal burst (CCB) finish is a late 80s/early 90s eccentricity; they were made for a few years and then disappeared. The Fujigen luthiers would scorch the body, adding dark burn marks, and then add a vintage tinted clear coat of poly. Each one looks a little different; this one has a sweet caramel hue on the top and some darker marks around the sides. The tone on offer is awesome; this will match it with some very expensive guitars very happily. There's heaps of attack and brightness, but there's a lovely complexity and depth to the timbre that adds a whole lot of flavour to the classic Tele-twang. The neck is a sweet, perfectly straight piece of maple, played in nicely and yellowed to a golden brown. The lightweight body and slim C-style neck make for a pretty effortless playing experience. These CCB Teles are increasingly collectable, especially as they're turning thirty years old and word gets around about their many benefits. Burnt butter!

Model: Fender Telecaster '52 Reissue (TL52-600)
Made: Japan, neck date 7 Nov 1991 (serial K024226)
Finish: charcoal burst (CCB), single ply black guard
Body: American basswood
Neck: one piece maple with skunk stripe, 7.25" radius, 25.5" scale
Mods: none
Weight: 3.195kg approx
Pickups: Fender Japan TL-Vintage single coil x2
Case: none

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. Headstock has a couple of dimples on the end and bottom edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has no major marks, just some dimples near the string ferrules. The sides have a couple of marks: dimples on the top horn, a chip and some scuffs on the shoulder, a proper chip and some dimples near the jack. The front is pretty clean, there's a chip near the jack and some dimple around the back edge as well as some light play scratches on the guard and top horn. Overall: good condition (7/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. The frets have some normal wear but are in good shape, 7/10 for life left. Wearing fresh 10/46s.