Fender Tele Deluxe, natural finish, made in Japan 1989. This is a truly superb guitar, I'm a huge fan. We've had a (small) handful of Tele Deluxe models through the shop, but this is the first example from this early Fujigen-made era we've ever scored. The quality of build is fantastic, it feels both lovingly crafted and somehow alive in the hands. The body is lightweight for ash and very resonant, and the neck features some pretty birds-eye grain on the back... they're both great bits of wood. The neck is a slim C shape, which is comfy and quick to move around on. It seems to have been re-fretted and re-radiused to a 12” fretboard at some point, which might sound like an unusual mod but is more common than you’d think and feels great. It makes for a great ‘transition’ guitar: big beefy rhythm parts down low, screaming leads with big bends up high… you can switch between them effortlessly. It’s a bit unclear if the pickups in this are made in Japan or USA, but either way, they sound amazing. There’s a warm, weighty low end that lends chords a full and confident voice. The midrange is open, rich and complex, with excellent note separation and rich responsiveness that whispers delicately under a light touch or barks madly when hit hard, all rounded out by a shimmering and luxurious top end. It’s a really fun guitar to play and listen back to in real time, the certain liveliness it has brings out your creativity. The natural finish has yellowed and mellowed beautifully too, it’s got an understated quirky vintage charm. If you can’t tell, I really like this one, so buy it before I change my mind and keep it… I reckon you’ve got maybe a week?

Model: Fender Japan TD75-65
Made: Japan, 1989 (serial J016612)
Finish: natural, gloss poly
Body: sen ash
Neck: maple w/ maple board, 12" radius, 25.5" scale, slim C profile
Weight: 3.475kg
Mods: re-fretted and re-radiused at some point
Pickups: Fender Japan TN-humbucker x2
Case: basic gig bag

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor marks on the end, bottom edge and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has a hole from a former strap pin on the top horn, scuffs in the middle of the body and widespread light dimples, nothing nasty. The sides have some dimples in the elbow and waist areas on the top, scuffs along the back edge and dimples near the jack and on the bottom horn. The front has a small dent up from the bridge pickup, some minor dimples near the knobs and in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns. Overall: very good condition (8/10).

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. The frets are in decent shape with minor wear only, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 11-49 Moonshiners strings.