Fender Japan Telecaster Custom TC72-65 Black 1986
Fender Telecaster Custom, black, made in Japan 1986-7. This is awesome, it's got of swagger. The Tele Custom launched in 1972, part of a trio of Teles sporting the new Wide Range humbucking pickup designed by Seth Lover. This was made not all that long after, in the early years of Fender Japan. The first thing that stuck out to me is the neck: it's a lovely golden colour, and the detail in the grain is very pretty. The fretboard shows a thousand tiny pores, while the back has a bunch of tiny concentric parenthetical lines packed tightly up and down the whole length; it's a really lovely piece of maple and feels like home in the hand straight away. This one has had a brass six-saddle bridge installed, which adds a little extra spank to the tone and makes for easy intonation. The electronics were a little dodgy on arrival, so our friendly tech Mark has done a full re-wire: new pots, switch, caps, jack, wire, and so it should be pretty bulletproof and gig-ready for the next couple off decades now. The black has almost yellowed with age: it's got a slight green tinge to it, as well as plenty of scuffs and marks, and it looks beautiful. This is a great Tele, I'm a fan.
Model: Fender Telecaster Custom TC72-65
Made: Japan, 1986-7, Fujigen Gakki factory
Serial: E829595
Finish: black, gloss poly
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale. 7.25" radius, U shape, 42mm nut
Weight: 3.705kg
Mods: full rewire with new Gotoh switch and 250k/1m pots, new wire, new tone caps and new jack, bridge replaced
Pickups: Japan TL-Single, TN-Humbucking
Accessories: no case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end and some minor scuffs on the edges, front and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear and dimples on the back only. The back has scuffs on the horns and dimples around the ferrules, in the elbow area and along the back and bottom edges. The sides have scuffs around the front strap pin and on the top horn, dimples and scuffs in the elbow area and near the jack and some dimples on the bottom horn. The front has dents behind the bridge, dimples along the back edge and elbow area, minor scuffs around the whole body and play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear only