(SOLD) Cool Z ZTL-1M Vintage Natural 2014
Cool Z ZTL-1M Tele style, vintage natural gloss finish, made in Japan 2014. This is the kind of guitar fellow MIJ-nerds will get pretty excited about, but the general guitar playing public would gloss over. Cool Z is a house brand for major Japanese instrument chain Shimamura, who have stores all over Japan. They're made at the legendary Fujigen Gakki plant, the very same factory that made all those famous Fender Japan guitars from 1982-96 as well as producing Ibanez Prestige and other tasty biscuits to this day. This is their take on the classic 1952 Telecaster, but with a few sensible modern conveniences. Vintage style appointments include a very agreeable soft-V neck, three saddle bridge with some deluxe brass saddles, single ply guard and Kluson style tuners... classic stuff. The modern touches include a truss rod adjuster at the sensible end of the neck, a flatter 9.5" radius neck with taller frets and a set of slightly overwound pickups. Plugged in, this sounds absolutely superb. It's got chime and twang by the bucketload, but it's super articulate and clear with a gorgeous balance and complexity to it. The pickups are a little hotter than a trad vintage set, but they're less mid-focused than a Texas Special, so it breathes a little easier and balances the top end sparkle with a rounded low end perfectly. Fujigen are doing something called 'Circle Fretting System' on the frets, which means the frets are slightly parenthetically shaped, increasing sustain, tonal purity and accuracy in intonation. This is an excellent guitar, it plays and sounds better than most USA production Teles in my humble opinion. Ze coolest.
Model: Cool Z ZTL-1M
Made: Japan, Fujigen plant, 2014 (serial J141083)
Finish: vintage natural, gloss poly, single-ply black guard
Body: lightweight ash, 3 piece
Neck: maple, one-piece inc board, 25.5" scale, 9.5" radius, soft-V shape
Mods: none
Weight: 3.790kg
Pickups: Fujigen TLD-FAT F/R single coil x2
Case: basic gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has no major marks. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear on the back only. The back has no major marks, just some widespread light scuffs and surface scratches around the body. The sides have no major marks, just a minor dent on the bottom side near the switch and some light scuffs on the bottom horn. The front is pretty clean, just some minor dimples on the top horn and some minor play scuffs on the guard and horn. Overall: excellent condition (9/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. The frets have minor wear only, 8/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.