(SOLD) Fender Japan '58 Telecaster TL58-85 US Blonde 1994
Fender '58 Tele, US Blonde finish, made in Japan 1994. This is a rare one! The neck is stamped 'TL58', denoting an unusual 1958 reissue model, and the neck pocket is stamped 'ORDER', showing it is part of a limited run at the time. The 1958 Telecaster borrows a few elements from both fifties and sixties models. It's got the fifties style ash body, single ply guard and maple board, but with a sixties style logo and headstock and a slim C neck profile. The lighter blonde finish and single ply white guard are more specific to the late fifties era, and oh boy, it's a cool aesthetic. It's a pretty classic look, but it's different enough from both regular '52 blackguard and '62 style models to really stand out... at least to nerds like me! The hero here is the super lightweight ash body. Some ash body Teles weigh in well over 4kg, but this one is featherlight at 3.1kg. Lightweight pieces of ash like this these days are generally stashed for Custom Shop guitars, as they resonate extremely well and offer a fat bass response, and when you play this unplugged the natural volume really speaks for it itself.... heck. This one has a set of Fender USA Pure Vintage single coil pickups in it, and as a nice bonus, our new in-house tech dropped in a premium wiring harness, so it's a classy thing under the hood. All that goodness adds up to a massive tone. The low end is weighty, reassuring and dripping with richness, the midrange is harmonically complex with a superbly eloquent attack and crystal clear note separation and the high end packs plenty of that signature Tele Twang to make sure every note cuts through the mix just right. I really, really like this one, so take it away before I stash it for myself.
Model: Fender Telecaster '52 Reissue (TL58-85)
Made: Japan, Fujigen plant, 1993-4 (serial N063950)
Finish: US blonde (USB), single-ply white guard
Body: lightweight ash
Neck: one piece maple, 7.25" radius, 25.5" scale, slim C shape
Mods: pickups replaced, wiring harness replaced
Weight: 3.150kg
Pickups: Fender USA Pure Vintage '64 Telecaster single coil x2
Case: basic non original gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor dimples on the end an bottom edge. The necks is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has widespread light scuffs and dimples around the body, as well as a chip on the outside edge in the elbow area and near the jack. The sides have some dimples and a chip int he elbow area, some light scuffs near the rear strap pin, some dimples and dents near the jack and some light marks on the bottom horn. The front is pretty clean, just some dimples around the controls and bridge, a couple of dents and dimples in the elbow area and some standard play wear 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. All electronics tested and working properly. The frets have some normal wear but are pretty even with no major buzz issues, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.