(SOLD) Fender Japan '62 Telecaster TL62-75 Charcoal Burst 1993
Fender '62 Telecaster charcoal burst finish, made in Japan 1992-3. I really love this guitar, it's such a great Tele. First up, it's a cool finish. The 'charcoal burst' finish was only offer 1989-1993 approximately, it involved using a specific timber species for the body that handles heat well, scorching it with a blowtorch, then finishing the body off with an extra dark tinted clear coat. The results is a stunning caramel colour, with darker sections really showing off the grain beautifully. Teles in this finish are increasingly collectable, although this is a few dings shy of collector's grade condition and priced accordingly. The body is also superbly lightweight, so this weighs less than the semi-hollow Tele in the store and rings like a bell unplugged... you'll feel every little note in your body when you play. The neck is the charming slim 60s style C, so it's an effortless profile that's superbly easy to move around on. It's also blessed with a gorgeous piece of superbly tightly grained maple and a proper dark choc open pore rosewood board; these older Fujigen-made examples enjoy a level of care in the wood selection that's not really possible these days. All that adds up in the tone department: holy heck, this sounds gorgeous. The neck pickup is the stock TL-Vintage single coil, which is breathy and sparkly with a nice natural wallop to the low end. The bridge pickup is a Dimarzio rails style humbucker, which defaults to a single coil setting unless you pull up the tone knob to engage the second coil. As a single coil, it's bright and open with heaps of shimmer and warmth, or in full flight HB mode it's a crunchy, golden delight. I was in love moments after first plugging this one in on arrival, it's a seriously sweet thing. But hey, don't take my word for it!
Model: Fender Japan '62 Telecaster TL62-75
Made: Japan, 1992-3, Fujigen plant (serial O018258)
Finish: charcoal burst (CCB)
Body: american basswood
Neck: maple, rosewood board, 7.25"radius, 25.5" scale, slim C shape
Weight: 3.055kg
Mods: bridge pickup replaced, new wiring harness installed
Pickups: Fender USA TL-Vintage (neck), Dimarzio DP384 Chopper T bridge (splittable to single coil via push/pull tone pot)
Case: basic non original gig bag
Overall: moderate finish wear. The headstock has some marks on the end and both edges. The neck is pretty clean and smooth in the hands, just some minor dimples on the back. The has a decent chip on the top horn and the bottom corner behind the jack, as well as widespread dimples, scuffs and surface scratches. The sides have a couple of decent chips near the jack as well as dimples and minor marks around the whole body. The front has some chips on the edges near the control plate and on both horns, as well as widespread dimples and some checking lines, plus the standard play wear on the guard and horn. Overall: good condition (6.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Frets are pretty even with no major buzz issues, but there's some normal wear inc minor pitting; 6/10 for life left. Setup with fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.