Fender '72 Tele, butterscotch blonde, made in Japan 1992-3. When I was a young warthog, my guitar teacher spent his days teaching from a well-played butterscotch Tele... it's lodged in my mind as the quintessential electric guitar, and I figure I'm not alone in such leanings. This charmer is a '72 style example, so it got a slim C shaped neck, big bold black decals and the classic ash/maple combo that still gets us all wobbly under the collar all these decades later. The neck is straight, stable and comfy, pulling no punches and showing off some lovely detail in the grain on the bottom side. The body is pretty light too, which is a handy bonus. The bridge pickup delivers a crunchy, expansive twang, while the neck pickup is surprisingly dark and warm. The cheddar-blonde finish lets a bit of the sen ash grain show through and looks all the better for three decades of light scrapes and rub wear; this has that streetsmart aesthetic dialed right in. You can't go too wrong here, these Fujigen-era Telecasters always deliver the goods.

Model: Fender Telecaster (TL72-58)
Made: Japan, Fujigen plant, 1992-3 (serial N030957)
Finish: butterscotch blonde (BSB), gloss poly, 1-ply black guard
Body: sen ash
Weight: 3.430kg
Neck: maple with maple board, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, moderate U shape
Mods: pots, switch and guard replaced,
Pickups: Fender Japan 'TL-Single' x2
Case: basic non original gig bag

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples and dents on the end, bottom edge and back, nothing nasty. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has a dent near the ferrules, as well as widespread dimples and light scuffs around the body, no major marks. The sides have minor dimples around the whole body, as well as some scuffs on the top horn and elbow area. The front has dimples around the knobs, behind the bridge and in the elbow area, as well as some play wear on the guard and horns. Note the switch tip is currently missing. Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. All electronics tested and working properly. The frets have minor wear but are in pretty good shape, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.