Fender Telecaster Natural 1975
Fender Telecaster, natural finish, made in USA 1975. This has a presence about it, it's definitely got some stories to tell. In the mid 1970s, Fender has a bunch of Tele models on offer: the Custom, Deluxe, Thinline, and the original single coil equipped Telecaster, like this one. The body is a generous slab of very pretty swamp ash, featuring cool grain lines and rich honey colouring. It's not super heavy for a 70s example, but at 4kg it's no featherweight. The neck is a slim, rounded C style shape, with a lush ochre red and chocolate brown striped rosewood board; it feels great in the hand. The aged pearl dots look cool., they're a large size and the 12th fret dots are spaced close; it's the small details that tie it together sometimes. The neck pickup has obviously been replaced: it's been routed out and fitted with an early 80s era Gibson Patent Number humbucker. The pots are 1970s 1 meg CTS examples... I think they're original, as some Teles from this era came with those, but I can't be 100% sure. The sound is great. The bridge pickup offers fairly typical 70s Tele tones: bright, slicing top end, musical and complex mids, fast attack. The neck pickup delivers the girth, with plenty of weighty low end, long natural sustain and a chewy, luxurious midrange. The in-between position balances surprisingly well too, it's a very enjoyable breathy tone. There's a whole lot to enjoy here, it's a really fun and affordable way into a genuine vintage Fender.
Model: Fender Telecaster
Made: USA, 1975
Serial: 626045
Finish: natural, gloss urethane
Body: swamp ash, 3-piece
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, slim U shape, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius
Weight: 4.075kg
Mods: routed for humbucker, neck pickup replaced, tuners replaced, neck plate surround added, nut replaced
Pickups: Fender Telecaster single coil, Gibson 80s-era Patent Number humbucker
Accessories: Fender tweed case, non-original
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor scuffs, rub wear and dimples on the end, bottom edge and back, checking and scuffs on the top edge and widespread checking and minor dimples around the edges on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the edge of the board and some dimples, rub wear and checking on the back only. The back has minor chips on the bottom horn, bottom edge and bottom corner, bald spots near the neck join, scuffs along the back edge and elbow area and widespread checking lines and minor dimples. The sides have minor scuffs, dimples and checking lines around the whole body, as well as some dents in the elbow area and near the jack and some stand burn on the back edge. The front has dents near the tone knob and along the back edge, scuffs around the bridge and elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)
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 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear only