Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957)
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 10787
Prices subject to change without notice.
Fender Telecaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1957), made in Fullerton, California, serial # -18833, Blonde lacquer finish, ash body, maple neck, original tweed hard shell case.
This beautiful natural relic "white guard" Telecaster has some play time under its belt but remains a superb example of original Fender greatness, worn in just right and a fantastic playing and sounding instrument. This early 1957 example was made just as spring '57 was dawning at Fullerton and shows a mix of features specific to the time period.
The most noticeable difference from earlier Teles is the single-ply white plastic pickguard, which started to replace the earlier black phenolic on Telecasters and Precision Basses in 1954-5. The grained ash body is finished in naturally aged white-blonde lacquer, showing just a slight yellowish cast but not amber-colored as the earlier '50s style ages into. This look would be the norm right into the '60s. Despite seeing some gigging use the body appears not much "smoked" and retains the lighter blonde look.
The one-piece maple neck is dated 3-57 on the heel. It has a fairly soft "V" profile with a rounder spine than some '57's and fills the hand nicely. On the headstock the script Fender "Telecaster" logo decal still sits above the newer style "butterfly" string tree. The tuners are the typical clipped Kluson Deluxes used on all Fenders in the 1950s.
The low 5-digit serial number is stamped on the neck plate, having moved there from the bridge plate when Fender harmonized all their electric instruments into one series in early 1955. it is preceded by a - minus sign, an anomaly of this particular era. The bridge has smooth steel saddles typical of this period and the original staggered-pole lead pickup.
All internal components are original, the pots is dated to the 4th week of 1957. The original switch and wiring have never
been altered to "modern" switching; like all Telecasters prior to the CBS era this guitar is wired with a "deep bass" cap engaged in the front switch position; the middle position is the neck pickup alone, while the back switch setting selects the bridge unit. The pickups can be combined by carefully positioning the lever between settings, which works fairly well on this guitar.
This 1957 Telecaster remains a fantastic-sounding guitar; at only 6.71 LBs with the bridge cover ON (6.53 with it off!) this is one of the lightest '50s Teles we have had and handles like a dream. By this point the "canoe paddle" Telecaster had become widely accepted as a popular tool used by working musicians, including a host of early rock'n'roll and country players. Many have been played for decades and worn virtually into the ground; this one has seen some use but remains a truly great instrument, a genuine relic of the best years of Leo Fender's original company.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.)., 6.71 lbs.
This is an all original and worn-but-not abused Telecaster, with some typical wear and tear but no notable repairs or alterations. The body finish is the original thin blonde lacquer showing a typical collection of chips, dings and rubbed-away spots along the edges typical for slab-sided Fenders. There is one decent size spot of belt buckle wear in the center of the back around the string ferrules. The face is relatively clean with light checking and some dings and dents; there ism one deep dink into the lower back edge and some finger wear in the cutaway. The finish has a slight yellowish caste but is not "smoked' too much and the blonde color has not changed a lot over the last 65 years.
The neck finish is also all original and has some typical wear down to the wood on the fretboard; this guitar was played a bit beyond the "Cowboy Chord" position but not too heavily up the neck! The wear to the fingerboard runs up to the 7-8th fret area with very little above; whoever played this one rarely ventured into the high notes! The finish on the back of the neck has typical wear as well, with rubs on both edges and but less heavy loss than some. The headstock has some light checking, the original decal is intact. The original thin frets have some noticeable wear in the lower positions but remain and quite playable; if the guitar is to be heavily gigged in the future a refret would probably be in order before too long. The bone nut is still original as well.
The hardware is all original and intact; the pickups and wiring are undisturbed. The guitar retains its original "mud cap" switching configuration. There is some minor wear to the chrome, most heavily on the control plate; the switch tip is slightly bent towards the outer edge. The bridge has only minor corrosion and it looks like the still-intact snap-on cover was kept on for much of its life. The pickguard is nicely intact with some wear and yellowing to the surface but no cracks or heavy shrinkage at the screws.
This is a super light, superb sounding all-original Telecaster with a powerful snap from the bridge pickup, a nice mellow honk from the neck pickup and a good blend with that switch lodged JUST in the right spot! It is still housed in its original "Knuckle buster" tweed HSC, a bit worn overall but solid and better preserved than many, with marks from where it looks like something was long ago glued covering most of the top and back surfaces. Excellent - Condition.
This beautiful natural relic "white guard" Telecaster has some play time under its belt but remains a superb example of original Fender greatness, worn in just right and a fantastic playing and sounding instrument. This early 1957 example was made just as spring '57 was dawning at Fullerton and shows a mix of features specific to the time period.
The most noticeable difference from earlier Teles is the single-ply white plastic pickguard, which started to replace the earlier black phenolic on Telecasters and Precision Basses in 1954-5. The grained ash body is finished in naturally aged white-blonde lacquer, showing just a slight yellowish cast but not amber-colored as the earlier '50s style ages into. This look would be the norm right into the '60s. Despite seeing some gigging use the body appears not much "smoked" and retains the lighter blonde look.
The one-piece maple neck is dated 3-57 on the heel. It has a fairly soft "V" profile with a rounder spine than some '57's and fills the hand nicely. On the headstock the script Fender "Telecaster" logo decal still sits above the newer style "butterfly" string tree. The tuners are the typical clipped Kluson Deluxes used on all Fenders in the 1950s.
The low 5-digit serial number is stamped on the neck plate, having moved there from the bridge plate when Fender harmonized all their electric instruments into one series in early 1955. it is preceded by a - minus sign, an anomaly of this particular era. The bridge has smooth steel saddles typical of this period and the original staggered-pole lead pickup.
All internal components are original, the pots is dated to the 4th week of 1957. The original switch and wiring have never
been altered to "modern" switching; like all Telecasters prior to the CBS era this guitar is wired with a "deep bass" cap engaged in the front switch position; the middle position is the neck pickup alone, while the back switch setting selects the bridge unit. The pickups can be combined by carefully positioning the lever between settings, which works fairly well on this guitar.
This 1957 Telecaster remains a fantastic-sounding guitar; at only 6.71 LBs with the bridge cover ON (6.53 with it off!) this is one of the lightest '50s Teles we have had and handles like a dream. By this point the "canoe paddle" Telecaster had become widely accepted as a popular tool used by working musicians, including a host of early rock'n'roll and country players. Many have been played for decades and worn virtually into the ground; this one has seen some use but remains a truly great instrument, a genuine relic of the best years of Leo Fender's original company.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.)., 6.71 lbs.
This is an all original and worn-but-not abused Telecaster, with some typical wear and tear but no notable repairs or alterations. The body finish is the original thin blonde lacquer showing a typical collection of chips, dings and rubbed-away spots along the edges typical for slab-sided Fenders. There is one decent size spot of belt buckle wear in the center of the back around the string ferrules. The face is relatively clean with light checking and some dings and dents; there ism one deep dink into the lower back edge and some finger wear in the cutaway. The finish has a slight yellowish caste but is not "smoked' too much and the blonde color has not changed a lot over the last 65 years.
The neck finish is also all original and has some typical wear down to the wood on the fretboard; this guitar was played a bit beyond the "Cowboy Chord" position but not too heavily up the neck! The wear to the fingerboard runs up to the 7-8th fret area with very little above; whoever played this one rarely ventured into the high notes! The finish on the back of the neck has typical wear as well, with rubs on both edges and but less heavy loss than some. The headstock has some light checking, the original decal is intact. The original thin frets have some noticeable wear in the lower positions but remain and quite playable; if the guitar is to be heavily gigged in the future a refret would probably be in order before too long. The bone nut is still original as well.
The hardware is all original and intact; the pickups and wiring are undisturbed. The guitar retains its original "mud cap" switching configuration. There is some minor wear to the chrome, most heavily on the control plate; the switch tip is slightly bent towards the outer edge. The bridge has only minor corrosion and it looks like the still-intact snap-on cover was kept on for much of its life. The pickguard is nicely intact with some wear and yellowing to the surface but no cracks or heavy shrinkage at the screws.
This is a super light, superb sounding all-original Telecaster with a powerful snap from the bridge pickup, a nice mellow honk from the neck pickup and a good blend with that switch lodged JUST in the right spot! It is still housed in its original "Knuckle buster" tweed HSC, a bit worn overall but solid and better preserved than many, with marks from where it looks like something was long ago glued covering most of the top and back surfaces. Excellent - Condition.