Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1973)
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Item # 10857
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Fender Telecaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1973), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 616198, natural polyester finish, ash body, maple neck, original black tolex hard shell case.
This traditionally styled blonde Fender Telecaster dates to around 1973, fully into the CBS '70s but still largely unchanged from its 1968 specs. The original solidbody Telecaster with standard single-coil pickups and wiring was somewhat overshadowed in this period by several new models (The Thinline, Custom and Deluxe) fitted with the new Seth Lover-designed Fender humbucking pickups, but survived without alteration nonetheless.
Unlike the revamped Teles, this model retained the original Telecaster-style wiring with a single tone and volume control and a 3-way switch. The bridge remains the traditional stamped metal 3-saddle unit, with the lead pickup integrated into it. The "standard" Telecaster neck was not altered to use the then-new 3-bolt tilt attachment system and "bullet" truss rod, retaining the original (and generally preferred) traditional 4-bolt setup. The body and neck have a fairly heavy Polyester finish typical of the period, blonde on the body and natural on the neck.
Internally the pot codes are 137-7349, dating them to late 1973. The pots are original, the switch has been replaced. The stamp on the neck heel is not fully legible but appears to indicate 1973 fabrication as well. The serial number suggests assembly in 1974. At 9 3/4lbs. this particular guitar is fairly heavy, if very solid feeling! It is still a fine sounding, nice-playing example of what has become one of Fender's most traditional '70s creations. The Telecaster suffered less under the CBS regime than many other Fender creations, retaining its essential character if losing some magic along the way.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 12 3/8 in. (31.4 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.)., 9.74 lbs.
This Tele shows some minor wear and a few parts substitutions, but overall survives in fine playing shape with nothing done that is not reversible. The Poly finish has a number of dings and scrapes but no heavy wear; these were designed to be very hard-wearing after all! As usual with slab-sided Telecasters the heaviest are to the edges.
Internally there are a few typical minor alterations. The neck pickup is a black-bobbin unit with the old "Seymourized" sticker on the bottom marked with a hand-notated number in marker, which indicates it is an early Seymour Duncan rewind. The bridge pickup remains the original '60s styled grey bobbin unit with a copper grounding plate. The pots are original with a new 3-way switch and some attendant re-wiring visible; the original switch is in the case pocket with a damaged frame leaving it non-functional. The knobs appear recent but the correct style. All other hardware is original, even the snap-on bridge cover is still intact.
The frets are original, they have been taken down a bit but have little subsequent wear and remain quite playable. The neck has mostly only minor play wear in spots, with several deeper dings on the back in the 9-10th fret area. This is a very solid feeling Telecaster offering the typically bright late '60s-'70s sound, but with some meat to it and not overly brittle. Overall a good example from this period complete in the original black Tolex Fender case with some stenciling on the top. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This traditionally styled blonde Fender Telecaster dates to around 1973, fully into the CBS '70s but still largely unchanged from its 1968 specs. The original solidbody Telecaster with standard single-coil pickups and wiring was somewhat overshadowed in this period by several new models (The Thinline, Custom and Deluxe) fitted with the new Seth Lover-designed Fender humbucking pickups, but survived without alteration nonetheless.
Unlike the revamped Teles, this model retained the original Telecaster-style wiring with a single tone and volume control and a 3-way switch. The bridge remains the traditional stamped metal 3-saddle unit, with the lead pickup integrated into it. The "standard" Telecaster neck was not altered to use the then-new 3-bolt tilt attachment system and "bullet" truss rod, retaining the original (and generally preferred) traditional 4-bolt setup. The body and neck have a fairly heavy Polyester finish typical of the period, blonde on the body and natural on the neck.
Internally the pot codes are 137-7349, dating them to late 1973. The pots are original, the switch has been replaced. The stamp on the neck heel is not fully legible but appears to indicate 1973 fabrication as well. The serial number suggests assembly in 1974. At 9 3/4lbs. this particular guitar is fairly heavy, if very solid feeling! It is still a fine sounding, nice-playing example of what has become one of Fender's most traditional '70s creations. The Telecaster suffered less under the CBS regime than many other Fender creations, retaining its essential character if losing some magic along the way.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 12 3/8 in. (31.4 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.)., 9.74 lbs.
This Tele shows some minor wear and a few parts substitutions, but overall survives in fine playing shape with nothing done that is not reversible. The Poly finish has a number of dings and scrapes but no heavy wear; these were designed to be very hard-wearing after all! As usual with slab-sided Telecasters the heaviest are to the edges.
Internally there are a few typical minor alterations. The neck pickup is a black-bobbin unit with the old "Seymourized" sticker on the bottom marked with a hand-notated number in marker, which indicates it is an early Seymour Duncan rewind. The bridge pickup remains the original '60s styled grey bobbin unit with a copper grounding plate. The pots are original with a new 3-way switch and some attendant re-wiring visible; the original switch is in the case pocket with a damaged frame leaving it non-functional. The knobs appear recent but the correct style. All other hardware is original, even the snap-on bridge cover is still intact.
The frets are original, they have been taken down a bit but have little subsequent wear and remain quite playable. The neck has mostly only minor play wear in spots, with several deeper dings on the back in the 9-10th fret area. This is a very solid feeling Telecaster offering the typically bright late '60s-'70s sound, but with some meat to it and not overly brittle. Overall a good example from this period complete in the original black Tolex Fender case with some stenciling on the top. Overall Excellent - Condition.