Fender Telecaster Thinline Solid Body Electric Guitar (1974)
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Fender Telecaster Thinline Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1974), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 535497, sunburst polyester finish, ash body, maple neck, original black tolex hard shell case.
This Fender Telecaster Thinline dates to 1974, a couple of years after the model was revamped from its original 1968 design. The Thinline differs from the original Telecaster design in having its solid body routed out substantially, creating a semi-hollow instrument with a single f-hole in the top. The earliest versions were fitted with standard Telecaster single-coil pickups but beginning in late 1971 the Thinline was altered to carry two of the new Seth Lover-designed Fender Wide-Range Humbucking pickups.
Unlike some other revamped Teles, it retained the original Telecaster-style wiring with a single tone and volume control and 3-way switch. These Fender humbucking pickups caused little excitement when new but have since developed something of a devoted cult following, and they do have a unique sound! Former Gibson engineer Seth Lover's ingenious design uses individually slotted and threaded polepieces made from Cunife (copper-nickel-iron) magnets, essentially inserting Fender's signature magnet/pole into a dual-coil layout.
The bridge on this Thinline is a Stratocaster 6-saddle non-tremolo style in place of the traditional stamped metal 3-saddle Telecaster bridge. The neck is fitted with the then-new 3-bolt tilt attachment system and "bullet" truss rod, which adjusts from the headstock end. The body has a sunburst Polyester finish typical of the period, if thinner than some. The neck is natural polyester with lacquer sprayed over the headstock to secure the decal, in this case the spray job was a somewhat sloppy and extends a bit below the nut.
Internally the visible pot code is 7345 (45th week of 1973) with pickups date stamped to 1974. At 6.93 Lbs. this semi-solid guitar is noticeably lighter than many '70s ash-bodied Fenders. This is a nice-playing example of what has in retrospect become one of Fender's best regarded new-for-the-'70s creations, mostly ignored at the time but now something of a rediscovered classic.
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.).
This is a very clean and nicely original guitar, appearing not much used and well cared for over the past 50 years. The original finish has light checking and some small dings and dents overall. All hardware and electronics are original, the pickguard shows scuffing but the only really noticeable wear is plating loss to the pickup covers. Even the snap-on bridge cover is intact. The frets show some light wear down by the nut but the guitar plays very well and is a fine vessel for that now-venerated Wide-Range humbucker sound. It is complete in a very clean original HSC, a very nice package now just about 50 years old. Overall Excellent Condition.
This Fender Telecaster Thinline dates to 1974, a couple of years after the model was revamped from its original 1968 design. The Thinline differs from the original Telecaster design in having its solid body routed out substantially, creating a semi-hollow instrument with a single f-hole in the top. The earliest versions were fitted with standard Telecaster single-coil pickups but beginning in late 1971 the Thinline was altered to carry two of the new Seth Lover-designed Fender Wide-Range Humbucking pickups.
Unlike some other revamped Teles, it retained the original Telecaster-style wiring with a single tone and volume control and 3-way switch. These Fender humbucking pickups caused little excitement when new but have since developed something of a devoted cult following, and they do have a unique sound! Former Gibson engineer Seth Lover's ingenious design uses individually slotted and threaded polepieces made from Cunife (copper-nickel-iron) magnets, essentially inserting Fender's signature magnet/pole into a dual-coil layout.
The bridge on this Thinline is a Stratocaster 6-saddle non-tremolo style in place of the traditional stamped metal 3-saddle Telecaster bridge. The neck is fitted with the then-new 3-bolt tilt attachment system and "bullet" truss rod, which adjusts from the headstock end. The body has a sunburst Polyester finish typical of the period, if thinner than some. The neck is natural polyester with lacquer sprayed over the headstock to secure the decal, in this case the spray job was a somewhat sloppy and extends a bit below the nut.
Internally the visible pot code is 7345 (45th week of 1973) with pickups date stamped to 1974. At 6.93 Lbs. this semi-solid guitar is noticeably lighter than many '70s ash-bodied Fenders. This is a nice-playing example of what has in retrospect become one of Fender's best regarded new-for-the-'70s creations, mostly ignored at the time but now something of a rediscovered classic.
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.).
This is a very clean and nicely original guitar, appearing not much used and well cared for over the past 50 years. The original finish has light checking and some small dings and dents overall. All hardware and electronics are original, the pickguard shows scuffing but the only really noticeable wear is plating loss to the pickup covers. Even the snap-on bridge cover is intact. The frets show some light wear down by the nut but the guitar plays very well and is a fine vessel for that now-venerated Wide-Range humbucker sound. It is complete in a very clean original HSC, a very nice package now just about 50 years old. Overall Excellent Condition.