Fender Telecaster Thinline Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968/71)
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Fender Telecaster Thinline Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968/71), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 246033, Sonic Blue finish, ash body, maple neck, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a really cool looking veteran Telecaster Thinline, a great sounding and very handy playing guitar, but not an all original one. It appears to be a combination of an early 1968 maple cap Telecaster neck with a Thinline body and hardware from 1971, although there is minimal physical difference in the actual parts. The neck is dated Jan 68B on the heel; it has been refretted with larger wire and the fingerboard refinished long ago, with the back of the neck well worn down and the headstock finish and tuners intact and original. The screw holes in the heel for mounting to the body have been plugged and redrilled in a just slightly different spot indicating it was likely once mounted on a different body. The early Thinlines had a plain "Telecaster" logo on the headstock decal, with no "Thinline" logo until the '70s.
The body of this guitar carries a very old refinish to Sonic Blue, looking very much like it was done decades ago. The pots are dated to 1971; the pickups and wiring all appear to be a complete unit from the same time. The body could be from either '68 or '71; there is no practical difference and with the refinish no way to tell for sure. A couple of original inspector's marks are visible in the neck pocket, but no original finish remains. The neckplate carries a serial number dating to around 1968. The pickguard is the pearloid material that Fender favored on several models in the late '60's.
the Thinline was one of the best new Fender concepts of the late '60's, according to legend born from dealer complaints about overly heavy Telecasters. After experimenting with hidden routing under the pickguard (the so-called "Smuggler's Teles") Fender decided to instead offer a new model where this was celebrated instead of hidden. Introduced in late 1968 the "Telecaster Thinline" was offered in natural finished ash or mahogany, advertised as "Groovy Naturals". This was a sign of the "hippie influence" as CBS/Fender noticed players in the field stripping their custom color or Sunburst Fenders to the bare wood. The model was subsequently also offered in sunburst or Custom Colors, but these are much rarer; obviously whoever had this one wanted it in a more retro (even at the time) powder blue.
The Thinline body is built from a block of timber like a solid body, hollowed out from the rear not unlike the Rickenbacker instruments designed by Roger Rossmeisel. It is not a coincidence that Rossmeisel was employed by CBS/Fender at the time! The back piece was glued on and neatly faired in at the edge, giving the impression of a magically hollowed-out body. The Telecaster pickguard shape was altered to clear a single upper F-hole and also carry the controls. The other aspects of the traditional Telecaster were retained on this new model including the single coil pickups, master tone and volume controls and 3-way lever switch.
By the end of 1971 the Thinline design was "upgraded" to carry two of the new Fender humbucking pickups which changed its sonic character dramatically. The original 1968-71 version was not a major success despite its nifty and practical design and with only a 3-year production run is not overly rare but less common than the standard Tele model. While having had a checkered history over the last 55+ years this is a cool looking and great playing and sounding guitar, a sometimes overlooked Fender gem.
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.)., 6.13 lbs.
As noted above, this guitar is almost certainly an old combination of two Telecasters, albeit with all vintage parts and made into a fine sounding and playing guitar. The body has an old refinish in a fairly authentic Sonic Blue that has noticeable checking and wear, appearing original and not artificially "reliced". Much of the neck finish is naturally worn down from play, with the original lacquer ambered and checked on the heel and headstock. The fingerboard was refinished when it was refretted, the wire is a larger '70s style very comfortable for the heavier bending and vibrato but not overly huge.
The parts all appear original to the body at least including the pickups and wiring, and all the appropriate hardware is complete. This is a super handy guitar at just over 6 Lbs. and sounds excellent even not plugged in. It must have lived a colorful life so far and if not a truly "collectible" guitar is a superb gigger, living in a period Fender HSC that has also held a Stratocaster at some point. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a really cool looking veteran Telecaster Thinline, a great sounding and very handy playing guitar, but not an all original one. It appears to be a combination of an early 1968 maple cap Telecaster neck with a Thinline body and hardware from 1971, although there is minimal physical difference in the actual parts. The neck is dated Jan 68B on the heel; it has been refretted with larger wire and the fingerboard refinished long ago, with the back of the neck well worn down and the headstock finish and tuners intact and original. The screw holes in the heel for mounting to the body have been plugged and redrilled in a just slightly different spot indicating it was likely once mounted on a different body. The early Thinlines had a plain "Telecaster" logo on the headstock decal, with no "Thinline" logo until the '70s.
The body of this guitar carries a very old refinish to Sonic Blue, looking very much like it was done decades ago. The pots are dated to 1971; the pickups and wiring all appear to be a complete unit from the same time. The body could be from either '68 or '71; there is no practical difference and with the refinish no way to tell for sure. A couple of original inspector's marks are visible in the neck pocket, but no original finish remains. The neckplate carries a serial number dating to around 1968. The pickguard is the pearloid material that Fender favored on several models in the late '60's.
the Thinline was one of the best new Fender concepts of the late '60's, according to legend born from dealer complaints about overly heavy Telecasters. After experimenting with hidden routing under the pickguard (the so-called "Smuggler's Teles") Fender decided to instead offer a new model where this was celebrated instead of hidden. Introduced in late 1968 the "Telecaster Thinline" was offered in natural finished ash or mahogany, advertised as "Groovy Naturals". This was a sign of the "hippie influence" as CBS/Fender noticed players in the field stripping their custom color or Sunburst Fenders to the bare wood. The model was subsequently also offered in sunburst or Custom Colors, but these are much rarer; obviously whoever had this one wanted it in a more retro (even at the time) powder blue.
The Thinline body is built from a block of timber like a solid body, hollowed out from the rear not unlike the Rickenbacker instruments designed by Roger Rossmeisel. It is not a coincidence that Rossmeisel was employed by CBS/Fender at the time! The back piece was glued on and neatly faired in at the edge, giving the impression of a magically hollowed-out body. The Telecaster pickguard shape was altered to clear a single upper F-hole and also carry the controls. The other aspects of the traditional Telecaster were retained on this new model including the single coil pickups, master tone and volume controls and 3-way lever switch.
By the end of 1971 the Thinline design was "upgraded" to carry two of the new Fender humbucking pickups which changed its sonic character dramatically. The original 1968-71 version was not a major success despite its nifty and practical design and with only a 3-year production run is not overly rare but less common than the standard Tele model. While having had a checkered history over the last 55+ years this is a cool looking and great playing and sounding guitar, a sometimes overlooked Fender gem.
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.)., 6.13 lbs.
As noted above, this guitar is almost certainly an old combination of two Telecasters, albeit with all vintage parts and made into a fine sounding and playing guitar. The body has an old refinish in a fairly authentic Sonic Blue that has noticeable checking and wear, appearing original and not artificially "reliced". Much of the neck finish is naturally worn down from play, with the original lacquer ambered and checked on the heel and headstock. The fingerboard was refinished when it was refretted, the wire is a larger '70s style very comfortable for the heavier bending and vibrato but not overly huge.
The parts all appear original to the body at least including the pickups and wiring, and all the appropriate hardware is complete. This is a super handy guitar at just over 6 Lbs. and sounds excellent even not plugged in. It must have lived a colorful life so far and if not a truly "collectible" guitar is a superb gigger, living in a period Fender HSC that has also held a Stratocaster at some point. Overall Very Good + Condition.