Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964)
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Item # 8287
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Fender Telecaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Fullerton, California, Blonde lacquer finish, ash body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original hard shell case.
This lovely blonde Telecaster was assembled not long before Fender became CBS/Fender, making it a late flag-bearer for the original Pre-CBS Fender guitar model. At just 6 1/2 pounds, this is one of the lightest and best-handling '60s Teles we have ever had, and the sound is predictably glorious as well. It is also in superbly well-preserved original condition, with some play wear but no alterations.
The features specific to this era include a laminated white plastic pickguard and thin curved rosewood fingerboard (still fitted with clay dots), a thin blonde lacquer finish with plenty of grain showing, older-style "Spaghetti" logo decal, and Kluson Deluxe tuners. This Tele's light ash body balances perfectly, and the very comfortable C-profile neck plays effortlessly with the original small frets.
The guitar's electronics are unaltered and it is still wired in the original 1952 pattern with a deep bass capacitor on the forward switch position. This technically does not allow the pickups to be blended, but the switch holds the 3/4 back position enough that this is easy enough to do.
This guitar's neck is actually dated December 1963, but the pots carry a code from the 26th week of 1964, suggesting the guitar was assembled in the late summer or early fall of that year. The spread-out component dates are not unusual; Telecasters from this period are fairly rare, and were only ordered in small numbers as the model was somewhat overshadowed by newer Fender instruments. The model experienced a renaissance towards the end of the decade, making a grand comeback in the late '60s, but great '64s like this one are rare gems!
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 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 well-preserved and original guitar, showing light signs of use but no repairs or alterations from stock. The body shows some fade and typical wear marks, dings, and chips along the edges, with the largest on the upper waist above the back corner of the pickguard.
The finish on the back of the neck is nicely worn down just in the first position area, and the fingerboard shows very light divoting in this zone as well. From this evidence it appears this guitar's original owner was pretty much a "cowboy chord" player -- the neck looks little used above the 5th fret; it looks like a lot of E chords!
The frets are the original small wire and have been just lightly re-crowned with some minimal wear in the first position. The snap-on bridge cover is the most worn part on the instrument, with scuffing on the top and some plating gone from the back edge. The other metal parts show very little wear; the guitar looks to have been nearly always played with the "ashtray" in place, so the bridge and saddles are practically pristine.
There are some VERY light marks on the lower half of the pickguard where it looks like mailbox letters (or tape, or somesuch) spelled out the owner's initials. You have to look extremely closely to notice this. The 'guard itself has shrunk up just a bit but has no cracks at the screw holes.
Overall a fantastic example of a Telecaster from the rarest period, and a splendid-playing and sounding guitar as well in its original black Tolex "no logo" case with the super rare hangtag/manual still in the pocket, with an original "pre-Register mark" Fender thin pick. Excellent Condition.
This lovely blonde Telecaster was assembled not long before Fender became CBS/Fender, making it a late flag-bearer for the original Pre-CBS Fender guitar model. At just 6 1/2 pounds, this is one of the lightest and best-handling '60s Teles we have ever had, and the sound is predictably glorious as well. It is also in superbly well-preserved original condition, with some play wear but no alterations.
The features specific to this era include a laminated white plastic pickguard and thin curved rosewood fingerboard (still fitted with clay dots), a thin blonde lacquer finish with plenty of grain showing, older-style "Spaghetti" logo decal, and Kluson Deluxe tuners. This Tele's light ash body balances perfectly, and the very comfortable C-profile neck plays effortlessly with the original small frets.
The guitar's electronics are unaltered and it is still wired in the original 1952 pattern with a deep bass capacitor on the forward switch position. This technically does not allow the pickups to be blended, but the switch holds the 3/4 back position enough that this is easy enough to do.
This guitar's neck is actually dated December 1963, but the pots carry a code from the 26th week of 1964, suggesting the guitar was assembled in the late summer or early fall of that year. The spread-out component dates are not unusual; Telecasters from this period are fairly rare, and were only ordered in small numbers as the model was somewhat overshadowed by newer Fender instruments. The model experienced a renaissance towards the end of the decade, making a grand comeback in the late '60s, but great '64s like this one are rare gems!
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 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 well-preserved and original guitar, showing light signs of use but no repairs or alterations from stock. The body shows some fade and typical wear marks, dings, and chips along the edges, with the largest on the upper waist above the back corner of the pickguard.
The finish on the back of the neck is nicely worn down just in the first position area, and the fingerboard shows very light divoting in this zone as well. From this evidence it appears this guitar's original owner was pretty much a "cowboy chord" player -- the neck looks little used above the 5th fret; it looks like a lot of E chords!
The frets are the original small wire and have been just lightly re-crowned with some minimal wear in the first position. The snap-on bridge cover is the most worn part on the instrument, with scuffing on the top and some plating gone from the back edge. The other metal parts show very little wear; the guitar looks to have been nearly always played with the "ashtray" in place, so the bridge and saddles are practically pristine.
There are some VERY light marks on the lower half of the pickguard where it looks like mailbox letters (or tape, or somesuch) spelled out the owner's initials. You have to look extremely closely to notice this. The 'guard itself has shrunk up just a bit but has no cracks at the screw holes.
Overall a fantastic example of a Telecaster from the rarest period, and a splendid-playing and sounding guitar as well in its original black Tolex "no logo" case with the super rare hangtag/manual still in the pocket, with an original "pre-Register mark" Fender thin pick. Excellent Condition.