Fender Acoustasonic Owned by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (2018), made in Corona, CA, serial # US180571, black top, natural back and sides finish, spruce top, mahogany body and neck, black gig bag case.
Even to lovers of vintage instruments, this guitar likely needs no introduction as one of Fender's most peculiar and ambitious endeavors of its modern era: the Acoustasonic guitar, this one in Telecaster form (it was also released as a Stratocaster and Jazzmaster). This particular example, with a chic black finish on top, once did its time with the musical mayor of Chicago, Jeff Tweedy.
Fender sought to create a guitar with the easy-carrying footprint of an electric guitar with the capability to achieve a wide variety of acoustic or electric guitar sounds; it is an interesting concept for the gigging musician who may not want to lug multiple instruments from gig to gig. The shape and neck contour are of a Telecaster with a midsize, somewhat oval-shaped mahogany neck. The whole instrument is satin finished and the body is hollow for a supremely lightweight and breezy feel.
While it still rings out like a small acoustic unplugged, the electronics are what gives this Tele its unique edge. There is a single Fender Noiseless pickup in the bridge position under the soundhole married with a Fishman under-saddle piezo transducer and a special proprietary Fishman Acoustasonic enhancer system tucked inside. It features Fender's patent-pending Stringed Instrument Resonance System, or SIRS, to achieve acoustic sounds from this very thinline instrument when plugged in without feedback. It is all controlled with a 5-way pickup selector, a master volume knob, and a "blend" knob to blend the different voices and pickup combinations offered therein.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 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 Acoustasonic does not appear to have gotten very much (if any) use over the years with seemingly no dings or scuffs at all in the neck, body, finish, or metal electronic cavity covers. Everything plays and works as it should and it has not been repaired or modified in any way from the frets to the rather complex proprietary Fender/Fishman electronic circuit. It resides in its original Fender gig bag with the typical markings of the Wilco loft along the bottom edge. Inside the bag is a certificate of authenticity from the Wilco Loft validating the provenance of this piece, as well as an unopened package with the proprietary charging cable and paperwork. Near Mint Condition.
