Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954)
1
/
of
15
Couldn't load pickup availability
Item #10573
Fender Telecaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1954), made in Fullerton, California, Blonde lacquer finish, ash body, maple neck, original tweed hard shell case.
This VERY early "white guard" Telecaster is a superb example of original Fender greatness, worn in just right and a fantastic playing and sounding instrument. It is also an interesting transitional Tele that retains many characteristics of the "Blackguard"-era guitars, which run up until the end of 1954. Essentially this late 1954 example is pretty much a "blackguard with a white guard"...if that makes any sense! This Telecaster was made just as the run up to Christmas '54 was probably kicking in at Fullerton (maybe it was originally under someone's tree that year!) and shows a mix of features specific to this exact time period.
The most noticeable is a very early example of the then-brand-new single-ply white plastic pickguard, just starting to replace the earlier black phenolic piece on Telecasters and Precision Basses. On the headstock, the old script Fender "Telecaster" logo decal still sits below the original style round string tree, both unchanged from 1951. The beautifully grained ash body has a slightly yellowed blonde finish, not as amber-colored as the earlier '50s style tends to age into, but with a more distinct hue than the "white-blonde" that would be the norm later in the '50s. The guitar appears lightly "smoked" and retains a lighter, whiter blonde look in the hidden areas under the pickguard and hardware.
The one-piece maple neck is dated 11-54 on the heel with Taddeo Gomez' initials. It has a medium/chunky round profile with the beginnings of slope to the shoulders, starting the transition to the "V" that was to come. We have seen blackguards with 11-54 neck dates, which shows the typical inexact chronology of assembly at Fender. The body is dated under the finish in the neck pocket 10-54. The original style flat-pole pickup at the bridge is still in "Blackguard" sound territory; the staggered-pole variant introduced the next year would change the tonal character of the guitar somewhat.
All internal components remain completely original. The original switch and wiring have not been altered to "modern", the forward "mud cap" and original control settings are still intact. These are, on the 3-way switch: #1 neck pickup on bass-heavy rolloff setting, #2 neck pickup with straight tone control, and #3 bridge pickup with tone control. The pickups can be blended by carefully positioning the switch in the "2 1/2" spot.
There are no visible pot dates as both were neatly soldered over. The wiring up was done by Virginia on 11-18-54 when she left her name on a strip of masking tape in the control cavity. The 4-digit serial number 6599 is stamped on the neck plate, having recently moved there from the bridge plate when Fender harmonized all their electric instruments into one number series right around this time. The bridge has the "angled back" smooth steel saddles typical of this period, the cover still has the electroplating solder drop on the underside.
Essentially a blackguard in a new lighter suit, this November 1954 Telecaster is a fantastic sounding guitar, a joy to play, and even to just take out of its original first-generation center pocket tweed case! This guitar was likely sold in late '54 or early 1955, by which time the Telecaster was already popular tool for a host of country and the earliest rock'n'roll and players. Many have been played into the ground, refinished or heavily modified in the years since. This one has been well played survives with its original character and sound fully intact.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 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.)., 7.77 lbs.
This well played but not abused '54 Telecaster shows the typical wear from use but overall remains a nicely cared for 1950s Fender. The most noticeable wear is to the body edges, typical of slab-sided Teles. The finish on the face and back are comparatively clean, with only a small assortment small dings, dents and scrapes. There is only one seriously worn spot on the top where a player's finger hooked around the bottom corner of the bridge, and a smaller ding behind it; it looks like an ancient attempt was made to touch these up which is hardly noticeable now. For the most part the body has escaped heavy wear; the finish has yellowed somewhat on the exposed areas and is "whiter" in the unexposed spots. The patina on the top is slightly uneven and was likely polished up more than a few times over the years but there is no wholesale added finish overspray. The original pickguard has yellowed very little on the top surface.
The neck shows evidence of a LOT of play time, especially on the back which is almost completely worn down to the wood. The frets are an older refret with wire a bit larger than 1950s spec, with just light wear on them since. The maple fingerboard has typical darkened wear spots through the lacquer into the wood from the first position down mostly on the treble side, with some later light sanding of the finish probably when it was refretted. There is no sign of any lacquer overspray added, the neck finish remains completely original. The nut appears to be an old bone replacement. The neck absolutely has that classic "played-in Fender feel.
The hardware remains original including all electronics and wiring. The chrome plating shows some fairly minor wear; there is a heavier plating wear to the snap-on bridge cover, which looks to have been on for a long time although the steel bridge and saddles have some typical wear and corrosion as well.
The original first-generation center pocket tweed case has some general wear but is much better preserved than many, with the leather ends still intact. The latches are all intact, the two outside "down' latches are no longer sprung. In the large accessory pocket are a period (possible original) strap and cord for good Mojo. This 7.43 LB Telecaster is a lovely package of 67+ year old Fender cool, a great instrument and a fantastic example of the seemingly endless transitions many guitars went through on their way to becoming classics. Overall Excellent - Condition.
View full details
This VERY early "white guard" Telecaster is a superb example of original Fender greatness, worn in just right and a fantastic playing and sounding instrument. It is also an interesting transitional Tele that retains many characteristics of the "Blackguard"-era guitars, which run up until the end of 1954. Essentially this late 1954 example is pretty much a "blackguard with a white guard"...if that makes any sense! This Telecaster was made just as the run up to Christmas '54 was probably kicking in at Fullerton (maybe it was originally under someone's tree that year!) and shows a mix of features specific to this exact time period.
The most noticeable is a very early example of the then-brand-new single-ply white plastic pickguard, just starting to replace the earlier black phenolic piece on Telecasters and Precision Basses. On the headstock, the old script Fender "Telecaster" logo decal still sits below the original style round string tree, both unchanged from 1951. The beautifully grained ash body has a slightly yellowed blonde finish, not as amber-colored as the earlier '50s style tends to age into, but with a more distinct hue than the "white-blonde" that would be the norm later in the '50s. The guitar appears lightly "smoked" and retains a lighter, whiter blonde look in the hidden areas under the pickguard and hardware.
The one-piece maple neck is dated 11-54 on the heel with Taddeo Gomez' initials. It has a medium/chunky round profile with the beginnings of slope to the shoulders, starting the transition to the "V" that was to come. We have seen blackguards with 11-54 neck dates, which shows the typical inexact chronology of assembly at Fender. The body is dated under the finish in the neck pocket 10-54. The original style flat-pole pickup at the bridge is still in "Blackguard" sound territory; the staggered-pole variant introduced the next year would change the tonal character of the guitar somewhat.
All internal components remain completely original. The original switch and wiring have not been altered to "modern", the forward "mud cap" and original control settings are still intact. These are, on the 3-way switch: #1 neck pickup on bass-heavy rolloff setting, #2 neck pickup with straight tone control, and #3 bridge pickup with tone control. The pickups can be blended by carefully positioning the switch in the "2 1/2" spot.
There are no visible pot dates as both were neatly soldered over. The wiring up was done by Virginia on 11-18-54 when she left her name on a strip of masking tape in the control cavity. The 4-digit serial number 6599 is stamped on the neck plate, having recently moved there from the bridge plate when Fender harmonized all their electric instruments into one number series right around this time. The bridge has the "angled back" smooth steel saddles typical of this period, the cover still has the electroplating solder drop on the underside.
Essentially a blackguard in a new lighter suit, this November 1954 Telecaster is a fantastic sounding guitar, a joy to play, and even to just take out of its original first-generation center pocket tweed case! This guitar was likely sold in late '54 or early 1955, by which time the Telecaster was already popular tool for a host of country and the earliest rock'n'roll and players. Many have been played into the ground, refinished or heavily modified in the years since. This one has been well played survives with its original character and sound fully intact.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 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.)., 7.77 lbs.
This well played but not abused '54 Telecaster shows the typical wear from use but overall remains a nicely cared for 1950s Fender. The most noticeable wear is to the body edges, typical of slab-sided Teles. The finish on the face and back are comparatively clean, with only a small assortment small dings, dents and scrapes. There is only one seriously worn spot on the top where a player's finger hooked around the bottom corner of the bridge, and a smaller ding behind it; it looks like an ancient attempt was made to touch these up which is hardly noticeable now. For the most part the body has escaped heavy wear; the finish has yellowed somewhat on the exposed areas and is "whiter" in the unexposed spots. The patina on the top is slightly uneven and was likely polished up more than a few times over the years but there is no wholesale added finish overspray. The original pickguard has yellowed very little on the top surface.
The neck shows evidence of a LOT of play time, especially on the back which is almost completely worn down to the wood. The frets are an older refret with wire a bit larger than 1950s spec, with just light wear on them since. The maple fingerboard has typical darkened wear spots through the lacquer into the wood from the first position down mostly on the treble side, with some later light sanding of the finish probably when it was refretted. There is no sign of any lacquer overspray added, the neck finish remains completely original. The nut appears to be an old bone replacement. The neck absolutely has that classic "played-in Fender feel.
The hardware remains original including all electronics and wiring. The chrome plating shows some fairly minor wear; there is a heavier plating wear to the snap-on bridge cover, which looks to have been on for a long time although the steel bridge and saddles have some typical wear and corrosion as well.
The original first-generation center pocket tweed case has some general wear but is much better preserved than many, with the leather ends still intact. The latches are all intact, the two outside "down' latches are no longer sprung. In the large accessory pocket are a period (possible original) strap and cord for good Mojo. This 7.43 LB Telecaster is a lovely package of 67+ year old Fender cool, a great instrument and a fantastic example of the seemingly endless transitions many guitars went through on their way to becoming classics. Overall Excellent - Condition.
