Fender Telecaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1955), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 10608, Blonde re- finish, ash body, maple neck, original tweed hard shell case.
This early "white guard" Telecaster has been re-worked over the decades as quite a few were, but still retains more original character than many, with an older refinish and a planing/refret to the fingerboard but no heavier mutilations. At present the original untouched lead pickup has an appreciable sonic output but reads as an open coil; the sound is bright, articulate spanky but to most tastes somewhat thin. Many players would prefer it to be rewound which can easily be arranged, with a number of excellent artisans working today who can restore or tweak it as preferred. As the unit appears so far untouched we have left is so for now but would be happy to discuss options.
Apart from these issue this late 1955 guitar still retains much of its original character from the "white guard" period in '50s Tele history, with features specific to this time. The most noticeable is the single-ply white plastic pickguard in place of the old "blackguard". The ash body has been pretty accurately refinished in a recreation of the lighter and "whiter" blonde finish that would be the norm in the late '50s, continuing up into the CBS era. There is no body date visible.
The one-piece maple neck has a very faded pencil date that appears to be either 10-55 or 11-55. It has a fairly round profile with a decent amount of dress-away to the shoulders, suggesting the advent of the "V" that was to come in 1956-7. The maple fingerboard was planed fairly extensively long ago so the neck feels slimmer back to front than the original spec. refretted with wire in character with what Fender used in this period. On the headstock the Fender logo decal still sits behind the original style round string tree as it did in 1951.
The serial number is stamped on the neck plate and leads off with a "0", a new feature having just moved there from the bridge unit when Fender harmonized all their electric guitars into one number series earlier in 1955. The knobs are a smoother-sided knurl with a dome top and the switch tip is the new "top hat" style just introduced. The flat-pole pickup back at the bridge is one of the last of its kind as the new staggered-pole version was being phased in by late '55.
Even with the refinish this 1955 Telecaster is quite the looker. It is average weight for mid-50's Teles at just under 7.5 LBs but has a very solid feel. By 1955 the Telecaster had become a success, renowned as a popular tool used by working musicians, including a host of early rock'n'roll and country players. Many have been played for decades and worn virtually into the ground; this one has survived with some knocks but still a good player's example, not to precious to actually play!
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.)., 7.48 lbs.
This 70 year old Telecaster has seen a decent amount of work done before "Vintage Restoration" became a science, but still retains a cool vibe and solid feel. The old refinish on the body is a fairly authentic looking blonde if a bit thicker and "milkier" than the perfect original look. It was likely done 40 or more years ago and shows natural weathering with some moderately heavy lateral checking and a decent amount of actual (not "relic 'ed") wear. The edges of the body were somewhat smoothed out by sanding as is often seen with older refin jobs, more noticeable in some places than others.
Some original finish survives on the neck, although it appears to have been reworked more than once. The fingerboard planed, refinished and refretted. The planing work was fairly extensive, going down to the truss rod plug on the headstock and fairly close to the truss rod at the body end. "Back in the day" some folks did not like the divots that formed on old maple fingerboards and did this process to completely remove them, others just wanted a skinnier neck. There are no cracks or structural issues stemming from this work.
Some of the original thin lacquer neck finish survives on the back of the headstock, heel and some other areas, having been worn through, had a thin overspray applied likely more than once with much of this worn through again in spots along the back of the neck. The fingerboard was shot over entirely after the planing/refret with fairly thin lacquer, which also extends to the face also sprayed over, the decal is a good looking '80s era repro now under the lacquer. The original tuners and string tree are still intact with a lot of visible corrosion. The bone nut is newer.
The body hardware largely survives as well with the original neck plate, single-layer plastic pickguard, pressed steel bridge, angled-back steel saddles, pickups, pots, switch, and strap buttons. Obviously some solder joints were redone for the refinish and the original pots have been wired to modern spec allowing the two pickups to be blended. The pickguard screws are vintage Fender but from the 1960s.
This is a good playable (and giggable) mid-50s Telecaster priced as such more than a "collectible" guitar. We can arrange to have the bridge pickup rewound to spec or other character as desired upon sale according to the player's wishes though some seem to like it as it stands. The guitar includes a very battered but functional original tweed HSC. Overall Very Good Condition.
