Fender Telecaster Thinline Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1969), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 253960, natural polyester finish, ash body, maple neck, original black tolex hard shell case.
The Thinline Telecaster was one of the best late '60's Fender concepts, according to legend born from dealer complaints about heavy guitars from 1966 on! After some experiments with hidden routing under the pickguard (the so-called "Smuggler's Teles") Fender decided to instead offer a new model where the routing was celebrated instead of hidden. The Telecaster's solid body was hollowed out not unlike the Rickenbacker instruments designed by Roger Rossmeisel-who happened to be employed by CBS/Fender at the time. The pickguard was modified to clear the F-hole and carry the controls, but other aspects of the traditional Telecaster were retained on this new model including the single coil pickups and 3-way switch.
The ash body has a lovely grain, highlighted by the natural finish and the pickguard is the pearloid style that Fender used a lot in the late '60's. The neck is the single piece maple design just re-introduced at the company in 1968, with the clear ploy finish typical of the period. This is a unique and fairly rare guitar, a nice early example of this 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.). A super clean and all original guitar, a splendid example with only some very minor wear. The frets and fingerboard show some light wear in the first couple of positions, but the finish has only very small dings and dents. This guitar is featherweight at just over 6 Lbs and handles like a dream with a great snappy tone, proof that not all the good ideas at Fender expired when Leo left. Excellent + Condition.
