Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966)
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Fender Telecaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 132499, Blonde lacquer finish, ash body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
This lovely Telecaster was built just over a year after Fender became CBS/Fender, and is still a wonderful instrument in the grand Leo tradition. The neck date is March 1966 and the visible pot date is the 11th week of that year. The evolving features of the Telecaster in this specific era include a 3-ply laminated white plastic pickguard (replacing the earlier white single-layer and subsequent green nitro versions) with the old-style thin white/blonde lacquer finish, a thin-lam rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dots, a new in 1966 "transition" logo decal and the old-style Kluson tuners. The bridge has the old threaded saddles and all wiring is still cloth-covered.
The electronics are still the original pre-1967 pattern; like all Telecasters since 1952 this guitar is wired with a "deep bass" cap engaged in the front switch position. The middle position selects the neck pickup alone, while the back switch setting selects the bridge unit. The pickups can be combined by carefully positioning the lever between settings, which works well on this guitar. Many of these have been rewired in subsequent years to the now-standard configuration, but this one remains original.
This Tele has a very light ash body that handles perfectly and resonates for days, and a very comfortable slim round-backed neck. At only 6.85 Lbs. (With the bridge cover ON!) this is one of the lightest, handiest Telecasters we have encountered in a while. This is simply a delightful mid-'60s Tele gem, from the last year they really retain their Pre-CBS character before the F-tuners and heavier finishes arrive. It remains all original offering excellent playability and a powerful, snarly but less brittle tone than many later '60s examples. It is still housed in its original black Tolex HSC, also clean for its age with the original Fender branded skinny strap and a copy of the company's 1969 catalog.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 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.)., 6.85 lbs.
This is an all original and mostly quite clean Telecaster, with just some minor wear but no repairs or alterations. The original thin lacquer finish has not yellowed as much as many and shows some light wear mostly on the edges typical for slab-sided Fenders. The face is relatively clean except for small dings and dents; for some reason the lower side inside the cutaway and on the tip of the body horn is the most banged up spot.
The neck finish has just light wear to the wood on the side edges, the FENDER logo on the headstock decal has shed some of the metallic color. All hardware including the pickups and wiring are original and unaltered, even the snap-on bridge cover is still intact. The original larger-wire frets have been recrowned flatter than spec, but still play well. This is a superb playing and sounding all-original Telecaster, a lovely survivor now nearly 60 years along. Overall Excellent Condition.
This lovely Telecaster was built just over a year after Fender became CBS/Fender, and is still a wonderful instrument in the grand Leo tradition. The neck date is March 1966 and the visible pot date is the 11th week of that year. The evolving features of the Telecaster in this specific era include a 3-ply laminated white plastic pickguard (replacing the earlier white single-layer and subsequent green nitro versions) with the old-style thin white/blonde lacquer finish, a thin-lam rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dots, a new in 1966 "transition" logo decal and the old-style Kluson tuners. The bridge has the old threaded saddles and all wiring is still cloth-covered.
The electronics are still the original pre-1967 pattern; like all Telecasters since 1952 this guitar is wired with a "deep bass" cap engaged in the front switch position. The middle position selects the neck pickup alone, while the back switch setting selects the bridge unit. The pickups can be combined by carefully positioning the lever between settings, which works well on this guitar. Many of these have been rewired in subsequent years to the now-standard configuration, but this one remains original.
This Tele has a very light ash body that handles perfectly and resonates for days, and a very comfortable slim round-backed neck. At only 6.85 Lbs. (With the bridge cover ON!) this is one of the lightest, handiest Telecasters we have encountered in a while. This is simply a delightful mid-'60s Tele gem, from the last year they really retain their Pre-CBS character before the F-tuners and heavier finishes arrive. It remains all original offering excellent playability and a powerful, snarly but less brittle tone than many later '60s examples. It is still housed in its original black Tolex HSC, also clean for its age with the original Fender branded skinny strap and a copy of the company's 1969 catalog.
Overall length is 37 3/4 in. (95.9 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 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.)., 6.85 lbs.
This is an all original and mostly quite clean Telecaster, with just some minor wear but no repairs or alterations. The original thin lacquer finish has not yellowed as much as many and shows some light wear mostly on the edges typical for slab-sided Fenders. The face is relatively clean except for small dings and dents; for some reason the lower side inside the cutaway and on the tip of the body horn is the most banged up spot.
The neck finish has just light wear to the wood on the side edges, the FENDER logo on the headstock decal has shed some of the metallic color. All hardware including the pickups and wiring are original and unaltered, even the snap-on bridge cover is still intact. The original larger-wire frets have been recrowned flatter than spec, but still play well. This is a superb playing and sounding all-original Telecaster, a lovely survivor now nearly 60 years along. Overall Excellent Condition.