Fender Telecaster Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966)
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Fender Telecaster Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 128423, Blonde lacquer finish, ash body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
This lovely blonde 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 heel has a stamped date of February 1966, the pots are coded to the 7th week of that year and the lead pickup is dated 4-5-66. 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 blonde lacquer finish, a thin-lam rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dots, the new in 1966 "transition" logo decal and the old-style Kluson tuners.
Like many older Telecasters the electronics have been neatly rewired to the post-1967 pattern, allowing the two pickups to be easily combined. Telecasters since 1952 were originally wired with a "deep bass" cap engaged in the front switch position, and the pickups could only be used together by carefully positioning the lever between settings. The lead pickup has also been wax potted to alleviate the microphonic output common in this period.
This Tele handles perfectly and resonates for days, with a very comfortable slim round-backed neck. At 7.67 Lbs. (With the bridge cover ON) this is not the lightest '66 Telecaster we have encountered but still a very handy guitar. Overall a delightful mid-'60s Tele with some player-friendly tweaks made in the last year they really retain their Pre-CBS character before the F-tuners and heavier finishes arrive. It remains largely 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.
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.)., 7.67 lbs.
Overall this nearly 60-year-old Telecaster is quite clean with just some very minor wear. The original thin lacquer finish on the body has not yellowed much at all and retains the original white/blonde hue. It some light wear including minor dings, dents and scuffs mostly to the edges typical for slab-sided Fenders. The face is relatively clean except for small very small dings and dents; there is some arm wear along the upper edge. The neck finish has just light wear to the wood on the side edges, more on the treble side. The headstock is lightly checked and the FENDER logo on the decal is nicely intact.
All hardware including the pickups and internal wiring components are original; as noted the lead pickup has been cleanly wax potted (these can be very microphonic) but it was not rewound. The wiring has been altered to the modern 3-way switching configuration, with the "Mud Cap" removed. The fingerboard was trued and refretted neatly in the period style showing minimal subsequent wear. With these small modifications the instrument plays to a more modern standard without any visible alteration. This considered this very clean Telecaster is one of the nicest from this period we have had; even the original snap-on bridge cover is intact. It rests in the original black Tolex HSC, also showing light wear overall. Overall Excellent + Condition.
This lovely blonde 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 heel has a stamped date of February 1966, the pots are coded to the 7th week of that year and the lead pickup is dated 4-5-66. 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 blonde lacquer finish, a thin-lam rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dots, the new in 1966 "transition" logo decal and the old-style Kluson tuners.
Like many older Telecasters the electronics have been neatly rewired to the post-1967 pattern, allowing the two pickups to be easily combined. Telecasters since 1952 were originally wired with a "deep bass" cap engaged in the front switch position, and the pickups could only be used together by carefully positioning the lever between settings. The lead pickup has also been wax potted to alleviate the microphonic output common in this period.
This Tele handles perfectly and resonates for days, with a very comfortable slim round-backed neck. At 7.67 Lbs. (With the bridge cover ON) this is not the lightest '66 Telecaster we have encountered but still a very handy guitar. Overall a delightful mid-'60s Tele with some player-friendly tweaks made in the last year they really retain their Pre-CBS character before the F-tuners and heavier finishes arrive. It remains largely 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.
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.)., 7.67 lbs.
Overall this nearly 60-year-old Telecaster is quite clean with just some very minor wear. The original thin lacquer finish on the body has not yellowed much at all and retains the original white/blonde hue. It some light wear including minor dings, dents and scuffs mostly to the edges typical for slab-sided Fenders. The face is relatively clean except for small very small dings and dents; there is some arm wear along the upper edge. The neck finish has just light wear to the wood on the side edges, more on the treble side. The headstock is lightly checked and the FENDER logo on the decal is nicely intact.
All hardware including the pickups and internal wiring components are original; as noted the lead pickup has been cleanly wax potted (these can be very microphonic) but it was not rewound. The wiring has been altered to the modern 3-way switching configuration, with the "Mud Cap" removed. The fingerboard was trued and refretted neatly in the period style showing minimal subsequent wear. With these small modifications the instrument plays to a more modern standard without any visible alteration. This considered this very clean Telecaster is one of the nicest from this period we have had; even the original snap-on bridge cover is intact. It rests in the original black Tolex HSC, also showing light wear overall. Overall Excellent + Condition.