Description
From early in the CBS era, here is a Fender Telecaster with Maple Cap Neck and the finish removed to natural Ash, dating to mid 1967 at Fullerton, California.
When Leo Fender sold his company to CBS on January 5, 1965, the Telecaster design had been basically unchanged since its introduction under that name in 1951. Minor changes to neck shape, pickguard materials and available finishes had been the primary changes. However, in 1958 Fender launched the Rosewood fingerboard Jazzmaster, aiming at Gibson's jazz guitarist market. By late 1959 all models had this available.
At first, Fender used a 'Slab Board' approach which glued the crowned Rosewood board to a flat neck blank and on those, the truss rod channel was routed before the fingerboard was glued on. This removed the need for the Walnut 'Skunk Stripe'. By midsummer 1962, Fender worked out how to use a Rosewood veneer on top of a crowned neck blank, and this was fully rolled out for Autumn 1962. From 1959 to 1968 and outside of custom orders, Rosewood was the standard fingerboard material on Telecaster necks. However, from 1965 to 1968, Fender offered a Maple Cap Neck and these are immediately recognizable from the Maple fingerboard and no 'Skunk Stripe'. This ended in late 1968 as Fender's production capabilities streamlined, allowing the original one-piece maple neck with Walnut insert to be offered again. There were now separate production processes for Maple or Rosewood necks.
This example has a neck date of July 1967 and long ago had its body finish stripped off to show the underlying Ash grain figuring. This stripping was done well with minimal changes to the body corners and contours - a very common occurrence with amateur attempts. The hardware seems to be all original except for the pickup selector switch tip, which is in the case. Unusually, the 'Ashtray' bridge cover is included and in place! The frets appear to be original, and the fingerboard finish shows that this guitar has been played extensively.
The instrument plays well, has a comfortable weight, and looks and sounds like a mid '60's Telecaster!
The original hard shell case is included.
Construction and Materials
As with many Telecasters, this example pairs an Ash body with a Maple neck. However this one sports a curved Maple fingerboard cap, leading to its classification as a 'Maple Cap Neck' from a short period of time. These necks are fairly rare and two fairly well-known players used them - Jimi Hendrix used a Maple Cap Neck Stratocaster at Woodstock, and Keith Richards uses one of these necks on his "Micawber" Telecaster.
The hardware is very similar to all the Telecaster production to this point - Kluson Deluxe tuners, and a tray bridge with three threaded saddles each sharing two strings. The saddle springs appear to be recent replacements.
Similarly, the electronics follow the pattern and design of the 1950's models but several key changes by 1965. Fender moved away from the black flatwork for the coil forms to a grey material, which made assembly visually easier on the production line. Significantly, Fender had shifted to automated machine winders for the coils, ending the 'scatter wound' era. Third, Fender had been potting pickups in paraffin wax, but shifted to lacquer. This did not penetrate the windings nearly as well, making these pickups more prone to being microphonic - which can add a somewhat 'vocal' quality, but also squeal with high volume and gain.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Telecaster
- Instrument Manufacturer: Fender
- Instrument year: 1967
- Instrument Finish: Natural (Stripped)
- Instrument Class: Solidbody Electric Guitar
- Instrument serial number: 198448, neck date July 1967 at Fullerton CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 7.656 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 3.48 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.5 in
- Scale Length Metric: 647.7 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.598 in
- Nut Width Metric: 40.59 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes
- Items in Case: Alternate Pickup
- Case Type: Hard Shell
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190985
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |