Up for sale, a 1974 Fender Telecaster Thinline in excellent condition and in perfect working order. This second iteration of the Tele "Thinline" model was introduced in '72, and this is a rare and well kept custom color example with a transparent Blonde finish over an ash body.

The guitar boasts a pair of original Seth Lover designed Fender "Wide Range" humbuckers, and these pickups deliver some of the most clear, powerful, and rich tones ever heard on a Fender. As the chief designer behind Gibson's PAF humbucker, Lover certainly knew how to make a dynamic and balanced pickup, and the Wide Range design succeeds in delivering glassy, percussive cleans that have an incredible amount of warmth and nuance. With an ash body, this Tele delivers the tonal qualities that the beloved tone wood implies, with a midrange complexity and top end punch, complimented by the smooth airy qualities of a semihollow body. Lightweight at 7lbs 6oz, this Tele Thinline is well balanced on a strap and comfortable to play for long gigs and sessions, with a range of tones suitable for a variety of genres. Whether you want traditional bridge position snap or more mellowed out jazzy warmth, a flip of the three-way pickup selector switch and a twist of the Master Volume and Tone controls make it easy to dial in exactly what you need. Professionally setup here at our shop, Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, this Tele is freshly restrung with 10-46 roundwound strings and dialed in with low, comfortable action and solid intonation.

The one-piece neck has a fairly slender C profile with original slender fretwire that has been leveled and crowned in the guitar's lifetime, currently showing only very light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-5 and virtually no wear further up the board. The guitar plays exceedingly well with no buzzing or dead spots and the truss rod is responsive with ideal relief. On the headstock, a set of original Fender "F" tuning machines are present, turn smoothly, and hold pitch well.

All of the electronics work as the should, with original CTS pots that date to late '73 and Wide Range humbuckers with early '74 date stamps on the back of the bobbins. The original knurled chrome knobs are present as well as the stock white pickguard, bridge, and "top hat" selector switch knob. The original body routes are untouched and the control cavity is factory shielded. The three-bolt neck plate has a clean serial number which dates to early 1974. 

The finish is 100% original, and the Blonde gloss has aged only lightly over the decades, still highlighting the prominent grain of the ash body. The guitar has wide horizontal finish checking with only a few light scuffs on the back and a sliver of wear down to the ash where the forearm crosses the bass side of the lower bout. The chrome hardware is quite clean with only light patina on the pickup covers and bridge saddles, and the original white pickguard is in equally good shape, with one small repair between the neck heel and humbucker. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, with some small chips on the bass side edge of the fretboard and wear down to the smooth, bare maple on the treble side edge.

This Tele Thinline is 100% original, notably clean, professionally setup and ready to be played.

The original black tolex hardshell case is included.

Check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar," and please let us know if we can answer any questions!

Shipping in the continental USA will be $75, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.

International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import. We have all necessary CITES paperwork in-hand to ship rosewood worldwide.

We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!