A Really Great '71 Telecaster  -  SOLD

It cannot get any better than this thirty-six year old "new old stock" Telecaster, which weighs just 7.30 lbs. and has a comfortable nut width of 1 5/8 inches and a scale length of 25 1/2 inches. Solid alder body and one-piece maple neck with a wonderful fat profile very similar to that of an original '52 Telecaster that we recently sold. Veneer rosewood fretboard with 21 medium frets and inlaid pearloid dot position markers. Individual Fender "F" tuners with octagonal metal buttons. Headstock decal with "Fender" logo in black with gold trim, "Telecaster" in black beside it, and two patent numbers ("2,573,254" and "3,143,028") beneath "Fender." Single "butterfly" string tree. Four-bolt neck plate with large Fender "F" logo and serial number ("365608") between the top two screws. One plain metal-cover pickup (at neck) with an absolutely amazing output of 7.86k and one black six-polepiece pickup (angled in bridgeplate) with a really hot output of 6.57k. Three-layer (white/black/white) plastic pickguard with eight screws. Two controls (one volume, one tone) plus three-way selector switch (with black plastic "Top-Hat" tip) all on metal plate adjoining pickguard. Chrome knobs with flat tops and knurled sides. Fender combined bridge/tailpiece with three smooth saddles. The neck is stamped in dark green "3 SEP 71B" and the pots are stamped "137 6634" and "137 6636" (CTS August and September 1966). There are a few small surface chips on the edges, a miniscule amount of belt buckle scarring on the back and a very light discoloration to to the back from the lining of the case. There is virtually no wear to the original frets and overall this lovely guitar is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. This is a wonderful example of a really good early seventies Tele - it's the perfect weight, the neck is just like a '52, and it has the hottest neck pickup ever… the sound is truly amazing!!! Housed in its original Fender black hardshell case with the "tail" on the Fender logo and with reddish orange plush lining (8.75).

This guitar was from the "reserve stock" of a guitar store in Virginia that closed down many many moons ago… It was discovered in a basement (with several other guitars - SORRY FOLKS ALL SOLD).
There is an original hand written price-tag which reads "Fender Telecaster W/Case $325.00" and also a scrap of paper with the word "Fender Telecaster New." There are three very slight cracks in the polyurethane finish on the top which is a normal ageing process and nothing to do with being used, but other than that, this guitar is utterly mint, brand new, unused, a true time capsule. And now for the best part - early seventies Tele's are notorious for being rather heavy - NOT THIS ONE! A real lightweight at just a fraction over 7 lbs. And the neck… early seventies Teles usually have necks with medium profiles - NOT THIS ONE! This is similar to a '52… and finally the neck pickup on a late sixties / early seventies Tele usually reads around 6.50k - 6.70k - NOT THIS ONE! This bridge pickup reads a thumping 7.03k and therefore gives a much fuller sound in the neck and middle positions. To sum up - this is a fantastic feeling, playing, sounding guitar in brand new condition… a once in a lifetime opportunity…