1968 Fender Telecaster Vintage Guitar Blonde Ash Body w/ Bigsby, Case

Description: Up for sale, a 1968 Fender Telecaster in excellent condition and in perfect working order, equipped with a Bigsby B5F vibrato and complete with the original hardshell case. Purportedly originally owned by Allan Lainer, co-founder of Blue Oyster Cult and contributor to records by The Clash and Patti Smith, this Telecaster is an extremely soulful example. Unfortunately, no supporting documentation of Lainer's ownership is included, but the story merits inclusion. This ash-bodied Telecaster is lively and powerful sounding, 100% original save for a professional refret and corresponding bone nut. Tonewoods comprise an ash body, nitro lacquer-finished maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard (somewhat less common than a maple fretboard in this model year), yielding a natural midrange kick and defined note attack. The guitar weighs 8lbs 3oz, loaded with the original single coil pickup pair. The staggered alnico pole pieces and baseplate on the bridge pickup ensure plenty of chewy twang and authoritative snap, while the neck pickup has a silky rhythmic cut and bell-like sparkle. This Telecaster benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation. The maple neck has a medium C-shaped profile carve with round shoulders and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .820" deep at the 1st fret and .900" at the 12th. The rosewood fretboard has a 7 1/4" radius, refretted with flawless medium jumbo fretwire. The neck is straight with a responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut has been upgraded to carved bone, measuring 1 9/16" in width. A vintage set of Fender "F" tuning machines has been installed, and the guitar was at one time fitted with a different tuner set, as evidenced by the fant halos of larger tuner bushings on the headstock face. The neck heel has a bold May, 1968 date stamp. All of the electronics function as intended, and the solder joints are untouched, with the original pickup pair wired to stock Stackpole pots that date to the 12th week of '66 and a three-way Switchcraft switch. Hardware is all original, comprising the Bigsby B5 vibrato, chrome-plated bridge base with threaded saddles, flat-topped knurled knobs, control plate, and four-bolt "F" plate. The original white three-ply pickguard is intact. The guitar features the original Blonde gloss body finish, subtly transparent and uniformly yellowed, with broad finish checking. There are some small finish chips along the body perimeter, lagely on the lower bout edges, and some small nicks consistent with use on the body as a whole. The neck profile, one of the last of the '60s to be finished in nitro lacquer, has a smooth feel. The original black tolex hardshell case with plush interior is included. The case has black leather ends, functional latches and the stock handle. The original Fender logo on the lid is also present.

Price: 10349.99 USD

Location: Seattle, Washington

End Time: 2024-09-10T23:50:27.000Z

Shipping Cost: 350 USD