By the end of the 60’s, stocks of light grade Ash were dwindling though heavier grade woods were plentiful. Initial attempts in the summer of 1967 to lighten the bodies were unsatisfactory. Charged with finding ways to use this heavier grade ash for the Telecaster, German luthier Roger Rossmeisl (who would introduce the world to Fender acoustics and a whole host of hollow body designs for the Californian mark) and Virgilio Simoni (Head of the blank, body and sanding department) set about routing out telecaster bodies from the back and adding a thin cap to relieve weight. Finished off with an elongated pickguard and a maple cap or rosewood neck, the Telecaster Thinline became one of Roger’s most enduring legacies.
The guitar is in great condition. There are a few knocks and the lacquer has cracked in places (due to the body flexing and the lacquer not) but on a whole it's in great shape. There are no signs of modifications or repairs.
The neck too is in good condition. The frets have plenty of life in them and shows no signs of wear. The lacquer is in good shape.
The plastics like the body are in good condition. Pearloid can be quite a divisive material but it seems to suit the thinline so well.
The hardware is in good condition and free of too much corrosion and wear.
Electronically some of the wiring has been corrected as it came to us with having been repaired at some stage. The pot dates are week 31 of 1966. Both pickups look to be correct.
The guitar comes with a hardshell case
The chambering of the body adds some air to theguitar's tone whilst retaining those telecaster tonal characteristics. This is more noticeable on the neck pickup. The bridge pickup still retains the trade-mark twang.
First year Fender Telecaster thinline is surely a bucket list guitar for any tele-aficionado. Grab this one before it gets away…