Five Amazing Decades of the Fender Telecaster
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Five Amazing Decades of the Fender Telecaster
We have all heard it. We have all seen it. Some of us love it. Some of us hate it. Like it or not, the Fender Telecaster changed the way music was played and written in 1952 when it first started being produced by Fender Musical. The Telecaster holds the title of being the first solid body electric guitar made in large numbers. Ever since it's debut in 1952, the Tele has been going through constant changes in all categories - wood, electronics, and build. Let's take a quick look at how the Telecaster has changed over the years. Shall we?
1952 Telecaster
With it's classic butterscotch blonde finish toped off with a black pickguard, this is by far the most loved model Tele. This is what all true Tele's should sound like. One piece maple neck with a maple fretboard.
1969 Telecaster and Thinline Tele
In the 60's, Fender Musical Corp. was experimenting with using rosewood for fretbaords. All of the classic reissue Strats and Teles from the 60's will have a rosewood neck. Also, more colors were alaivable in the 60's for the players to choose from.
In 1969, Fender produced the ever popular Thinline Telecaster. It featured the same electronics, just mounted on a semi-hollow, thinline body. Yes, this one does have a maple fretboard, but that was common on the Thinline models.
1972 Telecaster and Telecaster Deluxe
As you can see, maple necks were used again in the 70's and were very popular. Natural wood finished Strats and Teles were very common. Also notice the larger Fender decal and writing on the headstock - a 70's Fender trademark.
In 1972, Fender made 4 popular styles of the Tele. One regular (top), a two humbucker model called the Deluxe (above), a semi hollow, or thinline, model also fitted with 2 humbucking pickups, and another solid body model with a humbucker in the neck
1985 Telecaster
I am not aware of any major changes that were made to the Tele in the 80's. I do know that the made in Japan models were and still are quite popular. This one shown above has had a humbucker dropped in it after market.
1997 Telecaster
In the 90's, a lot of experimental Teles were produced, looking for a heavier sound than what the 50's and 60's models could deliver. This is the same layout of the currently popular Blackout Tele which features two neck pickups - one in the neck and
2009 Telecaster
Some say that the Teles produced in Corona, California today are the best they have ever been. That is all opinion, because there are thousands of people who believe that about every new decade of the guitar.
