Music

This 1969 Fender Telecaster is a factory Bigsby model that has received a killer, relic refin from Joe Riggio.  What an amazing job!  The original finish on the face of the headstock shows some serious color, so Joe added what guitar nerds like to call "tan lines" to the body in the refinish process, leaving the finish light under the pickguard, Bigsby, bridge and control plate, so the body would match the look of the headstock face. The headstock face is dark for a couple of reasons.  Fender would shoot the front of the poly-finished, late 60s and early 70s headstock with a blast of nitrocellulose lacquer over the logo to protect it.  This finish ages and takes on color over the years.  The poly finish on the rest of the guitar usually lags behind, though you will see blonde, poly Fenders yellow out as well.  The neck finish is original on the back - note how light the color is.  The neck has been refretted, a welcome update as the stock frets on these guitars were really low from the factory.  The fretboard was refinished in the refret process, as is customary for poly finished, maple necks.For a late 60s Tele, and especially one with a Bigsby, this guitar weighs a very reasonable 8lbs 13oz.. The guitar original where it counts, from the 66 pots to the F tuners.  You may know this factoid, but Fender bought a huge supply of CTS pots in 1966 when CBS had fully taken the company over, so you see 66 pots in instruments all the way into the 70s.  This is a great player with a killer sounding set of original pickups.  It set up perfectly for us with a new set of 10-46 strings.  The truss rod is loosened all the way, so no additional relief can be added unless perhaps you move to 11 or 12 gauge strings.  You really don't want to use a Bigsby with 9 gauge or lighter strings anyway.The original case is included.  One spot on the top of the case took a hit near the leather end wrap, but the rest of it is really nice with working latches and hinges.Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase.   Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.Color: BlondeWeight: 8lbs 13ozsBody: AshNeck: MapleNeck Profile: See pictureFretboard: MapleInlays: Black dotsFrets: Re-fretted, jumbo.Fret count: 21Nut: BoneNut width: 1 5/8"Radius: 7.25Scale: 25.5"Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.87"Neck thickness at 12th fret: 0.94"Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 5/64"Total length: 38 1/4"Lower bout: 12 3/4"Waist: 9"Upper bout: 11"Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 3/4"String gauge: .011-.048"Hardware Color: ChromeBridge Pickup/Brand: FenderBridge Pickup Reading: 6.80kPickup Original?: YesNeck Pickup/Brand: FenderNeck Pickup Reading: 6.45kPickup Original?: YesPickguard: OriginalBridge: OriginalTuners: OriginalKnobs: Original Switch: ReplacedPots/Codes: Original 304-6618Case: OHSCNotes:Shipping policy: There are two shipping cost options for purchases made on our site for these states and those to the east of them: Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas.  Select Standard shipping at checkout and your item will be shipped via UPS three-day-air.  Select Economy shipping and your item will ship via UPS ground.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for these Eastern states and shipment will be made by UPS three-day-air.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to .  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.

The Fender Telecaster, known affectionately as the "Tele," emerged as the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar, marking a significant milestone in music history. Its straightforward design and innovative sound paved the way for new trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music. Since its debut in the 1950s, the Telecaster has been celebrated for its versatility, serving artists across genres from country to jazz, rock, and beyond. Its solid construction, characterized by a single-cutaway body made typically from alder or ash and a bolt-on maple neck, contributes to its distinct, bright, and cutting tone as well as a warm, mellow sound depending on pickup selection. With minor modifications over the years, the Telecaster has remained largely faithful to its original design, featuring two single-coil pickups, a three-way selector switch, and simple volume and tone controls. This enduring design has kept the Telecaster relevant and in continuous production, solidifying its status as a beloved icon in the guitar world.