1959 Fender Telecaster Blonde

Slab board. Refinished in Tele Blonde. This came to us in parts. The previous owner, had started and abandoned a refin. But the important parts were all there and Willie’s did a sympathetic restoration. The neck has its original finish and original decal. The back of the headstock has had an ID number scratched into it. The double-line Klusons look original and the Brazilian rosewood “slab” fingerboard was refretted with standard Fender frets except ten percent taller. It plays sublimely. Typical ’59 neck, not big but the but the original finish is smooth and has a satin feel. Depth is .780” at the first fret and .994” at the twelfth. An extra string tree has been removed. The body still has its factory tight edges, so not overly sanded. If you look very closely you’ll see the same ID number on the back of the body. Our finishing department used proper wood filler so it’s really hard to see. By not oversanding there are small dings in the body under the finish but really difficult to spot. Look at the photos…can you see them? Nope. The guitar is lighter, too, at 7 pounds 6 ounces. (The nut is original but lifted.) The rest: No routs or breaks, the 8-hole pickguard looks original, and the pickups are original but have changed leads. The switch is original, but a new switch would provide a firmer feel. The pots are newer.The bridge saddles are added from a '60s Telecaster. Looking closely, you'll see one of the three saddles is a bit different (dang those spare parts drawers.)The bridge pickup is rated at 5.87k and the neck at 5.74k. The bridge pickup is rewound, by Lindy Fralin, we're told. It sounds great, particularly with the resonance of this well-played pre-CBS body. We mention these details so you know in advance. You can always tell when a guitar has been played a lot. They resonate. Old wood with 67 years of getting played again and again matures the instrument. As pre-CBS Teles are becoming harder and harder to find this one is offered proudly to you. The original brown hard case has seen decades of gigs but works, with the handle and all three latches still intact and functional.

*Note this guitar has some old cords and a newer strap, plus we had an old bridge cover we added, and pots that are not period-correct, but has old wire that is period-correct. Left inside for history.