❌SOLD❌ Fender American Telecaster Left Handed Sunburst, 2002

Part of the American line, this Fender Telecaster Left Handed represents a progressive evolution of Leo Fender’s proven Telecaster design, with all the base features and improved hardware.

The Telecaster is a deceptively simple instrument, providing all the basics for an extremely reliable, versatile instrument that works aesthetically, sonically and physically. It’s hard to break, easy to maintain, and easy to customize.

This Fender American Telecaster Left Handed in Sunburst finish, built in 2002 at the Fender Corona plant, is in overall good condition. There is a little scuffing on the tail edge of the back finish, and light oxidization on the bridge plate, with light fret and play wear. It plays well, and as the frets on this series are larger than vintage style, there is plenty of room for any future maintenance.

On this series of guitars, Fender made what are to my mind some of the best, subtle improvements over the original hardware choices. The original stamped steel three-saddle bridge has been replaced with a much heavier base plate with six heavier steel saddles, providing improved clarity, separation and sustain, not to mention far more accurate intonation. It doesn’t provide quite the same ‘twang’ as the lightweight bridge on a 1950’s model, but it has its own version of the Telecaster tone.

As well, the tuners are modern Fender branded sealed units. These use the same mounting pattern as the Fender locking tuners with staggered posts found on higher models, so upgrading them is trivial. Locking tuners aren’t just for trem bridges – it turns out that they make string changes very fast on any guitar. They are definitely worth considering when looking at any upgrades.

This guitar is sold with a rectangular hard shell case by TKL, in faux-snakeskin finish. The case is in very good condition and fits the guitar well.