❌SOLD❌ Fender Telecaster Rosewood Fingerboard Blonde, 1976

The Fender Telecaster Rosewood Fingerboard models appeared in September of 1959 as Fender introduced this wood to attract Gibson players. This was originally a flat-bottomed ‘Slab’ fingerboard glued to the flat top of the Maple neck, and the truss rod mounted from a channel underneath the fingerboard. In July 1962, Fender introduced new production processes to bond a thin layer of Rosewood to the curved top of a Maple neck blank, and this process is still used today. For part of the CBS era, Rosewood fingerboard necks had their truss rods mounted from the rear in the same way as Maple necks did. Consequently this guitar has both a Rosewood fingerboard and the ‘Skunk Stripe’ Walnut insert.

Here we’re looking at a Fender Telecaster Rosewood Fingerboard model with traditional Blonde finish dating to 1976, well into the CBS era (1965 to 1985). It’s in overall good and largely original condition – the volume pot has been replaced – understandable as that’s one of the highest wear components. The original Ashtray bridge cover is in the period case. At the time this guitar was sold, Fender’s Canadian representative was Tartini Musical Imports, and they received Fender guitars and appropriate cases separately.

The finish on this Fender Telecaster Rosewood Fingerboard model is the original polyester translucent blonde. It’s in good shape with some expected dents and scratches, and some finish checking on the body but not the neck. Fret and fingerboard wear is minor, and the frets appear to be original.

Though I’ve played many maple necks, I like the Fender Telecaster Rosewood Fingerboard models for a few reasons. They are nearly as bright and clear as the Maple neck versions, but with a bit more warmth and slightly less bite. The feel of the unfinished Rosewood fingerboard is a bit more ‘natural’, and as a practical matter – eventual refrets are cheaper and faster. This is simply because at the time of refret, there is no fingerboard finish to remove and replace.