1978 Fender Telecaster Thinline Natural

Today we are looking at a very cool 1978 Fender Telecaster Thinline Natural.

The Fender Telecaster has been popular since it appeared in its earliest forms in the closing years of the 1940s. It’s been in continual production since, with a number of changes and versions available.

In the late 1960’s, Fender guitars started getting heavier, and Roger Rossmeisl – who also designed the Rickenbacker 330 with its distinctive cresent-moon cutaway and hollowed body – was hired to try to lighten things up.

The Fender Telecaster Thinline was the result. Taking a similar approach as at Rickenbacker, a standard Tele – shaped body was hollowed out, an F-hole cut, and a back put on to seal it. Originally, the body was mahogany with standard Telecaster pickups but in 1972 this was changed to swamp ash with two Fender Wide-Range humbucking pickups. It was produced this way until 1981, though there have been reissues and some newer versions.

This example of the 1978 Fender Telecaster Thinline Natural is in good playing order, with some normal play wear and dings. At some point two holes were made on either side of the bridge and these have been plugged. There is a moderate amount of fretwear and some finish wear along the treble side of the fingerboard; this guitar has been played! The maple neck has a fairly soft V profile, and the overall weight of the instrument is 7 pounds.

Serial Number: S803038, built during 1978 at the Fender plant in Fullerton, California.

Pricing: $2,999.00 with original hardshell case.