1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline.

By the end of the 60’s, stocks of light grade Ash were dwindling though heavier grade woods where plentiful. Initial attempt in the summer of 1967 to lighten the bodies were unsatisfactory. Charged with finding ways to use this heavier grade ash for the Telecaster, German luthier Roger Rossmeisl (who would introduce the world to Fender acoustics and a whole host of hollow body designs for the Californian mark) and Virgilio Simoni (Head of the blank, body and sanding department) set about routing out telecaster bodies from the back and adding a thin cap to relieve weight. Finished off with an elongated pickguard and a maple cap neck, the Telecaster Thinline became one of Roger’s most enduring legacies.

This guitar is quite a find. The mahogany body is in great shape and much rarer than ash. A noteworthy thing here is that there is no checking on the body which is often seen with these guitars as the poly finish doesn’t flex as well with the wood. The maple cap neck too is in great shape. The fretboard shows signs of wear and there is a some cosmetic moisture damage to the back of the headstock that has extended to the front somewhat. This explains the keen price for a first year, mahogany body Thinline with a maple cap.

The frets have plenty of life left in them and the guitar of course plays very well and weighs nothing so it is very comfortable to guitar to play a set on.

The plastics like the body are in good condition. Pearloid can be quite a divisive material but it seem to suit the thinline so well.

The hardware is good condition and free of too much corrosion and wear, included is the ashtray bridge cover.

Electronically all solder joints look to be undisturbed and both pickups are strong, original and very nicely balanced with factory normal tone configuration (this changed from the dark tone setup in 1967)

The guitar comes with its correct black tolex case

The mahogany and maple combination does give us a slight twist on the telecaster tone. The maple board does give you the spank and fast attack that some consider the tele calling card but the mahogany seems to round things off a little as does the little extra air provided by the cavities in the body. Both pickups sound great with the bridge pickup providing the twang and the neck smoothing things out.

First year, rare mahogany and a finish in this condition is surely too tempting combination for the discerning Telecaster devotee? Grab it before it gets away.