Vintage 1972 Telecaster Deluxe Modified Natural With Case

We've got an interesting guitar for you - but first, a touch of history....

Introduced in late 1972, the Fender Telecaster Deluxe was designed to compete with dual-humbucker guitars like the Gibson Les Paul. It featured two Seth Lover-designed Wide Range humbuckers, independent volume/tone controls for each pickup, a contoured body, and a large, 70s-style Stratocaster headstock.  Initially well received, there was a period of time where these models fell out of favor, but over the years they've become more and more popular. 

To capture the heavier rock market of the 1970s, Fender had hired former Gibson engineer Seth Lover to create their first proprietary humbucking pickup. The resulting Wide Range Humbucker used large bobbins and CuNiFe (Copper-Nickel-Iron) magnets, delivering a bright yet thick tone. The Deluxe was positioned as the top model in the Telecaster family. and became a unique offering with a tone unlike all of the Telecasters before it.

Despite its premium specs, the original Telecaster Deluxe struggled to win over players and was officially discontinued in 1981. However, the 1990s brought an unexpected resurgence. The guitar became heavily sought after by alternative rock and Britpop musicians (such as Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead) who prized its unique tonal range and non-traditional aesthetic.

Now, on to this one in particular: there's a lot going on.  First things first, the neck and body are original to each other.  After that, a ton has been altered....

The guitar was Natural to begin with, but the finish was stripped down to the sealer coat.  So, it's not a refin per se, but it is stripped/sanded.  The end result is actually a very cool feel and vibe.  The body has been modified.  In the control cavity, it was routed through to the back, with a cover plate added, and 4 holes drilled to accommodate humbucker feet.  We also found various filled pickguard screw holes under the pickguard.  At some point, the neck attachment was converted from the original 3-bolt to a 4-bolt.  We took it back to the original setup with a 3-bolt neckplate.

The neck has also been modified, in various ways.  It was refretted with Gibson frets, had the radius flattened to 10", the fretboard was refinished, and the headstock reamed for Schaller tuners.  The end result is a very comfortable and easy to play Tele.

It doesn't stop there.  The pickguard and electronics were replaced, and the guitar currently has Gibson T-Top pickups from 1980, with the patent sticker (Neck = 7.5k Ω. and Bridge =7.3k Ω).  This well balanced set is very usable, whether playing clean or dirty.  They are vey clear, but still warm and just the right amount of punch.  They're great for classic rock and other styles too, with excellent string definition and no muddiness even when heavily distored.  These pickups are highly responsive and being unpotted gives them an open and airy vintage tone.

This 1972 Tele Deluxe is quite the find - while it won't speak to aficionados looking for all original vintage Tele, it's perfect for for anyone looking for player grade vintage Teles.  The techs in our shop have set it up to play perfectly and it's ready to go, complete with a nice Fender (non-original) tweed case.  This is a great score!