1966 Fender Telecaster BLONDIE

This is another guitar I never thought I’d sell. But I am dealing with critical health issues (liver cancer) and need to pay some bills!

This is a guitar with a long history! I've owned it since 2007, when it was gifted to me by my dear friend Los Angeles blues legend, the late great Gashouse Dave, just before he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He passed away in 2009.

The story from Dave goes that he bought the guitar from his friend and bandmate Mike Bloomfield (in pics). Dave was the original bass player in Electric Flag but left the band before they played their debut gig at Monterey Pop. He and Mike stayed friends over the years. When Mike needed money, he sold Dave this guitar for $300 in 1977. I have no provenance of that, just what Dave told me. Dave was also the one who alerted police, who discovered Mike's body in his locked car in San Francisco In 1981, dead from an overdose.

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Refin in original blonde a few years ago is fantastic, with beautiful wear and finish checking!

NOTE: Some have remarked that the decal is not correct for 1966. But the neckplate date is 1966, decal is original, and the factory date stamp on the neck is October 66, also original. The original tuners (double line Klusons) were standard until late 1967 when they went to "F" tuners. So my assumption is that Leo ran out of the old decals when the new transition decals came in, and that's what we got! That's why I'm listing it as a 1966 with an early - original - transition decal. As with so many things Fender, it is an oddity.

My tech replaced the 3-way switch and one control knob in 2023, and all other electronics (pots, pickups wiring) are what I inherited. The bridge pickup us original, with yellow lead and blue ground wires, waxed. Bridge pickup was replaced 30 years ago with a replacement pickup, probably by Seymour Duncan as Dave and he were friends and he did a lot of the pickup work on Dave's guitars. There is a white sticker with an "IR" stamp, no idea what it refers to.

Tuners seem to have been replaced at some point, extra holes have been filled. Original double line Klusons are back on it.

All hardware, bridge, tuners, strap pegs are all original.

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I have never owned a Tele that sounded or played better than this guitar. And I've played a lot of guitars. Tone is otherworldly! Amazing quack and spank, perfect for the blues, country, or just plain old rock and roll. The neck is a dream to play, broken in and so comfy! I don't think it's ever been refretted, but it plays great all the up and down the neck.

When I got the guitar, it was in a gigbag, (and here's the other interesting part of the story). Will Ray, of Hellecaster fame, is an old friend of mine, and before he moved back to Virginia many moons ago, he gave me an old, beat up Tele case (that he was just going to throw away!). I jerry-rigged some new latches and it works like a charm...and ironically, it's era correct for this guitar!

Lightweight dream at 7.4 lbs.

So Gashouse Dave's guitar that he got from Mike Bloomfield is now living in Will Ray's guitar case. Replaced pot, 3-way switch included, as is the ashtray bridge cover, both pickguards (original white pickguard back on it now) and original mid'60s Bobby Lee leather strap in great shape.

The value of these vintage '60s Fenders are only rising. Invest in a playable piece of appreciating history now, and invest in my wellness at the same time!

PLEASE message me with any questions. Happy to take any photos or record sound files to those interested.

And LISTEN TO THE VIDEO FILE. Amazing tone for miles.

Sold as-is and as described.