Fender decided they wanted to produce a lighter Tele option, and so the Fender Thinline Telecaster was born. First released in 1968, the Thinline evolved from simply added chambering to the addition of its memorable F-hole. Initially, the Thinline Tele sported the same electronics as a normal solidbody Telecaster, but beginning in 1972, the Fender Thinline Telecaster was outfitted with humbuckers.