Reverb has your back if your item is lost, damaged, or doesn't match its description. Simply report any issues within 7 days and we'll help you get a full refund.Learn More
About This Listing
Up for sale, a 1979 Fender Telecaster Thinline in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. This second iteration of the Thinline model was introduced in ‘72 and is from near the end of the model's original USA production run, featuring an ash body and one-piece maple neck, loaded with an original pair of Wide Range humbuckers.
The ash body delivers ample midrange complexity and punch, complemented by the smooth, airy nature of the semi-hollow construction. This guitar boasts a pair of original Seth Lover designed Fender "Wide Range" humbuckers, and these pickups deliver some of the most clear, powerful, and rich tones ever heard on a Fender. As the chief architect of Gibson's PAF humbucker, Lover certainly knew how to craft a dynamic and balanced pickup, and the Wide Range design succeeds in delivering glassy, percussive cleans that have an incredible amount of warmth and nuance. Weighing 8lbs 5oz, this Telecaster has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.
The one-piece maple neck has a substantial U-shaped profile carve with lightly rolled fretboard edges and modest shoulders, almost verging on a soft V shape at the nut, measuring .900” deep at the 1st fret and .945” at the 12th. The fretboard has a 7 1/4“ radius, with light finger wear into the gloss most prominent on the treble-side edge, and the stock slender fretwire that's is in great shape, exhibiting light wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-9 that becomes progressively lighter approaching the octave. This guitar plays cleanly up the 25 1/2“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod, and the nut measures 1 5/8“ in width. The headstock sports a bullet truss rod nut, S8-prefix serial and block logo, and the original set of F-stamped tuning machines turn smoothly and hold pitch as they should. The neck heel retains its original stamp, which translates to an early 1979 build date.
All of the electronics function as intended, with original CTS pots that date to the 42nd week of ‘78, and the Wide Range humbuckers have 1978 date stamps on their baseplates. The factory sticker in the neck pickup cavity is dated Dec 12th, 1978. All of the hardware has plenty of shine, including the block saddles, bridge base and pair of knurled knobs. Plastics comprise the multi-ply white pearloid pickguard and top hat switch tip.
The gloss Natural finish highlights the grain of the ash body, including the subtle figuring on the back. This is a very clean example, with cosmetic wear limited to just a scant few tiny dings and faint scratches on the body as a whole. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, with just a few minor marks that don't distract the palm while fretting.
The original black tolex hardshell case is included, with functional latches, the original molded handle, and raised Fender badge on the lid.
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.
