1997 Fender California Fat Tele: Excellent condition. Color is Fiesta Red. The 'Fat Tele' has a Fender USA humbucker in the neck and a Tex Mex bridge pickup. Five way switching allows you an amazing variety of tones. 

All original with the exception of the mint green pickguard. I do not have the original cream colored one.
Comes with rare Kaces Graphic (Dantes Inferno) hardshell case - originally came with gig bag.

CALIFORNIA TELECASTER
– single cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 21-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlays, six-saddle bridge, three-ply mint green pickguard.

The headstock bears the decal saying “California Series”  this indicates a range of  guitars made when fender had a problem at their finishing plant, the guitars were made with USA parts, but final assembly and finishing were done in their new “super modern and high quality” Mexico Plant  whilst Fender upgraded their USA division.

The California Series Telecaster model also features vintage hardware such as Kluson-style tuners and a vintage bridge with six individual steel saddles. Medium jumbo frets make string bending and playability by far easier in contrast to the usual thin vintage frets. All Telecaster bodies of this particular series were routed for a humbucker pickup in the neck position.

Vintage style “C” profile neck with a 9½” radius.
21 medium jumbo frets.
Vintage tremolo, tuners and 4 bolt neck plate.
3 Ply mint green pickguard.
25½” scale length.
Weighs in at a solid 7 pounds 15 ounces.


Here is the original press release for the California Series from 1997:
(Edited to just the details about the Tele from the press release)

Fender Unveils Hot and Spicy California Series Guitars

July 11, 1997

Mention California and, almost immediately, images of golden sunshine, orange groves, surfing and movie stars come to mind. Thanks to Fender Musical Instruments, get ready to add "guitars" to that list as the company has just unveiled its stunning California Series: the California Strat., California FAT Strat and California FAT Tele®
"The California Series came about thanks to the joint efforts of Fender's Corona, California factory and its Baja California Norte, Ensenada, Mexico facility," noted Mike Lewis, marketing manager for Fender's electric guitar division. "The bodies and necks are shaped by Fender's craftsmen in Corona and subsequently hand-painted at our ultra-modern facility in Mexico. Final assembly, including the installation of vintage hardware and electronics, is then completed in Corona. All three instruments are marked by exceptional attention to detail, tonal quality and playability."
For starters, The California FAT Tele houses a U.S.-made Fender Tele humbucker in the neck position matched with a Tex-Mex Tele pickup in the bridge position. "That combination allows players a variety of tones ranging from stinging, sustaining leads and cool, clean single notes to vintage Tele 'snap'," Lewis added.
Features common to each California Series instrument include an alder body, tinted maple neck equipped with medium jumbo frets, U.S. vintage hardware and electronics. All three models are also available in Black, Candy Apple Red, Brown Sunburst, Fiesta Red and Vintage White finishes. Includes gig bag.

Please look over photos carefully and ask any questions you may have.
Please refer to photos for cosmetic Condition. The item in the photo is the item you will receive.

Thank you.


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Listeda month ago
ConditionExcellent (Used)
Excellent items are almost entirely free from blemishes and other visual defects and have been played or used with the utmost care.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • California Fat Telecaster with Maple Fretboard
Finish
  • Fiesta Red
Categories
Year
  • 1997 - 1998
Made In
  • United States
Pickup Configuration
  • SH
Series
Right / Left Handed
  • Right Handed
Fretboard Material
  • Maple
Number of Strings
  • 6-String
Neck Material
  • Maple
Color Family
  • Red
Finish Style
  • Gloss
Body Type
  • Solid Body
Body Material
  • Alder
Model Family
Bridge/Tailpiece Type
  • String-Through
Scale Length
  • 25.5"
Body Shape
  • T-Style
Neck Construction
  • Bolt-On
Number of Frets
  • 21

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Bartson's

Cypress, TX, United States
Sales:50
Joined Reverb:2016

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