RARE 1993-1994 Fender Telecaster TLR-65SP "Craft Collection" Made in Japan - Sparkle Gold

Epic Axes is a musician-driven showroom in Los Angeles. Each guitar is personally selected, inspected, and tested to ensure top performance - only instruments we would play ourselves become part of our collection.

This is a rare early-‘90s Fender Japan Telecaster TLR-65SP in Sparkle Gold, crafted at the FujiGen factory and dating to approximately 1993–1994 based on the N0 serial (N032821).

These sparkle models were part of a short-lived Fender Japan run often associated with the Craft Collection era - a period where FujiGen was putting out some of the most consistent and interesting instruments outside of the USA line. The TLR-65SP sits right in that sweet spot: not a standard catalog Tele, but a more unique, visually striking take with a premium sparkle finish that you rarely see come up.

The Gold Sparkle finish on this one is especially eye-catching in person, with large flake under clear that shifts beautifully under light. It’s not a subtle color - it’s a statement piece, but still very much a usable, stage-ready instrument rather than just a collector’s item.

Condition is very good for its age. There are some small finish chips, light checking lines in the lacquer, and general surface wear consistent with a well-kept vintage instrument. Nothing excessive - just honest aging. All cosmetic imperfections are clearly shown in the photos.

The frets are in excellent condition with no significant wear, no dead spots, and plenty of life left. The guitar plays cleanly up and down the neck and has already been properly set up.

Sonically, it delivers exactly what you’d want from a good Tele: bright, articulate, and twangy with strong note definition and a lively attack. It cuts through a mix easily but still has enough body to handle a wide range of styles.

A great example of a harder-to-find Fender Japan model from one of the best production periods, combining classic Tele feel with a unique visual identity.

The following work has been done: full cleaning, fret polish, pickup height adjustment for balance and clarity, and a fresh set of D’Addario 10-46s installed. String height at the 12th fret on the low E is right at 2.2 mm - set for comfortable playability. 

Body

• Construction: Solid body, single-cutaway Telecaster design
• Wood: Basswood
• Finish: Premium Sparkle Gold (PSP, large flake metallic under gloss)
• Contours: Classic Telecaster slab body
• Pickguard: White pearloid
• Cosmetic Condition: Good vintage condition with natural wear including small finish chips, light lacquer checking, and surface marks consistent with age

Neck

• Material: Maple
• Joint: Bolt-on
• Profile: Comfortable oval C (MIJ “oval type”)
• Fingerboard: Maple (one-piece neck)
• Inlays: Black dot markers
• Radius: 7.25" (184R vintage spec)
• Frets: 21 vintage-style frets
• Fret Condition: Good, no dead spots
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Nut: Approx. 42 mm

Hardware

• Bridge: 6-saddle Telecaster bridge
• Tuners: Gotoh Japan sealed tuners
• Strap Buttons: Standard

Electronics

• Pickups: Fender Japan TL Vintage single-coils
• Controls:
  • 1 Volume
  • 1 Tone
• Switching: 3-way blade switch
• Output Jack: 1/4" mono
• Configuration: SS

Other

• Model: Fender Japan Telecaster TLR-65SP (Sparkle Series / PSP)
• Year: 1993–1994 (serial N032821)
• Original Tier: “65” model (¥65,000 domestic price tier)
• Made in: Japan (FujiGen factory)
• Condition: Good vintage condition with honest natural wear; no relicing
• Case: Not included
• Setup: Professionally inspected, cleaned, and set up; medium action, comfortable playability without buzzing