I just love a Tele with a humbucker in the neck. This one is a vintage 1997 U.S.A. made Fender Telecaster California Series and it wears the best finish that they were available in: Fiesta Red. Both pickups have been upgraded and the guitar is all-original otherwise. It has obviously been very well cared for and virtually unplayed since new. Condition-wise, it is like new condition. The California Series were made in 1996-1997 and the official story is that there was a fire in Fender's paint and finish department at the Corona California Fender factory and bodies were shipped across the border for paint, then returned to Corona for assembly. They are labeled "made in U.S.A." I sold these California Series Stratocasters and Telecasters back when they were new and we couldn't get enough of them. The quality was really good and every one of them had an excellent fit & finish. Of course, everyone wanted the Fiesta Red finish because you never really saw anything in that color at that time-what's old is new again! The Telecasters were offered with either a humbucker in the neck pickup position or a Stratocaster pickup to go along with the standard Telecaster bridge pickup. This guitar is set up and ready to go it needs nothing.
The body is the original vintage Telecaster design with the 'slab' shape. The finish is in outstanding condition and shines beautifully. It looks like a glossy tomato soup; how delicious. The neck joint is an excellent fitment.
The neck itself is straight with a very smooth feel. The California series got a satin clear on the neck and the surface feels velvety smooth like polished bare wood. The neck width is 1.65" at the nut and the neck profile is a nice vintage C-shape. The fingerboard has the flat 9.5" radius and feels grrreat! The neck depth measures .804" at the 1st fret and .854" at the 12th fret. The tuners function smoothly and the guitar stays in tune perfectly. The headstock and logo display excellent. The logo reminds me of the transitional 1966 decal that Fender used back in the day; with the large CBS style "Fender" and smaller pre-CBS style "telecaster". The maple fingerboard is super clean and has a cool woodgrain-see photos. The original medium jumbo frets are in fantastic condition with just a slight hint of playing evidence. They are tall, wide and in excellent crisp condition-see photos. The action is set low for a fast and easy playing experience. The guitar plays lights out up and down the fingerboard with no dead spots whatsoever. The Jumbo frets really give it a killer feel and afford great bends virtually everywhere. The guitar is only limited by the player really.
The pickups have been upgraded as previously mentioned. They are both Fralin units. These pickups sell new for around $350...they are very well made and excellent quality. The neck position is an "Umbucker" and the bridge position is a Tele hybrid Strat unit. The neck is a full humbucker that can be split into a single coil. It is purposefully wound unbalanced so that there is not a volume drop when switching to single coil mode. Sounds thick and brilliant; best of both worlds. The bridge pickup is brilliant as well with a thicker and more defined response. Sounds pretty much like a typical telecaster bride pickup but not as thin. The original 5-way switch has a date code of 48th week of 1997. It offers the following combinations:
bridge pickup only, bridge and neck pickup in single coil mode, bridge and neck pickup in humbucker mode, neck pickup in single coil mode, neck pickup in humbucker mode.
The original potentiometers date to the 51st and 48th week of 1997. The tone capacitor and entire wiring harness are in excellent condition. The bridge features the 6-individual stainless steel saddles which are fully adjustable for precision intonation. Oh yeah, it is perfectly intonated as it sits. The factory chrome vintage "ash tray" bridge cover is included, of course. Looks really cool!
The guitar weighs 8.83 lbs and it is a lot of fun to play. It has such a great feeling neck and fingerboard. Plays as good as it looks. The original and very exciting Fender form fit hardcase is included for protection.
The extreme condition of this guitar coupled with the Fiesta Red finish makes it everybody's favorite. Trust me. This guitar would look great in any collection and would make an excellent gift for that special someone. Maybe that someone is you? (I won't tell anyone)
