True Vintage Guitar Blog

The recently purchased Fender company was noticing some complaints about one of their most popular models in 1967: the Telecaster was gaining weight. High quality (read: light weight) Ash to make guitar bodies was becoming scarce while the heavier stuff was readily available. Legendary German guitar designer Roger Rossmeisel was then employed at Fender and set out to design a guitar that could utilize the more abundant (heavy) Ash and yet not break the player's back. Rossmeisel's first design was to route away body material underneath the pickguard. The modification was completely hidden…Read more

This was a really special guitar that came through the shop last year: an early 1966 Fender Jaguar in custom color Lake Placid Blue. Although it was missing the original case, it was in spectacular condition with all original finish and parts. It showed no evidence of prior repair and required only light cleaning and set up. Fender's Jaguar model debuted in 1962 at the top of the electric guitar line, only four years after the Jazzmaster's introduction. It featured an offset body shape slightly modified from the Jazzmaster, 24" scale neck, two…Read more

  The post-CBS buyout Fender Musical Instrument Company was presented with a problem unfamiliar to it in prior years: leftover stock and parts from a model that was a commercial failure. Fender's Electric XII model failed to sell as many pieces as anticipated and the leftover unfinished bodies and necks were piling up at the factory. In 1969, Fender's production manager was tasked with repurposing the stock into something they could sell. Thus, the Custom was born. Long time Fender employee "Babe" Simoni skirted the R&D department and set out to solve the…Read more

We sold this 1960 Fender Jazzmaster last year but I had to share the pictures again. This guitar came from the wife of the original owner who passed decades before. He played it for a few years with a Fender amplifier but ended up losing a finger in a work accident. He didn't play the guitar after the accident which was around the mid 1960s. The Jazzmaster sat in its case until it became vintage. We were very pleased with the condition of the guitar when we received it. It was totally original…Read more

Looking for a good book suggestion for Father's Day? If your dad likes vintage Fender Telecaster guitars then here is an idea for you. I've been building my vintage guitar library for the past couple of years and it's proved an invaluable resource for questions that aren't easily answered on forums or other internet sites.   The Fender Telecaster: The Detailed Story of America's Senior Solid Body Electric Guitar (http://amzn.to/2sGVi0m) is probably my favorite of the currently available books of vintage Fender Telecaster guitars. This one has been on my night stand for…Read more

1965 was a transitional year at the Fender Electric Instrument Co which became Fender Musical Instrument Co by the end of the year. Leo Fender finalized the sale of his company to CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) on January 5, 1965 and they slowly set out to increase production and profit. New cheaper models were introduced such as the Coronado that were easier to manufacture and used outsourced electronics from Rowe Industries (DeArmond). Headstocks were enlarged with appealed to the style trends of the late 1960s. Clay dots turned to flashier pearloid, offset models received…Read more