The golden era of Fender design and production tends to be more sacrosanct than perhaps any other long-standing electric guitar maker. Almost every modern Fender guitar can trace its legacy to a roughly 30-year-long period lasting from the early ’50s to the late ’70s. The world’s vintage-style, 6-string enthusiasts (myself included) can have a habit of treating these designs as if they were etched in stone and handed directly to Leo Fender from the heavens. Tampering with these laws would be considered pure blasphemy!
This is, of course, entirely contrary to Fender’s design philosophy. Leo Fender himself was a ceaseless innovator, and while he never actually learned to play the guitar, direct feedback from the day’s top guitarists drove his countless inventions. Even after he left the company in 1965, the CBS-era Fender crew refused to rest on his past 6-string success. Instead, they opted to crank up creativity even further to meet the rapidly changing demands of the quickly shifting musical landscape.
Nowhere was this experimentation more apparent than with the various spin-offs of Fender’s first 6-string success: the Telecaster. To put it into perspective, Fender’s recent American Vintage II Series (a reissue line) includes a smattering of replications from the brand’s golden era, featuring a lone Jazzmaster, a couple of Stratocasters with relatively uniform specs, and a whopping five Telecaster models with single-coils, humbuckers, and hollowbodies galore! For more than 70 years, the Telecaster has served as a playground for Fender innovation. To celebrate this oddball history of experimentation in the twangiest of Fender guitars, we’ll take you on a journey of Fender’s most renowned Teles throughout time!
- ’50s Telecaster Variations
- ’60s Telecaster Variations
- ’70s Telecaster Variations
- Modern Telecaster Variations
’50s Telecaster Variations
Esquire
What Makes Them Unique:
- Single bridge pickup
- Often come with a lightweight pine body
Why You Might Choose One:
- Sheer simplicity
- An absolute classic among country guitarists
In 1950, Fender released the world’s first mass-produced solidbody electric guitar: the Esquire. It was a one-pickup wonder that shared almost every feature with the later Telecaster, minus the iconic, metal-covered neck pickup. While the Esquire was put to good use by legions of such famous players as Luther Perkins, Jeff Beck, Steve Cropper, and early era B.B. King, more than a few of these players performed with what’s possibly the most common Esquire mod out there: a neck pickup. This transformed the Esquire into what Fender sometimes called (and still calls) a “Double Esquire.” But let’s be honest — it’s just a Telecaster with an Esquire logo on the headstock! Still, if you’re after classic Tele twang and prefer the rock-solid simplicity of a single-pickup instrument, then the Esquire’s raw, biting tone and no-nonsense attitude will certainly serve you well.
Telecaster
What Makes Them Unique:
- Possibly the most iconic Fender guitar ever
- Used by countless legendary guitar players
Why You Might Choose One:
- Can cover just about every style in the book
- An excellent modding platform
- Everyone needs a Telecaster!
Does this guitar really need an introduction? Since this article primarily focuses on non-standard Telecaster variations, I’ll skip the history lesson. However, if you’re interested in learning more about what’s arguably Fender’s most iconic instrument, then check out Sweetwater’s deep dive into the Tele formula with “What Makes the Tele So Great” or explore the Tele’s musical legacy with “15 Famous Telecaster Players.”
’60s Telecaster Variations
Telecaster Thinline
What Makes Them Unique:
- Semi-hollowbody
- Possesses an airer and more resonant tone
- Features a convenient F-hole ( . . . to lose your picks in)
Why You Might Choose One:
- A great choice for players who prefer a lighter 6-string guitar
- Another standard-issue country guitar
- Perfect for Tele players looking for a fresh, new tone in the same form factor
From the Telecaster’s inception all the way up until 1968, its formula underwent little change. Sure, the pickups switched around a few magnets, the body wood changed, and Fender began to offer a more elegant-looking rosewood fingerboard. But its basic design was remarkably stable. Frankly, the Telecaster was long overdue for a makeover.
Like many of Fender’s design decisions, the birth of the Telecaster Thinline was driven primarily by practical reasons. Fender received an exceptionally heavy shipment of ash wood in the late ’60s, but guitarists usually dislike heavy instruments. So, why not carve out the body’s insides and make it into a semi-hollowbody? It’s no surprise that the man responsible for this spin-off was Roger Rossmeisl, a legendary luthier who spent his most influential years designing guitars for Rickenbacker. Anyone familiar with Rickenbacker’s thinline shapes, elaborate pickguards, and single-F-hole aesthetics can connect more than a few dots between these two instruments.
The Telecaster Thinline’s tone is by no means a complete departure from the traditional Tele. Many players find that the Thinline sports a warmer sound than its solidbody sibling, with a slightly softer attack and a more resonant feel. A Thinline is a great choice for Telecaster diehards who want something just a bit different but don’t want to compromise on any of the lovable qualities of their Tele. And, once again, this model is ideal for players who require a lightweight guitar; Tele Thinlines weighing well under six pounds regularly come through Sweetwater’s doors.
’70s Telecaster Variations
The Wide Range Humbucker
To understand Fender’s ’70s Telecaster experiments, we must first detour and discuss the story of the Wide Range Humbucker — the hero of the Telecaster’s later variations. As the ’70s approached, Fender was facing a musical crisis. The single-coil sounds that had so dominated the ’50s and ’60s were quickly going out of vogue for the higher-output power of Gibson-style humbuckers. A Fender humbucker was needed — and fast.
If you’re going to design a pickup to compete with the Gibson-style humbucker, then who better to design it than the same guy who invented said Gibson-style humbucker? Yes — Fender’s first mass-produced humbucker model was created by the very same Seth Lover who originally designed the Gibson PAF (Patent Applied For) pickup nearly a decade earlier.
However, Lover had no intention of cloning the PAF. Instead, he opted for a hybrid design that combined the best elements from both the Fender single-coil and Gibson humbucker. The final creation was called the Fender “Wide Range Humbucker.” It sported a distinct construction that defied the standard humbucker’s bar-magnet/slug setup with a set of rod-magnet pole pieces that came far closer to Fender’s traditional single-coil fabrication.
As it turns out, the alnico magnets used in Fender’s typical single-coils didn’t particularly like to be shaped into screw-type slugs, so the Fender Wide Range Humbucker boasted exceptionally rare CuNiFe (copper, nickel, iron) rod magnets. This unique setup resulted in a hum-free sound with a fuller range of tone than most Fender single-coils had — but with the same sparkling, top-end chime. The important thing to remember is that this was by no means just another humbucker; the Wide Range may have been created to match Gibson, but it produced a wholehearted Fender tone.
It’s important to note that if you’re searching for a modern Telecaster variation with Wide Range Humbuckers, then chances are it does not have CuNiFe magnets. Fender and Squier offer vintage-style Tele variations with humbuckers that come remarkably close to the original Wide Range tone. But if you really want correct, vintage CuNiFes, then an American Vintage II reissue or Custom Shop model could very well be in your future. Fender also offers a whole range of CuNiFe-equipped aftermarket pickups that are ready to be dropped into your favorite Tele anytime!
Note: Fender only very recently began reissuing the Wide Range Humbucker in its true CuNiFe-equipped glory. Plus, they now offer it in a drop-in Jazzmaster pickup form factor!
Telecaster Thinline (Again!)
What Makes Them Unique:
- Semi-hollowbody (again!)
- A slightly warmer and more resonant sound
Why You Might Choose One:
- Perfect for fans of the classic dual-humbucker, semi-hollowbody sound
- A more manageable body size
- A thicker tone than your typical Telecaster
- Produces less squeal than a single-coil Thinline when used with higher-gain tones
The first Tele to receive the Wide Range Humbucker treatment was the Telecaster Thinline, which had both its single-coil Telecaster pickups replaced with a pair of these Wide Range Humbuckers. Unlike the Telecaster Custom and Deluxe, this model sported the same 2-knob volume/tone control configuration as the run-of-the-mill, T-style guitar. However, it did, in fact, have the updated 6-saddle bridge.
The dual-humbucker Telecaster Thinline is a natural fit for players looking to achieve a bit of classic semi-hollowbody warmth in a more manageable body shape. Like the ’60s-style Telecaster Thinline, this Tele model provides a smooth attack and stunning resonance with much less weight than a solidbody Telecaster.
Telecaster Custom
What Makes Them Unique:
- HS pickup configuration (one of the most unique sounds in Fender’s history)
- Capable of traditional Tele twang with a much beefier neck tone
Why You Might Choose One:
- Ideal for Tele fans who aren’t in love with the standard single-coil neck pickup
- Arguably one of Fender’s most versatile models
The Telecaster Custom was one of the first instruments to feature the cutting-edge Wide Range Humbucker pickup. However, it remained slightly rooted in tradition with a standard Telecaster single-coil in the bridge slot. This pairing of a bridge-position Tele single-coil and a neck humbucker — which, funnily enough, mirrors one of the most common Telecaster mods in the book, as it’s found on guitars ranging from Keith Richards’s Micawber to Andy Summers’s 1963 Tele — delivered a unique, singular tone in the Fender catalog, with a sound that was punchy, full, and cutting all at once.
Additionally, the Telecaster Custom’s revised control scheme came suspiciously close to a certain set-neck single-cut featuring dedicated volume/tone controls for each pickup. Fender also decided to make the body a bit more comfortable with a belly cut. Plus, the 6-saddle design allowed for a far more precise means of dialing in the guitar’s intonation. Finally, the Tele Custom — in addition to almost every other ’70s-era Fender — sported a 3-bolt neck joint and a headstock-access bullet truss rod. If you’re the type of player who loves the Tele bridge sound but yearns for a fatter neck-pickup tone, then the Telecaster Custom is as good as it sounds.
Telecaster Deluxe
What Makes Them Unique:
- The last of Fender’s vintage-era Telecaster creations
- A big ol’ Stratocaster headstock
Why You Might Choose One:
- An excellent Fender-style alternative to another iconic dual-humbucker solidbody
- One of Fender’s highest-performing vintage-style models
Finally, we reach the last of the ’70s Telecaster creations: the Telecaster Deluxe. This guitar is possibly Fender’s highest-performing vintage Telecaster, boasting a dual-humbucker setup, 6-saddle bridge, and comfortable belly cut. Plus, it represents one of Fender’s first forays into the flatter, 9-1/2-inch fingerboard radius. It’s essentially a Telecaster Custom with two Wide Range Humbuckers and a revamped bridge. But notice that headstock — a massive, ’70s-style Stratocaster shape! It might not do much for your tone, but it’s certainly one of the coolest-looking features on any late-period Telecaster.
Anyone familiar even remotely with the guitar culture of the ’70s will recognize what single-cut, set-neck solidbody this Tele attempted to rival. That said, it can’t be overstated that CuNiFe-equipped Wide Range Humbuckers are only somewhat tonally related to Gibson-style humbuckers. The Telecaster Deluxe’s unique combination of full-range power, sparkling Fender cleans, and effortless performance place it high on any ’70s Fender enthusiast’s list.
Modern Telecaster Variations
Most old-school Fender enthusiasts consider any model arriving later than the ’70s to be outside the vintage era, and to be fair, it seems like Fender agrees. Fender’s reissue series seldom venture outside the company’s first three decades of history. Regardless, the last 40-ish years of Fender guitars have resulted in an endless assortment of exceptional Telecaster variations. Unlike the vintage era, Fender’s current model variations are prolific. Therefore, cataloging them all would be nearly impossible. Still, there are two important modern Telecasters that have received resounding applause from the guitar community.
Cabronita Telecaster
Fender’s foul-mouthed, Gretsch-meets-Telecaster hybrid has been a fan favorite ever since the Fender Custom Shop released it in 2009. This model has come in many different styles, but the classic setup remains a semi-hollowbody Thinline style with two Filtertron pickups. Considering how much rockabilly heritage Telecaster- and Gretsch-style instruments have shared, the Cabronita is a no-brainer for any guitarist with a tonal affinity for country twang and treble bite.
Offset Telecaster
What if you made a Telecaster, but it was also a Jazzmaster? That’s the general idea behind Fender’s Offset Telecasters/Jazzcasters/Telemasters/etc. Most of these models retain the exact same electronics and hardware specs as traditional Teles, but it’s all packed into an offset-style body. For many players, the sleek contours of the Jazzmaster-style body are favored far more than the cutting-board simplicity of the hard-edged Telecaster body. Offsets have the added benefit of (usually) remaining tonally identical to anyone’s favorite Tele.
Which Tele Will You Choose?
As you can see, the Telecaster’s long and storied history is fully packed with wild and experimental innovations. Whether you’re looking for a traditional Telecaster, lightweight Tele Thinline, or Wide Range Humbucker–equipped ’70s creation, make sure to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700to make your own Tele history!