Vintage Fender Telecaster - USA 1968

The Fender Telecaster is one of the most enduring electric guitar designs ever created, and by the late 1960s it had already cemented its place as a cornerstone of modern music. Introduced in 1950 as the Broadcaster and quickly renamed the Telecaster, the model set the blueprint for the solid body electric guitar - simple, rugged and capable of delivering unmistakable clarity and punch. By 1968 the Telecaster was well into the CBS era, yet still retained much of the character and construction that made earlier examples so revered among players.

This 1968 Fender Telecaster is finished in its original Olympic White, which over time has beautifully mellowed and faded to the warm yellowed hue commonly seen on vintage nitro finishes. The ageing gives the instrument a wonderful sense of authenticity and visual depth, with natural wear that tells the story of decades of music making.

Electronics remain largely original, with a set of original pickups still in place. The bridge pickup may have been rewound at some stage, though it retains the lively and responsive character you would expect from a vintage Tele unit. The guitar retains its original 1966 CTS potentiometers, while some rewiring has been carried out in the control cavity with the original parts still present. A reissue mint green pickguard has been fitted, complementing the aged Olympic White finish beautifully and giving the guitar that unmistakable late-60s aesthetic.

In the hands this Telecaster is everything a great vintage Fender should be. At a fraction over 3kg it is particularly lightweight, making it comfortable for long sessions and lively in its acoustic resonance. Plugged in, the guitar delivers classic Telecaster authority - crisp attack, focused lows and the unmistakable cutting clarity that made the model a favourite of players across country, rock and soul. The neck pickup offers warmth and articulation, while the bridge position has that iconic snap and bite that sits perfectly in a mix.

This is a genuine late-60s Telecaster with all the feel, tone and visual character players seek from the period. It plays beautifully, sounds exceptional and represents an important chapter in Fender’s history as the Telecaster continued its evolution while remaining true to the design that changed electric guitar forever.

Features:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 2.0mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 21.22mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 23.48mm

Nut Width: 40.5mm

Width at 12th Fret: 50.4mm

Weight: 3050g

Brand: Fender

Model: Telecaster

Year: 1968

Origin: USA

Body: Ash

Finish: Olympic White (original, naturally aged)

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Scale Length: 25.5"

Pickups: Original Fender single coils (bridge possibly rewound)

Controls: Volume, Tone, 3-way selector

Potentiometers: Original CTS dated 1966

Bridge: Vintage Telecaster bridge with three brass saddles

Pickguard: Mint green reissue

Tuners: Vintage F-Stamp Fender

Case: Non-OHSC