Telecaster

The Fender Telecaster

Original Telecaster (1950s):

Single-cutaway solid body with a butterscotch blonde finish (later available in other colors).
Ash or alder body.
Maple neck with a slab or one-piece design.
Black pickguard.
Single-coil pickups (initially Broadcaster, later renamed to Telecaster).

Telecaster Custom (1960s):

Bound body with a sunburst finish.
Double-bound body (later changed to single-bound in the mid-’60s).
Rosewood fretboard.
Two single-coil pickups.
Optional Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.

Telecaster Deluxe (1970s):

Solid body with a sunburst or blonde finish.
Dual humbucking pickups.
Optional rosewood or maple fretboard.
Wide range humbucking pickups introduced in 1972.
Available with a Stratocaster-style tremolo bridge.

Telecaster Thinline (1970s):

Semi-hollow body with an F-hole.
Two single-coil pickups.
Available with a natural finish or sunburst finish.
Maple or rosewood fretboard.

Telecaster Standard (1980s):

Single-cutaway solid body.
Alder body with various finishes.
Maple neck with a modern C-shape profile.
Two single-coil pickups.
Optional rosewood fretboard.

American Standard Telecaster (1980s – 2010s):

Single-cutaway solid body.
Alder or ash body.
Modern C-shaped maple neck.
Two single-coil pickups (later equipped with Custom Shop pickups).
Upgraded bridge with improved saddles and a six-saddle design.
Available in various finishes.

American Professional Telecaster (2017 – present):

Single-cutaway solid body.
Alder or ash body.
Deep “C” or modern “C” shaped maple neck.
Two V-Mod single-coil pickups.
Upgraded bridge with compensated brass saddles.
Treble bleed circuit and treble bleed tone capacitor.

Custom Shop Telecasters

Numerous limited editions, replicas, and artist models have been produced by Fender’s Custom Shop, featuring different pickups, finishes, neck profiles, and aging/relic treatments.

Signature, Special, Reissue

Fender has introduced various other signature editions, special runs, and reissues throughout the years.