Every once in a while, a guitar comes through the shop that just makes you stop and say, "wow." This 1957 Telecaster in "Custom Red" falls directly into that category. Few guitars have captured the attention of players for as long as the Fender Telecaster, partially because few electric guitars preceded the Telecaster's existence, but also because when you pick up an incredible Telecaster, nothing else comes close.
This example from 1957 is all original, down to the Custom Red finish, hailing from an era before Fender had solidified their choices for custom colors, leading to a number of different names for similar colors: the closest modern color this guitar could be compared to is Fiesta Red.
The neck is the perfect late '50s transitional soft V shape, leading to a slightly more Strat-ish feel than earlier Teles, but it adds to the incredible playability that these late '50s Fenders are known for, with a slightly less baseball bat feel than an early '50s Telecaster. The finish on the neck is in good condition, with a decent amount of finger wear. The frets are nice and comfortable and play great.
Visually, the body is in good shape as well, with the usual wear on each of the bouts, including a good amount of wear on the back, but it just adds to the vibe of this incredible guitar.
The original black bottom pickups are incredible sounding, with a warm, present tone that is both extremely punchy and still smooth, something often only Telecasters can accomplish. The wiring is traditional to '50s Teles, with the "dark" circuit intact in the up position, then the neck pickup, then the bridge pickup. All sound great.
Serial #-20333 comes with the original tweed case and bridge cover.
