Up for sale, a 1990 Fender Telecaster ‘52 vintage reissue model TL52-650SPL in exceptional, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. This uncommon Fender Japan model is a recreation of Keith Richard’s “Micawber” #1 Telecaster, with a six-saddle bridge, traditional Tele (TL-Vintage) flat-pole bridge pickup, full-size neck position humbucker with mounting ring, and tuning machines with buttons that resemble the Sperzels Keith had installed in the '80s.
Tonewoods include a white ash body and a one-piece maple neck, and this TL52-650SPL is naturally resonant and punchy at 10lbs 11oz. This guitar can easily deliver Keef’s cutting, powerful tones; offering smooth sustain and a dynamic, nuanced response with ample midrange heft, snappy, sparkling highs, and plenty of Tele twang with the bridge pickup favored. This Telecaster has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Slender C, full shoulders, measuring .830” 1st fret, .890” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Maple, 7 1/4” vintage-spec radius
-Frets: Slender, no wear
-Scale Length: 25 1/2”
-Nut: 1.650” (42mm), bone
-Tuners: Gotoh
-Serialization: “Made in Japan,” H-prefix, small blue “65” sticker denotes original model tier and price (¥65,000)
Body Specs:
-Wood: White ash
-Pickups: Dragster humbucker, TL-Vintage single coil
-Harness: Untouched solder, full-size Japanese pots date to March, 1990
-Hardware: Six-saddle brass bridge (brass block saddles), dome-top knurled knobs and control plate (chrome-plated)
-Plastics: Five-screw matte black pickguard, round switch tip
Cosmetic wear on the gloss Butterscotch Blonde finish is limited to one ding on top between the bridge and control plate, a couple faint marks along the lower bout perimeter, and a few finish scratches on the back that fall well short of “buckle rash." The smooth ambered gloss on the neck profile is flawless save for one shallow ding central to the carve behind fret 4 and a few marks along the bass-side shoulder that are not distracting to the palm while fretting.
A modern Fender gigbag is included.