1990 Fender Telecaster TLM-55 Medium Scale Butterscotch, Ash Body, Japan MIJ Fujigen

Up for sale, a 1990 Fender Telecaster model TLM-55 in exceptional condition and in perfect working order, 100% original save for an upgraded wiring harness. A rare “Made in Japan” model produced at the famed Fujigen factory and only offered in the domestic Japanese market, this Tele features a 22 fret maple fingerboard with a modern 10" radius, 24 3/4" scale length, and medium jumbo fretwire, all features engineered for effortless playability.Tonewoods include a sen ash body and maple neck, and the natural articulation and sonic authority of this pairing translates well via the Hotrod-5T single coil pickups. The Hotrod-5Ts deliver chewy twang and articulate single coil snap, with crystal clear bite at the bridge and articulate, bell-like fullness at the neck. This Tele weighs 8lbs 9oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and spot-on intonation.The maple neck has a very slender D-shaped profile carve with generous shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .725” deep at the 1st fret and .840” at the 12th. The 22 fret maple fretboard has a modern 10" (250mm) radius, retaining the stock medium jumbo fretwire. The frets are in great shape with well-rounded crowns, showing only light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-5. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4” scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The stock nut measures 40mm (1 9/16") in width. The headstock features a block Telecaster logo, and the original Gotoh tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch with clean chrome plating. The “Made in Japan” text and K-prefix serial are present above the four-bolt neck plate with micro-tilt adjustment, and the bold model stamps are present on the neck heel and in the pocket.All the electronics function as intended, with the original Hotrod-5T pickup pair wired to an upgraded harness with modern USA-made Emerson pots and a paper-in-oil tone cap. All of the chrome-plated hardware is notably clean, including the dome-top knurled knobs, control plate, and six-saddle bridge with block saddles. The three-ply black pickguard and switch tip round out the plastics.The gloss Butterscotch finish highlights the grain in the sen ash body with just a touch of ambering in the clear coat. This is an exceedingly well-kept example, with cosmetic wear limited to a small area of very light buckle rash at the waist on the back, and a handful of faint scratches in the clear coat of the gloss on the body as a whole. There are a few small, isolated spots of wear through the gloss finish in the higher registers of the fretboard, while the gloss on the neck profile is immaculate.The original Fender-branded gigbag is included.