1997 Fender Telecaster Thinline Special TN90-SPL Blue Baltic Vintage w/ USA Pickups, Japan CIJ

Up for sale, a 1997 Fender Telecaster Thinline model TN90-SPL in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, featuring an exceedingly rare Blue Baltic Vintage finish. Easily one of the most unique and most versatile wholly original Telecaster models to be produced by Fender Japan in sparingly small quantities (and offered for sale only to the Japanese domestic market), this discontinued model boasts a delightful array of pickups. Combining a traditional Tele control plate and smaller pickguard with the semi-hollow ash body of the Thinline model, this TN90-SPL model is loaded with a pair of factory-installed USA Fender Custom Shop Texas Special single coils as well as a Fender Dragster full-size humbucker in the neck position. Outfitted with a five-way pickup selector switch to take full advantage of the pickup complement, the TN90-SPL can be twangy and sparkling, honky and round, or thick and growly with the flip of a switch. The uniquely placed middle pickup pairs perfectly with the humbucker for added clarity or with the hot bridge pickup to create an ideal rhythm guitar tone. Featherweight at 5lbs 14oz, the guitar also takes full advantage of the complex midrange character of the ash body, with the more airy sound attributed to its semi-hollow construction. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar, we've dialed in this Tele with fresh 10-46 strings and low action. The one-piece maple neck has a medium U-shaped neck profile carve with pronounced shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .850" deep at the 1st fret and .940" at the 12th. The medium jumbo fretwire has plenty of meat, showing only light wear beneath the plain strings on the crowns of frets 1-4 and virtually no wear further up the fretboard. The scale length is 25 1/2", and the carved bone nut measures a full 1 11/16" in width. The headstock retains a classic Pre-CBS-style Tele logo and Kluson-style tuners that turn smoothly and hold pitch well. All of the electronics work as they should, with the pair of Fender Custom Shop Texas Special pickups and Dragster humbucker governed by a five-way pickup selector switch and Master Volume and Tone knobs. The chrome plating is gleaming on the control plate and knurled knobs, with only light surface patina on the bridge base. The bridge has steel barrel saddles, and this is one of the first "Crafted in Japan" era Telecasters with an A-prefix serial number embossed in the bridge plate. The finish is another completely unique Fender Japan creation christened Blue Baltic Vintage, and this blue burst is transparent, highlighting the broad grain of the ash body. Cosmetic wear includes some dings on the lower bout body edge and a few small finish chips through the clear coat on the body perimeter. Wear is otherwise limited to a few tiny marks and faint finish scratches in the clear coat, and the ambered gloss finish on the neck profile is flawless. The original Fender-branded gigbag is included.