2002 Fender '62 Telecaster Custom TL62B-75TX, Candy Apple Red w/ USA Pickups, Japan CIJ

Up for sale, a 2002 Fender Telecaster Custom ‘62 vintage reissue model TL62B-75TX in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with factory-installed Fender USA-made Texas Special pickups. This “Crafted in Japan” Tele is an uncommon model, produced only for the Japanese domestic market, featuring a gloss Candy Apple Red finish framed by white top and back binding on the alder body.A pickup that has a bit more kick than a traditional Tele while still retaining the twang, snap, and snarl associated with those hallowed single coils, the Texas Special is a perfect choice for a wide range of genres. Even with the slightly increased output from the pickups, the guitar has Fender's signature clarity and chime, with a biting treble response in the bridge position and smooth, sweet tones at the neck. The guitar weighs 7lbs 15oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action and accurate intonation.The maple neck has a chunky C-shaped profile carve with generous shoulder in every register and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .875” deep at the 1st fret and .995” at the 12th. The slab rosewood fretboard has Fender’s traditional 7 1/4” radius, and the original slender fretwire is intact, showing moderate wear beneath the strings on frets 1-3 with wear extending and growing lighter beneath the plain strings until fret 12. This guitar plays cleanly in all registers up the 25 1/2" scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1.650” (42mm) in width. On the headstock, the Kluson-style tuners turn smoothly and hold stable pitch. The “Crafted in Japan” text and Q-prefix serial are present above the four-bolt neck plate.All of the electronics work as they should, with the USA-made Texas Special pickups wired to the original harness with untouched solder joints. Hardware includes the “Pat. Pending” bridge base, augmented with compensated saddles for optimal intonation. The flat-topped knurled knobs and control plate which have gleaming chrome plating. The three-ply pale mint green pickguard rounds out the plastics, with light scuffing on the treble side of the strum path.This particular iteration of Candy Apple Red is abbreviated "OCR" in the Fender Japan catalog for Old Candy Apple Red, denoting a darker and more vintage-correct shade of this classic custom color than previous Fender Japan offerings. Cosmetic wear on the finish includes some dings along the lower bout body edge, and a handful of additional small nicks and faint finish scratches on the body as a whole. The smooth ambered gloss on the neck profile is flawless.A padded gigbag is included.