Fender Telecaster Custom with Bigsby Solid Body Electric Guitar (1968), ser. #219957, original black tolex hard shell case.

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Fender Telecaster Custom with Bigsby Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1968), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 219957, sunburst finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case. This superbly well-preserved Telecaster Custom was built just 3 years after Fender became CBS/Fender. It is factory fitted with a Bigsby vibrato, a fairly rare sighting on a bound-body Tele. The neck date is January 1968 and the pots are coded to the 42nd week of 1966. The features of the Telecaster Custom from this era include a wide bevel 3-ply laminated white plastic pickguard (replacing the earlier 3-ply greenish nitrocellulose) with a slightly heavier 3-tone sunburst lacquer finish, the then-new "big" logo decal (supposedly instituted by CBS so the guitar would be more recognizable on TV) and the new-style Fender-made "F plate" tuners. The Telecaster Custom is distinguished from the standard by its body with bound edges, usually finished in sunburst. These were introduced in 1959 and always made in much smaller quantities than standard blonde Teles. They were somewhat more expensive, flashier looking but offered the same sonic character. This one is further distinguished by Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, which in early 1968 was a recently introduced extra-cost option for the Telecaster. This guitar is medium weight for a later '60s alder body Telecaster at under 8 1/2 lbs.; the Bigsby adds some noticeable weight bit it still handles perfectly. The very comfortable slim neck has a lovely lacquer finish with some checking but minimal wear, much thinner than the Polyester used the next year. The sunburst lacquer on the bound body has a lovely deep and vibrant red hue, with virtually no fade. This is a supremely cool and rather rare 1960s Telecaster variation, in superb all original undisturbed condition playing and sounding as great as it looks! Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 i