Fender American Vintage '64 Telecaster Electric Guitar, with Rosewood Fingerboard and Case

No longer available at zZounds
Closely modeled on the '64 Telecaster -- one of the most sought-after in Fender's history -- this American Vintage Tele gushes with classic looks and tone.

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
American Vintage '64 Tele pickups Iconic Telecaster pickups; period-correct voicing
Original Vintage Tele bridge Threaded stainless saddles for sharper tone
Fender Flash Coat lacquer Thinner nitrocellulose finish extends natural tone
C-shaped neck profile Comfortable, rounded oval shape

1964 was a big year for the Fender Telecaster, as the model's new neck profile changed the way players approached the guitar. Today, Fender revisits that watershed model with a period-correct recreation in the American Vintage '64 Telecaster.

A Neck and Body True to the Era

In 1964, Fender began offering guitars with a C-shaped neck profile that was more compact in players' hands than the thicker necks found on late '50s and early '60s models. The American Vintage '64 Telecaster echoes that innovation with a maple neck carved in the same C-profile, topped with a rosewood fretboard and vintage style frets.

This Telecaster's body also hearkens back to 1964, with its alder or ash construction -- depending on the finish you choose. Both woods offer playing comfort and bright, snappy tone.

New Pickups Bring the Past to Life

One of the few new developments featured on the American Vintage '64 Telecaster are its pickups. Fender developed the Gray-Bottom single-coil pickups specifically for this model, to recreate the sound and response of its historic Telecasters. The pickups are wound to match the specs of the period and the bridge pickup includes staggered pole magnets, just like in the original 1964 Telecaster.

Fender History Preserved in Details

The American Vintage '64 Telecaster includes several subtle nods to its namesake year in its hardware. The three threaded steel "barrel" saddles run the strings through the body for improved resonance and sustain. Rounding read more out the historic look are a three-ply pickguard with vintage bevel, knurled flat-top master volume and tone control knobs and a top-hat style three-way pickup selector switch. Under the surface, Fender aficionados will appreciate the vintage-style truss rod, which is adjusted from the neck heel rather than at the headstock.

Features:

- Alder or ash body (depends on finish)
- Mid '60s C-shaped maple neck with rosewood fretboard
- Vintage-style frets
- Fender Gray-Bottom single-coil bridge pickup with staggered pole magnets
- Fender Gray-Bottom single-coil neck pickup
- Three-position pickup selector switch
- Master volume and tone controls
- Vintage-style Tele bridge with three threaded steel "barrel" saddles
- Single line "Fender Deluxe" tuners
- Vintage-style heel-adjust truss rods
- Case included

Revisit Fender history with the American Vintage '64 Telecaster.
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General:
- Model Name: American Vintage '64 Telecaster(R)
- Series: American Vintage

Body:
- Body: (800, 802) Alder (801) Ash
- Body Shape: Telecaster(R)
- Body Finish: (0111000800, 0111000801, 0111000802) Fender Flash Coat Lacquer

Neck:
- Neck Shape: Mid '60s "C" Shape
- Number of Frets: 21
- Fret Size: Vintage Style Frets
- Fretboard Radius: 7.25" (18.41 cm)
- Fretboard: Round Laminated Rosewood
- Neck Material: Maple
- Neck Finish: Fender Flash Coat Lacquer
- Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
- Scale Length: 25.5" (64.8 cm)
- Truss Rods: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust

Electronics:
- Pickup Configuration: S/S
- Bridge Pickup: American Vintage '64 Gray-Bottom Tele(R) Single-Coil Pickup (Bridge)
- Neck Pickup: American Vintage '64 Gray-Bottom Tele(R) Single-Coil Pickup (Neck)
- Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone

Hardware:
- Hardware: Chrome
- Bridge: Original Vintage Style Tele(R) Bridge with 3 Threaded Steel Saddles
- String Nut: Bone
- Tuning Machines: Single Line "Fender Deluxe" Vintage Style
- Switch Tip: "Top Hat" Style Switch Tip

Miscellaneous:
- Strings: Fender(R) USA 250R NPS, (.010-.046 Gauges)
- Unique Features: Slimmer, more rounded maple neck with "C"-shaped profile and round-laminated rosewood fingerboard with larger pearl dot inlays; pickups wound to period-correct specs and sound, with staggered bridge pickup pole magnets; Threaded steel "barrel" bridge saddles; "Top-hat" switch tip and flat-top knurled chrome control knobs

Accessories:
- Case/Gig Bag: Deluxe Vintage Brown Case
- Pickguards: 3-Ply White with Vintage Bevel
- Included Accessories: Vintage '64 Tele Strap, Cable, and Cloth; Vintage Wiring Kit, '60s Tele Information Kit, Bridge Cover, Owner's Manual, Saddle Height Wrench
- Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome Flat Top

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-488-1818

Fender American Vintage 64 Telecaster RW

1964 was a monumental year for popular music and a pivotal year for the Telecaster, too, as seen in the American Vintage '64 Telecaster. The thicker maple necks of the '50s and early '60s now gave way to a more rounded C-shaped profile, this time topped with a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard with larger pearl dot inlays. Other vintage-accurate touches include a lightweight alder body (ash on White Blonde model), staggered bridge pickup pole magnets, threaded steel "barrel" bridge saddles, three-ply white pickguard with eight holes, top-hat switch tip, flat-top knurled chrome control knobs and more.

The American Vintage series introduces a lineup of original-era model year guitars that bring Fender history and heritage to authentic and exciting life. With key features and pivotal design elements spanning the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, American Vintage series instruments delve deep into Fender's roots -- expertly preserving an innovative U.S. guitar-making legacy and vividly demonstrating like never before that Fender not only knows where it's going, but also remembers where it came from.

The American Vintage Series has long presented some of Fender's best selling guitars (their early-'80s introduction, in fact, was one of the first signs that Fender was "back" as the CBS era ended). Today, Fender has boldly cleared the slate to make way for a fresh American Vintage series with features, specs and the most meticulous level of vintage accuracy yet. Rather than just replacing the previous models with different ones, we've completely and comprehensively re-imagined the entire vintage-reissue concept -- restoring original tooling dies, voicing pickups, reformulating vintage colors and more--based on actual vintage guitars we tracked down to make sure we had it right. We did the work, and it shows, because there's pure tonal magic in each American Vintage instrument.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. (3 ratings)
Submitted May 13, 2018 by a customer from yahoo.com in Dardenne Prairie, MO

"Very true to the original"

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
My wife bought me this guitar for Christmas. I had a original 63' back in the day and this guitar is VERY close to the original specs of that one, although it was VERY well worn. It has the smaller frets and and came with heavier strings than I like but...Im getting into the feel of the heavier strings. When I get back to .009's I really FLY! The neck is a tad thicker than my 52' AVRI but the original 63' was almost exactly the same size if my memory serves me correctly. With the pick ups and saddles this guitar gives you the TELLY TWANG that you want. The only negatives I can say is the Fender fit and finish could be better. The high E side of the nut is slightly hanging over the neck of the guitar and the low E side slightly moved off the frets board. Not a huge repair but for what you it should be right! Also the pickquard was installed OVER THE SELECTOR/KNOB PLATE???? I thought the selector plate holes were probably going to be off but they weren't. I took the screws out, move the plate down, the pick guard fell into place and I put the screws back in.... Why should a new owner have to do this Fender? But even with those two annoyances this guitar rocks! I love the American Vintage Re-issue series. I hear Fender did away with them.... BOO!

Musical Background:

40 + year Professional.

Musical Style:

Rock, Country, Blues.
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