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cmm71 · November 7th, 2009, 03:55 PM

Quick question: When did rosewood make it's first appearance on the Tele? I can assume it was late 50s/early 60s. I'm planning to build another tele but this time I want a blonde tele with rosewood board. I kind of want the guitar to "qualify" historically...if that makes sense. Not that I'm trying to fool anyone but I just want the guitar to have a historical base.

mellecaster · November 7th, 2009, 04:31 PM

1959

Mark Davis · November 7th, 2009, 04:40 PM

Mid 1959 Telecaster specs:

Slab Rosewood fingerboard.
Neck now has a very thin "D" backshape. As 1959 progresses, the neck backshape gets thinner. By the end of 1959, the neck has an extremely thin backshape.
Single layer thick white pickguard (though some custom color Teles used three layer celluloid mint green pickguard, as also used on the Custom Telecaster).
Number of pickguard screws increases from five to eight.
"Custom Telecaster" introduced with body binding, sunburst finish, and three layer celluloid mint green pickguard. The first few models have a peghead logo the same as a regular Telecaster. Then a gold spaghetti peghead decal reads "Custom Telecaster" (not Telecaster Custom!), with the model name lettering slightly bolder than a regular Telecaster. Earliest Custom Telecaster date I have seen is 4/59, but there are rumors of some early 1959 Custom Teles with a regular "Telecaster" (instead of "Telecaster Custom") peghead decal.
Brown paper rectangle tone cap changes to a white "chicklet" paper tone capacitor.

redcurtis · November 7th, 2009, 04:51 PM

I think "why" is the better question. Maple is the only way to go. (Unless you're George Harrison on a roof somewhere).

JackStraw · November 7th, 2009, 04:55 PM

Leo did not like the wear on the Maple boards and so the switch to the slab Rosewood board.

43mmNut · November 7th, 2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcurtis

I think "why" is the better question. Maple is the only way to go. (Unless you're George Harrison on a roof somewhere).

Groovey Records · November 7th, 2009, 04:56 PM

only slightly off topic were all the 59's toploaders?

cmm71 · November 7th, 2009, 05:06 PM

I hope not, I don't want a build a top loader.

BritishBluesBoy · November 7th, 2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

only slightly off topic were all the 59's toploaders?

No.

BritishBluesBoy · November 7th, 2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcurtis

I think "why" is the better question. Maple is the only way to go. (Unless you're George Harrison on a roof somewhere).

Ughhhh.. Really??

absaroke · November 7th, 2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcurtis

I think "why" is the better question. Maple is the only way to go. (Unless you're George Harrison on a roof somewhere).

I actually prefer rosewood or ebony fingerboards. And while I'm not George Harrison, I do enjoy the occasional rooftop session.

Telemarkman · November 7th, 2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackStraw

Leo did not like the wear on the Maple boards and so the switch to the slab Rosewood board.

I don't think Leo cared, but players complained and Fender sales reps brought the complaints to Leo.

Dave Hopping · November 7th, 2009, 06:05 PM

Those maple necks would show finger wear if you even looked at them,and were a constant source of serious annoyance.Players were delighted to see the change to rosewood,and aside from the very few who special ordered the maple fingerboard option(not mentioned anywhere in Fender advertising),nobody missed maple at all until sometime after the sale to CBS.

Telemarkman · November 7th, 2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Hopping

nobody missed maple at all until sometime after the sale to CBS.

Well, 0le FUZZY sure did

... Hee, hee!

Dave Hopping · November 7th, 2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Well, 0le FUZZY sure did

... Hee, hee!

I need to get some stilts so I can REALLY stand corrected.Yew gawt thet wun rite,Telemarkman.

Telemarkman · November 7th, 2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Hopping

I need to get some stilts so I can REALLY stand corrected.Yew gawt thet wun rite,Telemarkman.

BluesBrother · November 7th, 2009, 06:35 PM

This is slight off topic.. But what is the best book for Fender history?

Groovey Records · November 7th, 2009, 06:37 PM

Not a book but a great free resource you like FREE?

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

chezdeluxe · November 7th, 2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

I don't think Leo cared, but players complained and Fender sales reps brought the complaints to Leo.

A GP article of many,many years ago stated that Leo saw a worn and dirty maple board being played on a TV show and didn't think it presented a favourable image of his product.

brokenjoe · November 7th, 2009, 06:50 PM

Hard to believe, what with all of this relic-ing craze going on- but there was a time when folks actually liked their instruments to look pristine.

Neck wear was a sign that you couldn't afford anything better. Just like the Kroc brothers used to buy brand new Caddies every year, a lot of guitarists would buy a brand new guitar as the new ones arrived.

Telemarkman · November 7th, 2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chezdeluxe

A GP article of many,many years ago stated that Leo saw a worn and dirty maple board being played on a TV show and didn't think it presented a favourable image of his product.

It's too late to ask him now, but most sources tell a different story.

Leo was a tough man to convince, but seeing it with his own eyes may have changed his mind about a rosewood fretboard.

Anyway, the Jazzmaster was the first model to be sporting a rosewood fretboard in 1958. The Telecaster and the Stratocaster followed the next year.

cmm71 · November 7th, 2009, 07:06 PM

So I think I'll give rosewood a try and call it a '59ish Tele. My body is a very light yellow, not quite white, and I think by 59 most of the blonde teles had gone almost completely white so mine will not be exactly period correct.

BritishBluesBoy · November 7th, 2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmm71

So I think I'll give rosewood a try and call it a '59ish Tele. My body is a very light yellow, not quite white, and I think by 59 most of the blonde teles had gone almost completely white so mine will not be exactly period correct.

Have a look at this real '59. I guess with age the nitro has yellowed.

It's what I loosely based this build on:

mellecaster · November 7th, 2009, 08:00 PM

Triple B..that one you did is one FINE Lookin Guitar !!

BritishBluesBoy · November 7th, 2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Triple B..that one you did is one FINE Lookin Guitar !!

Thanks!! I think so too!!

Telemarkman · November 8th, 2009, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Triple B..that one you did is one FINE Lookin Guitar !!

Yup, love it!

sonny wolf · November 8th, 2009, 08:44 AM

In late 1959 they switched over to rosewood for both Strats and Teles.Interestingly,the year before,they had introduced the Jazzmaster...it is the first production Fender to have a rosewood fretboard.Maybe this inspired Fender to switch over to rosewood.Maybe they felt that since it is more common as a fretboard wood,it would boost sales(???).Maple necks were still available as a custom order...though it was a maple fretboard glued onto a maple neck.As for your color being too yellow for a 1959...I have seen a lot of late 50s and 60s Teles that aged into a very yellow butterscotch color.They left the factory somewhat beige but the nitro lacquer aged quite dramatically on some.I personally prefer that yellow color way more than the paler beige color.Think of the Tele used in The Crossroads movie with Ralph Machio.That is a late 60s model that turned really yellow.

Telemarkman · November 8th, 2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonny wolf

In late 1959 they switched over to rosewood for both Strats and Teles.Interestingly,the year before,they had introduced the Jazzmaster...it is the first production Fender to have a rosewood fretboard.

Just what I said in an earlier post

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Anyway, the Jazzmaster was the first model to be sporting a rosewood fretboard in 1958. The Telecaster and the Stratocaster followed the next year.

setlow · November 8th, 2009, 11:29 AM

Had a 59 maple neck top loader in the late 60s. My first maple neck. Had it for a couple of years and moved on to a succession of standard 50s teles, all gone now. It wasn't my favorite to play but it had a great bridge pickup. A real screamer. I recall playing in a club with that guitar and a Twin on 10(!) Amazing I can hear anything at all.

tdowns · November 8th, 2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcurtis

I think "why" is the better question. Maple is the only way to go. (Unless you're George Harrison on a roof somewhere).

It is until you do your first refret. After that, a rosewood fretboard is your friend.

setlow · November 8th, 2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdowns

It is until you do your first refret. After that, a rosewood fretboard is your friend.

I let the 59 go after getting a botched fret job. Didn't turn me off to maple necks. Did turn me off to fret jobs.

telideli · November 8th, 2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackStraw

Leo did not like the wear on the Maple boards and so the switch to the slab Rosewood board.

Little did he know that Fender would be intentionally putting out "worn" products one day.

tboy · November 8th, 2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

only slightly off topic were all the 59's toploaders?

Here's my main. '59, never been a top loader. Great slab. All orig, except for a rewind bridge pup. I think the neck is marked early '59. Haven't had it apart in a while. I'm pretty sure of it's history back to '59, certain to early 60's.

BritishBluesBoy · November 8th, 2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tboy

Oh my... That's beautiful...

cmm71 · November 8th, 2009, 03:11 PM

That is gorgeous!

newtwanger · November 8th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tboy

Here's my main. '59, never been a top loader. Great slab. All orig, except for a rewind bridge pup. I think the neck is marked early '59. Haven't had it apart in a while. I'm pretty sure of it's history back to '59, certain to early 60's.

In 59 is there a loose rule to know which had 8 hole guards and which were 5 hole?
I know Esquires went years later than Teles with the 5 hole guards.

newmachine · November 8th, 2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by absaroke

I actually prefer rosewood or ebony fingerboards. And while I'm not George Harrison, I do enjoy the occasional rooftop session.

hey, I thought I'm the only one....

Telemarkman · November 8th, 2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtwanger

In 59 is there a loose rule to know which had 8 hole guards and which were 5 hole?
I know Esquires went years later than Teles with the 5 hole guards.

The Custom Telecaster, which was introduced in 1959, was the first Tele to be equipped with a "nitrate green" 3-ply guard, but the first ones were 5-holes just like the 1-ply white ones.

During the summer of '59 all guards, whether 3-ply green or 1-ply white, were changed to 8-holes.

Maybe the Esquire was an exeption, but I've seen pics of Esquires from both 1960 and 1961 with an 8-hole pickguard.

tboy · November 9th, 2009, 10:28 AM

Thanks BBB & cmm. I truly appreciate being it's caretaker for my time here. Got it from a long-time friend back in the 90's for a song. Light as a feather. Rings like a bell. It comes out to the gig nearly every weekend.

Regarding the 5 screw guard, As Telemarkman wrote, by summer of 59, all had gone to 8 holes, both the single and 3 ply styles. By mid 59, the slab boards came in, so this one must have been right on the cusp of changing to rosewood and going to 8 holes. May or June, 59.

redcurtis · November 9th, 2009, 10:44 AM

I'll admit, sometimes the rosewood does look better. Unrelated question: why do you never see an acoustic guitar with a maple board?

November 7th, 2009, 03:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
cmm71 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Age: 37 Posts: 67	Tele History: When did rosewood boards first appear? Quick question: When did rosewood make it's first appearance on the Tele? I can assume it was late 50s/early 60s. I'm planning to build another tele but this time I want a blonde tele with rosewood board. I kind of want the guitar to "qualify" historically...if that makes sense. Not that I'm trying to fool anyone but I just want the guitar to have a historical base.

November 7th, 2009, 04:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
mellecaster VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 7,666 17 Photos	1959 __________________ Expert Repair....ReCrafting...and Set-ups Making your World a Better Place...One Guitar at a time

November 7th, 2009, 04:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 59 Posts: 17,168	Mid 1959 Telecaster specs: Slab Rosewood fingerboard. Neck now has a very thin "D" backshape. As 1959 progresses, the neck backshape gets thinner. By the end of 1959, the neck has an extremely thin backshape. Single layer thick white pickguard (though some custom color Teles used three layer celluloid mint green pickguard, as also used on the Custom Telecaster). Number of pickguard screws increases from five to eight. "Custom Telecaster" introduced with body binding, sunburst finish, and three layer celluloid mint green pickguard. The first few models have a peghead logo the same as a regular Telecaster. Then a gold spaghetti peghead decal reads "Custom Telecaster" (not Telecaster Custom!), with the model name lettering slightly bolder than a regular Telecaster. Earliest Custom Telecaster date I have seen is 4/59, but there are rumors of some early 1959 Custom Teles with a regular "Telecaster" (instead of "Telecaster Custom") peghead decal. Brown paper rectangle tone cap changes to a white "chicklet" paper tone capacitor. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

November 7th, 2009, 04:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Groovey Records Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Desolation Row Posts: 1,513	only slightly off topic were all the 59's toploaders? __________________ Yeah but you should of heard what I was trying to play-Thelonius Monk EnJoY ThE MuSiC GrooVey RecOrds

November 7th, 2009, 06:35 PM	#17 (permalink)
BluesBrother TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sweden Posts: 31	This is slight off topic.. But what is the best book for Fender history? __________________ "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas. Half a pack of cigarettes. It's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." "Hit it."

November 7th, 2009, 04:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
redcurtis Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: ottawa Posts: 191	I think "why" is the better question. Maple is the only way to go. (Unless you're George Harrison on a roof somewhere).

November 7th, 2009, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
JackStraw Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Age: 53 Posts: 295	Leo did not like the wear on the Maple boards and so the switch to the slab Rosewood board.

November 7th, 2009, 05:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
cmm71 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Age: 37 Posts: 67	I hope not, I don't want a build a top loader.

November 7th, 2009, 06:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dave Hopping Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Aurora,Colorado Posts: 1,438	Those maple necks would show finger wear if you even looked at them,and were a constant source of serious annoyance.Players were delighted to see the change to rosewood,and aside from the very few who special ordered the maple fingerboard option(not mentioned anywhere in Fender advertising),nobody missed maple at all until sometime after the sale to CBS.

November 7th, 2009, 06:37 PM	#18 (permalink)
Groovey Records Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Desolation Row Posts: 1,513	Not a book but a great free resource you like FREE? http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html __________________ Yeah but you should of heard what I was trying to play-Thelonius Monk EnJoY ThE MuSiC GrooVey RecOrds

November 7th, 2009, 06:50 PM	#20 (permalink)
brokenjoe Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Toronto Age: 47 Posts: 1,593	Hard to believe, what with all of this relic-ing craze going on- but there was a time when folks actually liked their instruments to look pristine. Neck wear was a sign that you couldn't afford anything better. Just like the Kroc brothers used to buy brand new Caddies every year, a lot of guitarists would buy a brand new guitar as the new ones arrived. __________________ "Son, always eat your vegetables.... and stay away from those whole tone scales!!"

November 7th, 2009, 07:06 PM	#22 (permalink)
cmm71 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Age: 37 Posts: 67	So I think I'll give rosewood a try and call it a '59ish Tele. My body is a very light yellow, not quite white, and I think by 59 most of the blonde teles had gone almost completely white so mine will not be exactly period correct.

November 7th, 2009, 08:00 PM	#24 (permalink)
mellecaster VENDOR Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 7,666 17 Photos	Triple B..that one you did is one FINE Lookin Guitar !! __________________ Expert Repair....ReCrafting...and Set-ups Making your World a Better Place...One Guitar at a time

November 8th, 2009, 08:44 AM	#27 (permalink)
sonny wolf TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: austin texas Age: 37 Posts: 63	In late 1959 they switched over to rosewood for both Strats and Teles.Interestingly,the year before,they had introduced the Jazzmaster...it is the first production Fender to have a rosewood fretboard.Maybe this inspired Fender to switch over to rosewood.Maybe they felt that since it is more common as a fretboard wood,it would boost sales(???).Maple necks were still available as a custom order...though it was a maple fretboard glued onto a maple neck.As for your color being too yellow for a 1959...I have seen a lot of late 50s and 60s Teles that aged into a very yellow butterscotch color.They left the factory somewhat beige but the nitro lacquer aged quite dramatically on some.I personally prefer that yellow color way more than the paler beige color.Think of the Tele used in The Crossroads movie with Ralph Machio.That is a late 60s model that turned really yellow.

November 8th, 2009, 11:29 AM	#29 (permalink)
setlow TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 30	Had a 59 maple neck top loader in the late 60s. My first maple neck. Had it for a couple of years and moved on to a succession of standard 50s teles, all gone now. It wasn't my favorite to play but it had a great bridge pickup. A real screamer. I recall playing in a club with that guitar and a Twin on 10(!) Amazing I can hear anything at all.

November 8th, 2009, 03:11 PM	#35 (permalink)
cmm71 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane, WA Age: 37 Posts: 67	That is gorgeous!

November 9th, 2009, 10:28 AM	#39 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 1,285 18 Photos	Thanks BBB & cmm. I truly appreciate being it's caretaker for my time here. Got it from a long-time friend back in the 90's for a song. Light as a feather. Rings like a bell. It comes out to the gig nearly every weekend. Regarding the 5 screw guard, As Telemarkman wrote, by summer of 59, all had gone to 8 holes, both the single and 3 ply styles. By mid 59, the slab boards came in, so this one must have been right on the cusp of changing to rosewood and going to 8 holes. May or June, 59.

November 9th, 2009, 10:44 AM	#40 (permalink)
redcurtis Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: ottawa Posts: 191	I'll admit, sometimes the rosewood does look better. Unrelated question: why do you never see an acoustic guitar with a maple board?

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