Was the TL-69 one of the coolest things fender ever did? Would you be interested in a series available in the United States?

[acstorfer]

Was the Fender TL-69 Telecaster Vintage Reissue series one of the coolest things Fender ever done?




While I am a tad bit bias, oh hell yes, the TL-69 Series was one of the coolest, if not the coolest thing Fender ever done.

Sure, sure, pink paisley and blue pretty flowers isn't everyone's cup o'tea, but the rosewood, my God, the freaking rosewood!!!!!

Unfortunately, it's just another example of us players in the United States once again getting screwed. We never get the choices or prices enjoyed by the rest of the world! SARCASM! SARCASM! SARCASM!

 

[Jullecaster]

The paisleys are cool and quirky.

I never got the rosewood tele thing though. Ymmv but seems very impractical and is... just really really brown?

And its only claim to fame is the association with George Harrison. He allegedly hated it with a white-hot passion.

 

[tonfarbe]

Unfortunately, it's just another example of us players in the United States once again getting screwed. We never get the choices or prices enjoyed by the rest of the world! SARCASM! SARCASM! SARCASM!

Sorry, but can’t resist.
Fender products are more expensive outside of the US.
For example, the White Jazzmaster witch hat knobs cost 39,99 $ on Fender US website while on the German Website they are listed for a whopping 57,99 €. That’s almost double the price.

 

[yegbert]

Maybe a good Squier Tele series, but might have to use a name that doesn’t cause any legal issue. And Chicago Music Exchange has a ‘70s Custom as an FSR, but I’d personally like to see one in Antigua; and while you’re at it, make that one a ‘69 or ‘72 Thinline style, or weight relieved similarly.

 

[JDB2]

I vote YES

 

[Brent Hutto]

Given that I hate (maybe not with a George Harrison white-hot passion, but still hate) basswood as a guitar wood, three-barrel Tele saddles and printed designs on guitar bodies those two paisley print ones are the farthest thing from cool, in my book.

As for the rosewood body, I'll bet that sucker weighs at least 10 or 11 pounds, maybe more. Yikes!

So no, I'll take a hard pass on those, thanks.

 

[netgear69]

Japan guitars are great not just the Fender ones some of the stuff from the 70's from Ibanez are works of art

 

[Telecaster88]

I'd rock a Blue Flower.

 

[Sparky2]

 

[Brent Hutto]

Yes!

...errr, I mean No!

P.S. I swear I made exactly that face when I looked at those paisley prints.

 

[Lou Tencodpees]

I don't mind showy guitars but paisley is pretty far down my lust list. I've played exactly one rosewood Tele some years back, I believe it was a Fender Japan build. I really wanted to like it, but found it pretty strident and awfully heavy.

 

[OldTelePlayer]

Never did much care for the looks of the paisley.

Rosewood body? Nope, not so much either.

 

[Ti-Ron]

Oh, I would totally rock one!

 

[mimmo]

I'd get a pink paisley Tele in a heartbeat if the price is not an insult. I have all the Tele I want or need, but a pink one could find its place.

 

[johnb]

The paisley models? Made for the era of psychedelia. The pink was perfect for The Strawberry Alarm Clock.

 

[Jullecaster]

The paisley models? Made for the era of psychedelia. The pink was perfect for The Strawberry Alarm Clock.

Psychedelia and just maybe a bit of Indie... Murph of The Wombats fame is making good use of them. Fits their quirky, tongue-in-cheek vibe.

 

[drmordo]

I like them all, but probly not enough to own one.

 

[scotabilly]

I had a CIJ (early-mid 2000’s) Fender pink paisley. Wanted to love it, but it was heavy, the neck was a funny D shape, and the pickups were not great.
So I sold it.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

I had a MIJ Pink Paisley because of Al Anderson. 94-ish ?

Mine was basswood/superlight/ had a nice medium deep neck and needed better wires and pots. Pickups might have been ok with the right stuff connected to them.

It didn’t stick around long enough for that to happen

 

[yegbert]

I bought on eBay and still have a set of pickups I was told were pulls from a blue flower TL-69, and they look identical to the ones from my friend’s early 52RI, skinny vinyl insulated leads, flatpoles, black cloth string wrapped over windings. Mine on the left, his (kept as a momento, it’s now passed away like him ) on the right. They are: just under 6K bridge, just over 6K neck - great sounding, keepers.