CBS TELECASTERS
Telecaster Series CBS (1968-1971)
Colors:
STANDARD: Sunburst
CUSTOM: Blonde - Black - Lake Placid Blue - Sonic Blue - Firemist Gold - Firemist Silver - Olympic White - Ocean Turquoise - Candy Apple Red
BODY
Wood: Ash or Alder
Binding: White Top and Bottom
Lacquer: Thick Skin Polyester/Polyurethane
Shape: Telecaster Standard
Pickguard: 8 Hole / 3-Ply Laminated Vinyl ABS Plastic
Serial: Stamped on Neckplate
NECK
Wood: Maple
Decal: Black CBS Logo w/ Gold Trim + "Telecaster" Made in USA
Fretboard Wood: Rosewood or Maple (since 1969)
Lacquer: Polyurethane (Nitro on Headstock)
Profile: Medium "C"
Headstock: Standard Tele
Nut Width: 1.650" (42mm) +/-
Scale: 25.5"
Radius: 7.25"
#Frets: 21
Fretwire: 6230 Vintage Frets
Trussrod: Vintage Heel Adjust
Bolt-On Type: 4-Bolt w/ Plastic Bracket
HARDWARE
Bridge Type: 3-Saddle Vintage String-trough Bridge / Ashtray Cover
Bridge Marking: "FENDER Pat.No DES.164227 / 2.573.254"
Saddle: Slotted Steel Saddles
Tuners: "F" Tuners
String Tree: 2 X Butterfly (Since 1971)
Neckplate: Blank Plate
Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
ELECTRONICS
Switch: 3-Way CRL / Barrel Switch-Tip
Wiring: Standard B/BN/N (PVC wires)
Capacitor: 50V / .05uf Dime Capacitor
Pickup Config: SS
Neck Pickup: Vintage Single Coil Staggered Machine Wound w/ Cover
Bridge Pickup: Vintage Single Coil Staggered Machine Wound
CASE: Fender Black Hardshell Plush lined Case (for additional charge)
INFO
By 1968, The CBS-era Telecaster transformation had become almost full-circle
- Polyurethane instead of Nitro
- Modern Wiring
- F-Tuners
- Slotted Steel Saddles
- Machine wound pickups (Gradually) on Grey Bobbins
- PVC Plastic wires replaces Cloth wires
From 1968 onwards, it remained virtually unchanged. Sunburst was the default color if you ordered one and custom color was only by request for an up-charge. The amount of Custom colors dwindled to half what they started with at the end.
CHANGES: 68-79
1969: One-piece Maple Neck offered for Custom for the first time
1971: Fender starts to use Two Butterfly String Retainers
