< Back

CBS TELECASTERS

BODY

Wood: Two Slab Rosewood w/ Thin Maple Veneer between.

Lacquer: Gloss Urethane

Shape: Telecaster Standard

Pickguard: 3-Ply Black, 8-Hole

Serial: Stamped on Neck Plate / 6-digit

NECK

Wood: Rosewood 1-Piece

Fretboard Wood:  Rosewood

Skunk Stripe: Maple

Lacquer: Gloss Polyurethane

Profile: Medium "C"

Headstock: Standard Tele

Fret Inlay: Pearloid Dots

Nut Width: 1 5/8” (41.3mm) +/-

Scale: 25.5"

Radius: 7.25”

#Frets: 21

Fretwire: 6230 Vintage Frets

Trussrod: Single Action Heel Adjust

Bolt-On Type: 4-Bolt 

HARDWARE

Bridge: 3-Saddle Vintage Bridge + Ashtray Cover

Bridge Marking: "FENDER Pat.No DES.164227 / 2.573.254"

Saddles: Steel Barrel Saddles

Tuners: Schaller “F” Tuners

String Tree:  Butterfly

Neckplate: 4-Bolt “F” Plate

Knobs: Knurled Dome

Control Plate: Standard Chrome

ELECTRONICS

Switch: 3-Way / Top-Hat Switch tip

Wiring: Standard Wiring (B/BN/N)  Green Cloth (often)

Pots: 

1 x CTS 250k Master Volume

1 x CTS 250k Master Tone

Capacitor: 50V / .05uf  Ceramic Disk

Pickup Config: SS

Neck Pickup: Standard Black Bobbin Pickups

Bridge Pickup: Standard Black Bobbin Pickups

CASE:: Fender Black Hardshell Case

INFO:

The Rosewood was a Roger Rossmeisl & Philip Kubicki creation. One of the First two ended up in the hands of George Harrison that he used in The Beatles last live appearence at the rooftop concert. George disliked the guitar and gave it away in the end.

This model quickly ended up in the Fender Pricelist in early 1969, but there was no promotion or PR issued by Fender of it, and very few were actually sold. It cost $100 more than a regular Telecaster as well and was just listed as “Telecaster Dual Pickups, Rosewood” So few people did not know what this thing was and not many had seen Harrison wield one. It was taken off the price list early 1970 just after a few months, but appeared again in 1971 and was again de-listed by the end of the same year.

There are three differences between the retail Rosewood and Harrisons Tele.
— Harrison´s had a satin based lacquer while retail was all gloss.

—  Harrison’s Tele had 4 peices of wood, two slabs in front and two slabs in the back with a maple veneer sandwiched between. Retail had two solid slabs.
—  Harrison´s Tele had a Rosewood glued  Cap neck whereas retail version was all solid Rosewood.

— Harrisons´s Tele had more chambering done  for more weight reduction

Due to price, it was not a major seller. And those who appear today comes with a hefty price tag. The guitars weight up to 10lbs (4.5kg) and up and are very bright.