Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $2,993

High-end/Boutique

$500

$1201+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

Introducing the Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar, a timeless beauty that fuses classic design and modern playability. Loved by musicians from country twangers to indie rockers, this semi-hollow guitar delivers a unique warmth and rounded tone that sets it apart in the revered Telecaster lineup.

Reviving the sophistication of its 60s predecessor, this modern rendition of the Telecaster Thinline boasts a well-crafted semi-hollow body that enhances sound resonance, producing a tone that's as elegant as its appearance. Whether you're strumming soft melodies or shredding powerful riffs, this guitar is guaranteed to deliver clear, rich sound.

The guitar is equipped with Tim Shaw designed 60s Telecaster Thinline pickups, creating an authentic late sixties vibe in every note. Its 21 Vintage Tall frets and a comfortable 9.5" radius offer improved playability, ideal for both beginners and seasoned players.

The Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar is not just about sound; it's also a treat for the eyes. It features original-era body radii, vintage-style hardware, F logo tuners, and a lacquer finish that lets the wood breathe naturally, adding a unique touch to its aesthetic appeal.

Key Features:

  • Semi-hollow body for enhanced sound resonance
  • Tim Shaw designed 60s Telecaster Thinline pickups
  • 21 Vintage Tall frets and a comfortable 9.5" radius for improved playability
  • Original-era body radii and vintage-style hardware
  • F logo tuners and a lacquer finish that lets the wood breathe naturally
  • Vintage-style hardshell case included
  • Authentic late sixties Tele tones

Product specs

Brand Fender
Model Telecaster Thinline
Finish Antigua, Black, Blonde, Candy Apple Red, Lake Placid Blue, Natural, Olympic White, Sonic Blue, Sunburst, Walnut (Mocha), Wine
Year 1972 - 1978
Made In United States
Categories Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
Body Shape T-Style
Body Type Semi-Hollow Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type String-Through
Color Family Black, Blue, Brown, Red, Tan, White
Finish Pattern Sunburst
Finish Style Gloss, Metallic
Fretboard Material Maple
Model Family Fender Telecaster
Model Sub-Family Fender Telecaster Thinline
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 21
Number of Strings 6-String
Offset Body Non-Offset Body
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 25.5"
Series Fender Vintage CBS Era

FAQs

What type of music is the Fender Telecaster Thinline best suited for?

The Fender Telecaster Thinline is versatile across genres but is particularly favored for rock, country, and blues due to its semi-hollow body, which provides a warm, resonant tone with a distinctive twang.

How does the semi-hollow body of the Telecaster Thinline affect its sound?

The semi-hollow body design of the Telecaster Thinline adds warmth and resonance to its tone, offering a richer sound with more sustain compared to solid-body models, while still retaining the classic Telecaster brightness.

What is the neck profile of the Fender Telecaster Thinline?

The Fender Telecaster Thinline typically features a comfortable "C" shaped maple neck, which is smooth and easy to play, making it suitable for both rhythm and lead guitarists.

Are the pickups on the Fender Telecaster Thinline suitable for high-gain music styles?

The Fender Telecaster Thinline is equipped with dual humbucker pickups, which provide a thicker, fuller sound that can handle moderate gain well, but it might not be ideal for extremely high-gain styles like heavy metal.

Is the Fender Telecaster Thinline a good choice for beginners?

Yes, the Fender Telecaster Thinline is a good choice for beginners due to its comfortable playability, lightweight design, and versatile sound, making it easy for new players to explore different music styles.

Gear4music Guitars

Gear4music Guitars

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Thinline, Vintage Blonde | Gear4music demo

Video thumbnail for Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Thinline, Vintage Blonde | Gear4music demo by Gear4music Guitars

Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Thinline, Vintage Blonde | Gear4music demo

Gear4music Guitars

Gear4music Guitars

Video thumbnail for Fender Vintera '70s Telecaster Thinline Demo - All Playing, No Talking by Musician's Friend

Fender Vintera '70s Telecaster Thinline Demo - All Playing, No Talking

Musician's Friend

Musician's Friend

Reviews

PROS

  • Beautiful sunburst finish exceeds expectations from pictures and videos

  • Lightweight at 6.2 pounds, comfortable for long playing sessions

  • Acoustically loud due to semi-hollow design

  • Wide Range Humbuckers with CuNiFe magnets provide versatile tone

  • Neck allows for notes to ring out clearly and sing

  • Perfect balance between single coil and humbucker tones

  • Ideal for both practice and live performances

  • High-quality sound regardless of amplifier used

CONS

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar.

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners recommend swapping Squier Classic Vibe pickups with Fender CuNiFe for improved tone.

    Source
  • Some users have replaced saddles to significantly alter their guitar's sound, suggesting this as a potential mod for tonal improvement.

    Source
  • Some players note the scarcity of pre-wired kits for Thinline Teles, suggesting soldering skills are beneficial for electronic upgrades.

    Source

Build quality

  • Some users report issues with Squier Thinline's f-hole, describing it as "sloppy."

    Source

User experience

  • MIM 72 Thinline from early 2010s praised for feel and finish comparable to American models.

    Source
  • Players often mention the Thinline's lighter weight as a significant advantage, especially for those with back issues.

    Source
  • Owners appreciate the Thinline Tele's balance, with the semi-hollow body contributing to a more comfortable feel during extended play sessions.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Used MIM models realistically valued between $650-700; prices above $850 considered high.

    Source
  • Japanese Thinline Teles are specifically highlighted for their quality, suggesting they may be a preferred choice in the used market.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The American Vintage II '72 Thinline is favored for its authentic CuNiFe humbuckers providing vintage tone.

    Source
  • Owners appreciate the Thinline for late-night unplugged playing, citing a subtle difference in acoustic tone compared to solidbody Telecasters.

    Source
  • The Thinline Tele is favored for its clear and full sound, particularly with wide range humbuckers in the neck position, which some describe as the "perfect pickup."

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Thinline Telecaster is noted for easier feedback, crucial for certain playing styles, distinguishing it from solidbody models.

    Source

Other

  • The Thinline Telecaster is described as having a more open or less choked sound, especially noticeable in higher registers.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Thinline is preferred by some for its lightweight design, with some models as light as 5.5 lbs, making it notably lighter than many Stratocasters.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 16 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
martyn_gibson

Excellent Guitar

I bought this guitar second hand in 2014 for £420. That was an absolute bargain. I have never played a better guitar than it. Being a thinline it is very light weight, the neck is incredibly easy to play and the pickups are fantastic. I love humbucking pickups in a tele and this does not disappoint. The Fender Wide Ranging Humbuckers just add the the quality of this guitar.

amar
amar

263

My Primary

My favorite guitar to use, whether it's practicing, writing, or playing it live. Love the sound I get from it regardless of which amplifier I use. Huge fan.

tomlecomte

special

. .

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Kurt Cobain uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Kurt Cobain

Singer, Guitarist

Nirvana

...
Verified via Kurtsguitarsnow

Kurt Cobain borrowed a Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar from Lee Ranaldo for a performance opening for Mudhoney in 1992. According to Kurtsguitarsnow, the guitar was later stolen from Ranaldo.

See how John Mayer uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

John Mayer

Guitarist

John Mayer Trio

...
Verified via Gettyimages

Getty Images confirming John Mayer using a Thinline Telecaster in 2006 performing with Sheryl Crow for a co-headlining tour. These were taken at the Verizon Wireless Music Center Amphitheater.

It is a Thinline Telecaster '51 Nocaster styled, probably custom shop and probably Chris Fleming made (which were made around 2004) and if so it would be stock loaded with handwound '51 Nocaster pickups.

See how Jack White uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Jack White

Singer, Guitarist

The Raconteurs

...
Verified via YouTube

At 1:20 In the video Jack White mentions his family use to own a thinline telecaster when he was a kid and the pickup from that went into his custom telecaster with the b-bender

See how Johnny Marr uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Johnny Marr

Singer, Guitarist

Modest Mouse

...
Verified via Johnny-marr

Johnny Marr is associated with a late '60s Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar, which is featured in an image on his official website. This guitar has a rich history, having originally belonged to Donovan, who played it at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. It was later used by Bernard Sumner during New Order's "Technique" period and appeared on "Top Of The Pops" for their performance of "Round And Round."

See how Keith Richards uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Keith Richards

Singer, Guitarist

The Rolling Stones

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, one can see Richards with a Fender Telecaster Thinline.

See how Mark Knopfler uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Mark Knopfler

Singer, Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Mk-guitar

He used this guitar until 1979, he used this on the first Dire Straits album. He had only used this guitar on Water of Love which he used a Slide and a Capo.

See how Jonny Buckland uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Jonny Buckland

Guitarist

Coldplay

...
Verified via YouTube

Throughout this video Jonny can be seen playing his Vintage 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline, that he acquired in 2002. Matt McGinn, Jonny's guitar technician answered a question about the guitar on the band's website in 2002. He said, "Well, that one (which is called 'Sunny' - they've all got names) is Jonny's total favourite. He's had it about ten years and has played it on most of the albums and tours since Rush Of Blood - it's actually the one he's holding if you look at the band photo from that album cover. There's just something about the two of them that seems to click. It sounds amazing, for a start. And he's really happy when he's playing it, as you might have noticed." Jonny still has and actively uses the guitar today.

See how Albert Hammond Jr uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Albert Hammond Jr

Singer, Guitarist

The Strokes

...
Verified via YouTube

it looks like Albert's using a thinline tele while recording Life is Simple in the Moonlight. It may be a studio guitar but he's using on the song nonetheless.

See how Justin Vernon uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Justin Vernon

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Bon Iver

...
Verified via YouTube

Justin is seen here playing his Thinline Telecaster at an outdoor show in 2009.

See how Taylor Hawkins uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Taylor Hawkins

Singer, Drummer

Foo Fighters

...
Verified via YouTube

at 1:46, he is playing this guitar

See how Bob Dylan uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Bob Dylan

Keyboardist, Composer

Traveling Wilburys

...
Verified via Tdpri

In this picture from a 2004 gig, you can see Bob playing his sunburst Telecaster Thinline

See how Ichika uses Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar

Ichika

Guitarist, Bassist

Dios

...
Verified via Photo

You can see it on his guitar collection here.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer
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2
Fender Classic Series '72 Telecaster Thinline
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2

Community setups

Show yours
norberto_rosemberg

norberto_rosemberg

Gear IQ 74

J

jeffrey_soble

Gear IQ 193

T

tanukii

Gear IQ 64

1 alternative for Fender Telecaster Thinline Electric Guitar, curated by the Equipboard community.

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Thinline Telecaster

$389.00 - $529.99

cheaper alternative

Cheaper equivalent made by same parent company fender

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Gear Guides

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