Empire Guitars Electric 2016 Fender Custom Shop LTD Smuggler’s Telecaster

Summary: Profound social and cultural change was sweeping the nation in 1967, and by coincidence or design, that year also marked an imaginative, inventive period for post-CBS Fender. The recipient of numerous fresh ideas turned out to be the company’s first solid body electric Spanish guitar—the Telecaster. One of these new concepts was to make the Telecaster lighter. The first primitive attempts built in the summer of 1967 are known today as “Smuggler’s Teles”. While Smuggler’s Teles appear outwardly identical to regular ones, a few light taps on the pickguard foretell something different underneath. Removing the guard reveals three rather large cavities where part of the ash body was removed. This telecaster is from Fender’s Custom Shop and is truly an amazing instrument to see in person. The ash body is light and resonant. The 60’s style oval “C” shaped neck has a gloss finish and feels great in your hands.

Body: Two-piece Ash with three cavities cut out for weight relief, Faded Candy Tangerine lacquer finish.

Neck: Rift sawn Maple with a maple fingerboard, Micarta black dot inlays, 4-bolt, ’60 style soft “V” shape, bone nut, 25.5” scale length, 1.650” nut width, 9.5” radius.

Pickups/Hardware: ‘67 telecaster controls, hand wound ’67 telecaster single coil pickups, Schaller tuning keys with “F” Fender logo, late 60’s truss rod, white/clear pickguards included.

Cosmetics: This guitar is in excellent condition. It has some relicing in the finish on the body. The relicing on the body is some very beautiful checking. (See Photos) Other than that, there is light wear on the pickguards and overall, this guitar is amazing.

Playability: Our in-house guitar tech has inspected, setup, and restrung this guitar with a new set of 10’s. The neck is straight, the truss rod is fully functional, and the action has been setup low and comfortable. The frets are in great shape with no major grooves or divots from use and it plays beautifully up and down the fretboard with no dead spots or choking out.

Weight: 6 lbs., 12 oz.

Case: This guitar ships in the original Fender Custom Shop hard shell case, professionally packaged, and fully insured.