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1956 Fender Telecaster
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Serial #: 16566, four bolt neckplate. Neck date: 7/56. Weight: 7lb, 4oz. Neck depth, 1st/12th frets: .84/.95
Materials: Solid swamp ash body; solid one-piece maple neck with clay dot inlays; 1 5/8" "B" width bone nut.
Hardware: All original hardware includes black staggered pole single coil bridge pickup on back loader bridgeplate; single coil neck pickup; five-screw single-ply white pickguard; flat top knurled volume and tone knobs; CRL three-way pickup selector switch with Pat.# Daka-Ware top-hat knob; single line nickel Kluson Deluxe tuners; single butterfly string retainer in peghead; adjustable three-piece threaded steel bridge saddles; nickel 'ashtray' bridge cover; adjustable truss rod; CTS volume and tone pots with 5/56 code stamp.
Notes: Of guitarist Leonard Morris of East St. Louis, Missouri, we know but little. According to his daughter, he played for years in a gospel church band until his death in 1999. And he clearly loved his guitar. Following his passing, the guitar was purchased by a private collector, who was pleased to find that in all that time not a single screw had been turned on it.
This fine example is from the last year for the lightweight swamp ash body, and has the signature features of a '56, including the white guard, backloader body, flat top knobs, no-number bridgeplate with staggered polepieces and steel saddles, and spaghetti logo peghead with single string retainer. Well cared for, the guitar has all original hardware and finish, as well as its original rectangular tweed case with Koylon plush and leather ends.
Neckplate, neck date and pots all date to 1956. The body shows original factory routing only, and at barely 7 4oz. the guitar is notably well balanced and easy to hold. The slab fingerboard "B" style maple neck has the classic light V profile, and an original style refret to fret 16 makes playing easy and fast, with excellent snap and headroom.
The guitar is supplied with all its original hardware, including the original 'ashtray' bridge pickup cover, happily never misplaced over the years. All pots, caps, switch and wiring are original and untouched. The butterscotch finish is all original as well, with light typical playwear, mostly confined to the fingerboard and the edges of the body.
Lightweight and fun to play, the guitar has the icepick punch of the classic Tele bridge pickup, with a pleasingly warm neck pickup that goes all the way from James Burton to Ed Bickert. An outstanding example of a groundbreaking model in top playing condition. One only: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with light gauge nickel strings (.010-.052). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.
