Your ULTIMATE Guide to The Thinline Telecaster [From Past to Present]

Over the years, Fender has designed a lot of top-quality guitars with the most popular being the Stratocaster and Telecaster. The Telecaster, being a classic guitar with a classic design, was introduced in 1950.

The Telecaster was initially known as “Broadcaster,” but after Gretsch came knocking on Fender’s doors with papers from the law, Fender was forced to change the name to “Telecaster” in 1951.

Apart from featuring a unique and iconic body design, the Telecaster also features an iconic sound that has graced the records of stars like Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, John 5, Steve Cropper, and many others.

However, as time passed and things kept evolving in the guitar world, there was a need for a contender or maybe a replacement or maybe just a sister to the iconic Fender Telecaster. In 1968, the German luthier Roger Rossmeisl brought out a design for the Thinline Telecaster.

This was subsequently introduced in 1969 by Fender and later updated in 1972. The update was done by replacing the standard Fender Telecaster pickups with a pair of Fender Wide Range humbucking pickups, bullet truss-rod and 3-bolt neck.

The intent of Thinline’s design was an attempt to reduce the weight of the solid body Telecaster. The Tele had become a lot heavier throughout the 1960s. This was due to the declining supply of the light ash wood that Fender had formerly used. The Thinline is a lot lighter.

The most obvious thing about the design of the Thinline Telecaster is that it features a semi-hollow body. While it maintains the same body shape as the Tele, it has an f-hole and produces what we can describe as “a more open sound.”

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Difference Between Solid and Semi-Hollow Body Guitar

A lot of things make a difference in a guitar, and one of the main ones is the body. A solid body is full of wood on the inside, meaning there’s no space inside, while a hollow body has no wood inside the body, like an acoustic, but instead of a sound hole, they have pickups.

On the other hand, a semi-hollow body guitar lies between a solid body and hollow body styles meaning there’s space inside the body but a smaller size than the hollow body.

The main difference between a solid-body guitar and a semi-hollow-body guitar is their construction and resulting sound characteristics.

Here are the key distinctions between the two:

Construction- The solid body guitar is made from a solid piece of wood, typically mahogany, ash, alder, or maple, and has no internal chambers or cavities. It’s characterized by a dense, solid body hence the name, solid body.

On the other hand, a semi-hollow body guitar features a solid centre block running through the middle of the body, with hollowed-out chambers on either side. You’ll also typically find F-holes or other sound holes present.

Feedback Resistance – Solid body guitars are less prone to feedback, as the solid construction helps minimize unwanted resonance and vibrations that can cause feedback issues, particularly at higher volumes or when playing with distortion.

Due to the hollow construction, semi-hollow body guitars can be more prone to feedback at high volumes or when played with heavy distortion.

However, the feedback is reduced thanks to the solid central block, and whatever feedback is left can be controlled with proper technique and equipment.

Sustain – Solid body guitars generally offer longer sustain and a more focused attack. The solid wood construction allows the strings to vibrate freely and transfer energy efficiently, resulting in a clear and defined sound with a quick attack.

It makes them perfect for genres like rock and blues. Semi-hollow guitars, on the other hand, lose on sustain

Tonality – Solid body guitars are known for their versatility and ability to produce a wide range of tones.

The absence of internal resonant chambers gives them a more balanced frequency response, allowing players to achieve clean and distorted tones across various musical genres.

Semi-hollow body guitars offer a unique tonal character and often produce a slightly more open and airy sound than solid-body guitars.

The resonance from the hallowed chambers can contribute to a warmer, fuller tone with a touch of natural reverb.

Acoustic Resonance: The hollowed-out chambers in a semi-hollow body guitar allow the body to resonate more freely, resulting in a fuller and more resonant sound. Therefore adding warmth, depth, and natural resonance to the overall tone.

Brief History of the Thinline Telecaster

The Thinline Telecaster has an interesting history that dates back to the 1960’s back, when there was a growing popularity and preference for semi-hollow guitars for their tonal character and lightweight.

Fender responded to these trends with the Thinline Telecaster. It was designed by German luthier Roger Rossmeisl in the year 1968 and made its debut the following year in 1969.

It was originally made to counteract the heavy solid body telecaster since light ashwood had become scarce at the time, but it retained the same characteristics as the solid body.

The earliest Telecaster was made from lightweight ash, but during the 60s, they began getting heavier. They tried to deal with this by removing some chunks of wood from the wood beneath the pickguard, but this didn’t make enough difference in the weight.

They also tried making the body thinner, but this wasn’t enough, and they needed an entirely new redesign. It was when they brought in Rossmeisl from Rickenbacker to help them design a lighter guitar.

In 1972 the Thinline Telecaster was updated to version II by replacing the two standard single-coil pickups with a pair of Fender Wide Range humbucking pickups, becoming the first six-string humbucking pickups.

In version II, both pickups were mounted on the bridge, whereas in the previous version, one pickup was on the neck and the other on the bridge. The pickups were also mounted on the pickup instead of a metal bridge plate like in the solid body.

Version II also came with a bullet truss rod and a 3-screw plate, so players and luthiers didn’t have to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod. Unfortunately, they were not popular and disappeared in the 70s but popped back up in the 90s and gained more popularity.

The pickguard was also reshaped into a curvy pearloid pickguard. Now you can find both the 1960s version and the 1970s version.

The Thinline Telecaster; Everything you Need to Know

Since its debut in 1969, the thin-line Telecaster has been popular among many guitarists for its aesthetics, tonal character, and lightweight feel.

Look and Construction

The Thinline Telecaster features a semi-hollow body with a solid centre block running through the middle of the body, with hollowed-out chambers on either side.

The guitar’s top, back, and sides are typically made of wood, such as maple, with a distinct F-hole present. The pickguard in the thin line is more elongated than the solid body and extends toward the bottom of the body rather than ending halfway.

They come with maple necks and maple fretboard glued on top. Rosewood fretboards were very rare on thinline Telecasters.

Pickups

Originally, the Thinline Telecaster came with 2 standard single-coil pickups, and these were the same pickups in the solid body, making them sound similar.

However, versions from 1970 onward replaced this with a pair of Wide-Range humbucking pickups. These pickups were placed on the bridge, unlike in the previous version, which had one on the neck and one on the bridge. The sound from these pickups can be described as fat.

Currently, you can get both options of pickups depending on the model you choose and customizing options available.

Acoustic Resonance

The hollowed-out chambers in a semi-hollow body guitar allow the body to resonate more freely, resulting in a fuller and more resonant sound. Therefore adding warmth, depth, and natural resonance to the overall tone.

Feedback and Volume Performance

Due to the hollow construction, semi-hollow body guitars can be more prone to feedback at high volumes or when played with heavy distortion.

However, the feedback on the Thin Line is not as much as you’d hear from a hollow guitar and can be controlled with proper technique and equipment.

Tonal Character

The semi-hollow body and the humbucker pickups offer a unique tonal character from the Thinline Telecaster.

It doesn’t retain as much of the signature Telecaster snap but has plenty of clarity and a touch of added depth and richness.

It can strike a balance between the classic Telecaster’s bright and twangy tones and the added warmth and resonance of a semi-hollow body.

The Thinline doesn’t come with much sustain, but its semi-hollow body contributes more to its resonance, giving it a livelier and more responsive tone. The bass is also more prominent and has a better tone than the solid body Telecaster.

Playing Techniques

The Thinline Telecaster’s bright and focused tone can make palm-muted rhythms sound tight and punchy, particularly when combined with a clean or slightly overdriven tone.

Thanks to its semi-hollow body, it also sounds great with percussive techniques, and its resonance is also great for pitch bending, vibrato, and tapping.

The Thin Lines are favoured by players who appreciate the blend of electric and acoustic qualities. They are well-suited for genres such as jazz, blues, rockabilly, and alternative rock, where the semi-hollow construction can impart a distinct flavour to the music.

Thinline vs Solid-Body Telecaster – Similarities and Differences

Similarities

Although the thin line and the solid body may seem worlds apart, they also share several inherent similarities to the Telecaster design. Here are some of the key similarities between the Thinline Telecaster and the solid body Telecaster:

The Thinline Telecaster and the solid body Telecaster share the same distinctive double-cutaway body shape that has become synonymous with the Telecaster model. This shape has remained relatively unchanged since its inception and is instantly recognizable.

Both guitars feature a bolt-on neck construction, where the neck is attached to the body using bolts or screws. This design allows for easy neck removal and adjustment and contributes to the Telecaster’s renowned sustain and tonal characteristics.

The Thinline Telecaster and the solid body Telecaster has the same control layout, featuring a master volume knob, a master tone knob, and a pickup selector switch. This arrangement gives players straightforward control over their tone and allows quick pickup selection.

The neck profile and scale length on the Thinline Telecaster and the solid body Telecaster are consistent. They both have a 25.5-inch scale length and a 9.5-inch fretboard radius. It contributes to the familiar feel and playability that Telecaster players appreciate.

Both guitars offer a wide range of tonal possibilities.

They both have the 6-saddle string-through-body hardtail with bent steel saddles making it easier to space out the strings.

Differences

Here are some of the major differences between the Thinline Telecaster and the solid body Telecaster:

	Thinline Telecaster	Solid body Telecaster
Body	Semi-hollow ash or mahogany body F- hole on the body	Solid Alder body No F-hole
Neck	Medium C neck	Modern C neck
Pickguard	Elongated pickguard	Halfway pickguard
Pickup	Either a pair of single pickups or a pair of humbucker pickups	A pair of standard single-coil Fender pickups.
Controls	Mounted on the pickguard	Mounted on the body
Tone	Dark, Warm, and round The bass is also better and more pronounced	Bright, twangy and crisp

How Does the Thinline Telecaster Sound?

The Thinline Telecaster has a distinct sound resulting from its semi-hollow body construction and the choice of pickups used in the guitar.

It can strike a balance between the classic Telecaster’s bright and twangy tones and the added warmth and resonance of a semi-hollow body. It doesn’t retain as much of the signature Telecaster snap but has plenty of clarity and a touch of added depth and richness.

Due to the semi-hollow body design of the Thinline Telecaster, it has an increased resonance. The hollowed-out chambers within the body allow the guitar to vibrate more freely, resulting in a livelier and more responsive tone.

However, the sustain tends to suffer a little due to the semi-hollow body. The Thinline Telecaster is available in different pickup configurations, including single-coil and humbucker options.

Single-coil pickups deliver that classic Telecaster twang and bite, while humbuckers offer a fatter and smoother tone with reduced noise and added output. The difference in the pickup has a large influence on the sound of the guitar.

The Thinline Telecaster is known for its excellent note definition and clarity. Combining the semi-hollow body and the inherent Telecaster design contributes to a highly articulate and dynamic sound, allowing each note to ring out with clarity and precision.

Thanks to its versatility and unique sound, you can play on many different genres and with different kinds of techniques on the Thinline Telecaster.

Its broad spectrum makes it suitable for various styles, including country, rock, blues, jazz, pop, and more. It also works great with effect pedals.

You can find out more about the Thinline’s sound in the video below:

Fender Thinline Telecaster — Popular Models

Fender Thinline Telecaster Serial Numbers

Fender Thinline Telecaster guitars have serial numbers that can provide information about the production year and location of the instrument.

The serial numbers of a guitar are usually found on the back of the guitar, where the neck connects with the body, on a metal plate known as the neck plate.

Another common location is at the top of the neck, referred to as the headstock, or in the middle of the body where the strings attach, known as the bridge plate.

Here is some general information about Fender serial numbers for Thinline Telecaster guitars:

Pre-1976: Fender used a variety of serial number schemes, and there may be inconsistencies or overlapping numbers during this period. Pre-1976 Thinline Telecasters may have a serial number on the neck plate or the neck pocket.

1976-1981: From 1976 to 1981, Fender used a unique serial number system for their instruments. Thinline Telecasters from this era typically have a serial number starting with an “S,” followed by six digits. Typically, the initial number after the prefix signifies the year, whereas the first two numbers following the letter prefix indicate the year of manufacture. e.g S77xxxxx – 1977

“E” indicates the 1980s; e.g E3xxxxx = 1983 and “N” = 1990s; e.g N2xxxxx = 1992

“Z” or “DZ” Prefix indicates the 2000s, e.g., DZ3xxxxx = 2003

Keep in mind that these guidelines are general and may have exceptions or variations depending on the model and production year.

For a more precise date, it’s recommended to use potentiometer codes. You can also contact Fender’s official resources or customer support for accurate information about a particular instrument.

Conclusion

The Thinline Telecaster is a remarkable variation of Fender’s iconic solid-body Telecaster model. Its semi-hollow body construction offers a distinctive blend of tones and the added resonance and warmth characteristic of a semi-hollow design.

Although the Thinline debuted in the 1960s, it remains an iconic guitar in Fender’s lineup, loved by musicians for its distinct sound, comfortable playability, and timeless design.