Fender have produced a wide variety of Thinlines from way back in 1968 in the CBS era to several current versions. I have already covered the Mexican, Japanese and the Protone so onto the USA models.
There are two of these the 1968 model referenced strangely as the TN70 in Japanese models and the
classic series 69 in the Mexican series. The 1971 launch is known as the 72 Thinline in the mexican model and TN72 in Japan.
Fender's advertisement in 1968 said Groovy naturals… Fender’s famous Telecaster guitar is now available in a semi-acoustic
model with a choice of two natural wood finishes, mahogany or ash. The lightweight hollow-body guitar incorporates Fender’s
distinctive ‘F’ hole design and new styled pickguard.
This guitar was designed by Roger Rossmeisl and Virgilio "Babe" Simoni. It had three hollowed out cavities made by
removing a slice off the back routing out the cavities then gluing the back on.
Originally launched in these natural colours others soon followed including, 3 Tone Sunburst, Hot Pink, Canary Yellow, Salmon, Lavender Lilac,
Kelly Green, Candy Apple Red and others.
As well as the one above two others are on Reverb as at Sept 2023 a Natural Ash for £14491 in the USA and a
CAR one for £13395 in France and there is one on Ebay UK for a much more reasonable £7500
Specs
Body Semi Solid F Hole Mahogany or Ash Thick Skin Finish
Neck 4 bolt hard rock Maple Polyester Finish
Board Fretted Maple at Launch Rosewood available from 1969 21 vintage Nickel Silver Frets Dot markers
Headstock Small Black CBS logo and Telecaster written on with patent numbers Truss rod adjust at body One string tree
Tuners F stamped Schaller
Pickups Neck metal covered with visible height adj screws Bridge angled black standard Tele SCs
Neckplate Chrome F Stamp with serial number on
Controls Knurled Chrome Knobs Standard Tele of the period 1 vol 1 tone and 3 way switch
Scratchplate 12 screw pearl laminated
Bridge 3 saddle Raised sides through body stringing
Nut 1.625"
Black Tolex Case
Driven by the competition Fender had Seth Lover design some wide range Humbucking pickups for this guitar.
It also bore the hall marks of a 70s Fender, the three bolt neck, Bullet truss rod adjust etc.
The 72 catalogue states available in natural finished Ash Sunburst or Custom Colours, however some earlier
ones are in Natural Mahogany.
TThe colours I have found are, Natural (2),Blonde, LPB, Oly White, Black, CAR, Sonic Blue, Wine and said to be
Antigua.
Specs
Body Semi Solid F Hole Mahogany or Ash Thick Skin High Gloss Finish
Neck 3 bolt Hard Rock Maple Polyester Finish with microtilt C shape
Board Fretted Maple 21 vintage Nickel Silver Frets Dot markers
Headstock Small Black CBS logo and Telecaster Thinline written on with patent numbers Bullet Truss rod adjust two string trees
Serial Number moved to headstock in 1976
Tuners F stamped Schaller
Pickups 2 metal covered Seth Lover wide range Cunife* Humbuckers Split polepiece and stamped Fender
Neckplate 3 bolt Chrome F Stamp with serial number on until 1976
Controls Knurled Chrome Knobs Standard Tele of the period 1 vol 1 tone and 3 way switch
Scratchplate 12 screw restyled black, white or white pearl laminated
Bridge 6 saddle small through body stringing
Nut 1.625"
Black Tolex Case was listed as an Optional extra as was a Bigsby
Discontinued 1979
Cunife is Copper, Nickel and Iron
First appearing in the Autumn 1997 Frontline this model was produced until 2001. It came with a choice of fretboards,
Fretted Maple neck model 010-8202 or Rosewood board 010-8201, initially in 00 3 colour Sunburst 06 Black 21 Natural or
38 Crimson Transparent. In 1998 05 Olympic White was added. By 2002 production had ceased.
Specs
Body: Ash Bound top and back F hole poly finish
Neck: Maple
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5" Radius (241 mm) 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Nut: 1.6875" (43 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Fender/Schaller Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
Bridge: American 6-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body Tele Bridge
Pickguard: 3-Ply White or Pearloid:
Pickups: Neck metal covered with visible height adj screws Bridge angled black standard Tele SCs
Controls: Master Volume, Master Delta-Tone, 3 way switch
(Delta-Tone system includes high output bridge pickup and special "no-load" tone control)
White Pearloid or Tortoise Shell Binding on Top and Back of Body,
Standard Molded Case from 01/2000 Tolex before but see below
Note from TunedupFlat from the Telecaster Forum
I had a '99 American Thinline in natural bought in September of '99 in Canada that came with the molded case and not
the tolex one, so I wouldn't be 100% sure on that Jan 1, 2000 date you listed. My black 2000 American Thinline was purchase
in 2000 and it did have the same molded case as my '99.Could be country dependent?
These were released in 2011 but first appeared in the 2012 Frontline. Fairly obviously reissues of the first two guitars featured
on this page. Both are advertised as Gloss lacquer finish, which is Nitro on a poly base. RRP is $2440 on both, production only
lasted about a year.
Spec comparison
| 69 | 72 | |
| Body | Semi Hollow Mahogany F Hole Gloss Lacquer | Semi Hollow Ash F Hole Gloss Lacquer |
| Neck | 4 bolt Maple C shape Gloss Lacquer Finish | 3 Bolt Maple C Shape Gloss lacquer Finish with Microtilt |
| Truss rod adjust | Vintage style at body | Bullet at Headstock |
| Fret board | Maple 21 Vint Frets 7.25" | Maple 21 Vint Frets 7.25 |
| Headstock | Small with CBS Logo and Telecaster 1 Butterfly string tree | As 69 but Thinline also written on |
| Tuners | F style | F style |
| Hardware | Chrome | Chrome |
| Pickups | 2 Standard Tele Style SCs | 2 Wide Ranging HBs |
| Controls | Chrome Knurled 1 Vol 1 Tone 3 way switch with Top Hat tip | Chrome Knurled 1 Vol 1 Tone 3 way switch with Barrel tip |
| Pickguard | 4 ply white pearloid | 4 ply white pearloid |
| Bridge | Vintage Style 3 Barrel String thru | Vintage Strat style hardtail |
Colour choices were not great the 69 came in Olympic White or 2 Colour Sunburst the 72 in Natural or Candy Apple Red Accessories for the 69 included a replacement 6 saddle bridge both included a Tolex case.
This appears in the 2014 Frontline as a new model at a RRP of $2470 including hard case and cable. It featured
Fender noiseless pickups
Body: Ash with Tortoiseshell binding (white on the Sunburst) F hole gloss urethane finish
Neck: Maple one piece Modern C
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5" to 14" compound Radius 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Nut: 1.685" (42.8 mm)Synthetic Bone
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Deluxe Staggered Cast Sealed Locking
Bridge: American 6-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body Chromed Brass Saddles
Pickguard: 4-Ply Pearloid: 4 ply white on Sunburst
Pickups: Noiseless N3 single coil Tele
Controls: Master Volume S1 switch, Master Tone, 3 way switch Knurled Chrome
Colours 3 Colour Sunburst, Oly White or Natural
Locking Strap Buttons
Replaced in 2016 by the American Elite Telecaster Thinline
This appears in 2016 unsurprisingly in the American Elite Brochure
Body: Ash with F hole gloss urethane finish
Neck: Maple Compound Profile Modern C to D
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5" to 14" compound Radius 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Nut: 1.685" (42.8 mm)Synthetic Bone
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: Deluxe Cast Sealed Locking all short post
Bridge: New Elite Suspension Bridge top loading
Pickguard: 4-Ply aged whit Pearloid: 3 ply brown on Natural
Pickups: Noiseless N3 single coil Tele
Controls: Master Volume S1 switch, Master No Load Tone, 3 way switch Knurled Chrome
Locking Strap Buttons
3-Colour Sunburst, Natural, Cayenne, Mystic Ice Blue, Champagne (from 2017)
The S1 switch is to allow having 2 pickups in Series or in Parallel
dual action truss rod with easy access spoke wheel
In 2017 Fender Launched an FSR made of Mahogany and in Natural only. Loads of blurb about sustainability and
the mojo it acquired on it's journey. No note from Fender about how many made but I think it is quite a lot judging
by sales.
Specs
Body Rescued Hurrican Mitch Honduran Mahogany white binding Gloss Polyurethane finish
Neck Figured Maple 4 bolt asymmetrical plate Compound profile modern C to D Satin Urethane Finish on Back, Gloss Urethane Finish on Front
Fretboard Maple Compound Radius 9.5" to 14" 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Headstock Small Black spag Fender Logo and Telecaster written underneath 1 butterfly string tree
Pickups Neck Pickup : Shawbucker 1T Bridge Pickup New 4th Generation Noiseless
Control Knobs : Knurled Flat-Top
Controls Master Volume, Master Tone (with S-1™ Switch for Coil Splitting the Neck Pickup) Standard 3 way switch
Special Electronics : Special 500K/250K combo pot on Volume Control.
Bridge Elite Suspension Bridge
Hardware Nickel Chrome
Nut Bone Width 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Pickguard : 4-Ply Aged White Pearloid
Truss Rod Heel-Mounted Spoke Wheel Adjustment Dual-Action with Wheel
Tuning Machines : Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking (all short posts)
Colour Natural only
According to Fender this series was created to celebrate the creativity of the 60s. It was launched in 2018 and
the Thinline was added to the range in 2020.
Specs
Body Ash with Gloss lacquer finish Semi solid with F hole
Neck Maple 4 bolt 9.5" radius modern C Gloss Nitrocellulose lacquer Finish on Back, Gloss Urethane Finish on Front
Fretboard Maple 9.5" radius 21 Vintage tall frets
Headstock Small Black spag Fender Logo and Telecaster written after 1 butterfly string tree
Pickups Tim Shaw designed 60s style Tele thinline single coils
Control Knobs : Knurled Flat-Top
Controls Master Volume, Master Tone Standard 3 way switch
Bridge 3 saddle vintage tele style with slotted steel saddles
Hardware Nickel Chrome
Nut Bone Width 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Pickguard : 3 ply mint green, black or White
Tuning Machines : Vintage 70s with F stamp
Colour Aged Natural, 3 Colour Sunburst or Surf Green
This is a current model as at September 2023 having been launched about 3 months ago. Bit of a mystery why it is called Suona
which as far as I know is a Chinese wind instrument. The range also included a Thinline Bass and a Thinline Strat.
Whilst it is described as a limited edition there is no note of how many are to
be made, but I suspect it is as many as they can sell. Features are a matching headstock a bit of Nitrocellulose and an unusual (for
Fender) construction.
Specs
Ash semi hollow body with Italian Pine Spruce Top, Single ply black top binding Nitrocellulose finish
4 bolt roasted flame maple satin nitro finish Modern C Fender and Suona on the neck plate
Board Ebony 7.25" to 9.5" compound radius 22 narrow tall frets no position inlays
Headstock Matching Truss rod adjust at head Goldish Spag logo and Telecaster single butterfly string tree
Pickups Bridge Pickup Custom-Designed Suona Single-Coil Tele Neck Pickup Custom Shop Twisted Tele Single-Coil
Controls Knurled Dome Standard tele layout
Bridge 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Compensated Brass Barrel Saddles
Hardware Nickel Chrome
Nut Bone Width 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Tuners Pure Vintage style single line Fender Deluxe
Pickguard 3 ply Black white black
Violin Burst only
To be honest I had never heard of Britt Daniel or his band Spoon. However I really think this is a
stunning guitar especially as an Artist model it doesn't have his name on it. I would love one of these.
Specs
Ash semi hollow body with single ply black top binding lacquer finish
4 bolt maple satin nitro finish Deep C
Board Maple 9.5" radius 22 medium jumbo frets
Headstock Truss rod adjust at head Goldish Spag logo no Telecaster single round 54 style string tree
Pickups Bridge Pickup Custom shop vintage Single-Coil Tele Neck Pickup Custom Shop hand wound Texas special Tele Single-Coil
Controls Knurled Dome Standard tele layout
Electrosocket output jack
Bridge 6 Saddle Strings-Through-Body Tele
Hardware Nickel Chrome
Nut Bone Width 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Tuners Fender Classic Gear
Pickguard 3 ply Black
Amarillo Gold only
A 2023 model launched as part of the American Vintage II series. It is a reasonably accurate representation of
the second generation Thinline described earlier
Specs
Body Semi Solid F Hole Ash High Gloss Finish
Neck 3 bolt Hard Rock Maple 1972 C Polyester Finish with microtilt
Board Fretted Maple 21 vintage tall Frets Dot markers
Headstock Small Black CBS logo and Telecaster Thinline written on with patent numbers Bullet Truss rod adjust 1 butterfly string tree
Tuners F stamped Schaller
Pickups 2 metal covered wide range Cunife* Humbuckers Split polepiece and stamped Fender
Neckplate 3 bolt Chrome F Stamp with serial number
Controls Knurled Chrome Knobs Standard Tele of the period 1 vol 1 tone and 3 way switch
Scratchplate 12 screw 70s style white pearl laminated
Bridge Pure Vintage 6-Saddle String-Through Body Hardtail with Bent Steel Saddles
Nut 1.625" bone
Colours Lake Placid Blue, Natural or 3 Colour Sunburst
