Rare 1998 Fender Tele-Sonic w/ USA Dearmond Pickups
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Maker: Fender
Model: Tele-Sonic
Condition: very good
Description:
Here for your consideration we have a 1998 Fender Tele Sonic in very good condition. The mahogany body appears to be one piece. The body/pick guard shows light surface scratches,a couple of very minor dings, and a few very small chips in the finish along the back edge. the maple Neck shows some Birdseye figuring on the back side and is in great condition. Headstock has minor wear along the back edges but is otherwise in good condition. Fretboard is excellent and frets have minimal wear and no issues. Tuners/Electronics/Pickups work perfectly. The DeArmond pickups in these sound amazing. Overall a rare and unique tele that plays wonderfully and sounds awesome. Has been fully inspected and set up by our techs and ready for a new home. Includes hard case.
Weight: 8lbs 8oz
Neck Profile: C Shape Neck 12" Radius 1st Fret .829 12th Fret .877
Nut Width: 1 11/16
Pickup Values: Neck 7.36k, Bridge 7.52k
Some more info about the tele sonic:
The Fender Tele Sonic was built from 1998 to 2003, combining elements of several classic designs – the construction methods of the Fender Telecaster, the scale length of a Gibson style guitar, and a pair of DeArmond 2K single coil pickups, like a Gretsch Jet.
There are other notable differences from stock models to the Fender Tele Sonic. The body is Honduran Mahogany, with tone chambers added. This would typically mean that, like the Telecaster Thinline, the top of the body blank is sliced off, tone and wiring chambers routed, the cap is restored and the body finished. In place of the traditional Telecaster ‘Ash Tray’ string-through-body bridge, a Wilkinson stop-bar wraparound tailpiece is used.
The Fender Tele Sonic has a 24.75 inch, or 628.6mm scale length, a very familiar scale to any player of Gibson guitars, and perhaps that’s why a Rosewood fingerboard was chosen. To top it off, a pair of DeArmond 2K pickups are given an upper-bout toggle pickup selector and individual volume and tone controls.
This is a very interesting guitar to play. Its short scale gives it a slightly ‘looser’ feel than a stock Telecaster, and the deArmond 2K pickups have a thicker, full sound – not like classic Telecaster pickups, P-90s or full size humbuckers. Reviews of this model by owners laud its tone and versatility.
The original molded Fender hard shell case is included.
Here’s a listing of the basic features and specifications for the Fender Tele-Sonic:- BODY Honduran Mahogany Body with 11 Tone Chambers
- NECK Maple, Modern “C” Shape,(Satin Polyurethane Finish)
- MACHINE HEADS Fender/Schaller Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines
- FINGERBOARD Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)
- NO. OF FRETS 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
- PICKUPS 2 U.S. DeArmond 2K Single-Coil Pickups
- CONTROLS Volume 1. (Neck Pickup),Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup),Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup)
- BRIDGE Fender Tech-Tonic™ Bridge.
- Fully Adjustable, Low Profile 6-Saddle Locking Bridge/Tailpiece
- PICKUP SWITCHING 3-Position Toggle:Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups Position 3. Neck Pickup
- HARDWARE Chrome
- CASE Standard Molded Case
- PICKGUARD 3-Ply Black
- WIDTH AT NUT 1.6875”