The Fender Thinline was originally designed by Roger Rossmeisl and debuted in 1968 with a semi-hollow body and the traditional pair of Telecaster single-coil pickups.
The Thinline's body features a semi-hollow construction with a solid center section and chambered wings, significantly reducing weight while enhancing resonance and acoustic response.
This particular example belongs to the second generation of the Thinline, introduced in late 1971. It features two humbucking pickups designed by Seth Lover—the inventor of the original humbucker—as well as a six-saddle bridge similar to that found on a hardtail Stratocaster. These features provide a thicker, fuller, and more versatile sound compared to traditional Telecasters.
The neck design incorporates Fender's innovative bullet-style truss rod adjustment at the headstock, along with the three-bolt neck attachment and Fender's Micro-Tilt system. This mechanism allows precise adjustment of the neck angle through a small Allen screw accessed via the neck plate. Tightening the screw pushes against a metal disc installed in the neck heel, allowing the neck angle to be adjusted forward or backward as required without the need for shims.
This guitar is finished in Black polyester (poly). Custom colors such as Black were produced in far smaller numbers than standard finishes, making this Thinline a particularly scarce and highly desirable instrument among collectors.
Neck Measurements:
• 1st fret: 0.88"
• 5th fret: 0.91"
• 12th fret: 0.94"
Nut Width:
• 1.61"
Pickup Readings:
• Neck: 10.04 kΩ
• Bridge: 10.14 kΩ
Weight:
• 7.4 lbs (3.4 kg)
Fingerboard Radius:
• 7.25"
