At some point, almost every serious guitar player considers buying a vintage instrument. Whether it’s for the allure of owning a piece of musical history, an appreciation of the quirks that come with handcrafted, earlier-era guitars, or even as a smart investment, vintage instruments hold a special appeal. Few are as sought after as the Fender Telecaster—whether it’s a 1948 Broadcaster, an early ’50s Blackguard or the eye-catching paisley models of the ’60s. In this article, we’ll break down how to shop for, evaluate and buy a vintage Telecaster, with expert insights from Jack Hetherington, director of Guitar Center Used and Vintage.

Pictured: 1961 Fender Telecaster Headstock

Table of Contents

What Does "Vintage" Mean?
What Makes Your Perfect Vintage Tele?
How to Research a Vintage Fender Telecaster
   What Changes Have Been Made to the Telecaster Since 1951?
       Changes to the Fender Telecaster's Fingerboard
       Changes to the Fender Telecaster's Tuners
       Changes to the Fender Telecaster's Neckplate
What Is the Value of a Vintage Fender Telecaster?
How to Check Authenticity on a Vintage Fender Telecaster
   How to Read Fender Telecaster Serial Numbers
   Date Stamps
   Checking for Original Parts and Electronics
   Check the Finish
   Ask About the Telecaster's History
How to Evaluate the Condition of a Vintage Fender Telecaster
How to Purchase Your Vintage Fender Telecaster
Taking Care of Your Vintage Fender Telecaster
The Thrill of the Hunt

What Does "Vintage" Mean?

There's something unique in the vibe and feel of an instrument made in the days before custom shops, when regular production guitars from the biggest manufacturers were still using individual craftspeople to create, shape and refine an instrument. As Guitar Center's Director of Used and Vintage, Jack Hetherington, puts it, "There's just something about playing a vintage guitar, you know? It's got this warmth and depth to its tone that you just don't get with new ones. And the feel of it—the way your hand fits on the neck—it's just so comfortable."

We'll add that any instrument that has survived over decades has stories to tell, and that's a big part of the appeal. But what exactly does "vintage" mean when you're talking about guitars?

Pictured: 1966 Fender Telecaster in Olympic White

In traditional terms, vintage is frequently held to mean an item that's more than 25 years old. That definition may be a convenient bucket, but we feel as if it can sometimes be used in a misleading way. Our philosophy is to treat each guitar individually, evaluating based on a number of factors of which its "birth year" is only one.

With the deep history of the Telecaster, we will mostly be talking about guitars that were made from the guitar's debut as the Broadcaster in 1948 up to the mid-1980s, when Fender was sold by CBS to the current company, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. As a side note, despite all the internet forum trash talk you might hear about CBS-era Fenders, don't neglect them as desirable guitars—a number of very collectible Teles stem from those years, like early ’70s Thinline and Deluxe Telecasters with their Seth Lover-designed Wide Range humbuckers.

Check out our Rare Vintage Collection and snag yourself a once-in-a-lifetime beauty!

What Makes Your Perfect Vintage Tele?

Hetherington acknowledges there are different versions of the iconic Telecaster—whether it’s pickup configurations or solidbody and thinline variations—so, given all these factors, when you're on the hunt for a vintage Tele, the first thing you need to think about is just which Telecaster you want to own.“Before you start looking, know what you want,” Hetherington says. “Make a list of the features that are important to you—like the year, the color, the neck profile and any specific pickup configurations you're after.”

Pictured: 1968 Fender Custom Telecaster in Sunburst Bridge and Controls

Another consideration is if you're looking for a player-quality guitar that you can take out on gigs without freaking out if it gets another small ding or scratch, or a collector-quality guitar that you want to preserve as a longterm financial investment. (Not that player-quality guitars can't also gain value.)

“Vintage Telecasters hold their value really well,” says Hetherington. “If you get one in good condition, it could maybe even appreciate over time. Plus, there's just something cool about owning a piece of music history.”

Once you've got your list of what you want in a vintage Tele, you're not quite ready to start shopping yet, though. It's time to do a little homework.

How to Research a Vintage Fender Telecaster

We know that you're eager to find that vintage treasure—who wouldn't be? But before you embark on that quest, it's crucial to equip yourself with knowledge about these instruments' history, evolution and market value. So, you first need to learn what to look for and what to look out for. This section will give you a little bit of a head start.

Pictured: 1968 Fender Paisley Telecaster

What Changes Have Been Made to the Telecaster Since 1951?

Throughout the over 75 years that the Broadcaster/Nocaster/Telecaster has existed, there have been a number of changes, some subtle, others not so subtle. From the gradual slimming and rounding of the neck profile over the course of the 1950s and early 1960s to the shift from brass to steel barrel bridge saddles, it's important to know what changed when. Since guitarists have always loved to tweak the hardware and pickups on their instruments, having this knowledge will help you determine if the one you're looking at has its original parts, or if it's been changed. As Hetherington observes, “Originality is really important when it comes to vintage guitars. The more original parts it has, the better. And condition is crucial too—you don't want a guitar with lots of changed parts or repairs unless you plan on restoring it.” As an added plus, having those original parts is a big part of maintaining the longterm value of the instrument if you're buying for investment.

We don't have room to list all of those changes here, though we do sum up a lot of them in our Guide to the Fender Telecaster. Entire books have been written on this, like Tony Bacon's The Telecaster Guitar Book, which has an exhaustive timeline of Tele models and feature changes, as well a great look at some of the iconic Telecaster players over the years, so we urge you to start your research there. That being said, here's a quick timeline of some major, easy-to-spot feature changes:

Changes to the Fender Telecaster's Fingerboard

1951–1959: One-piece maple neck, no separate fingerboard

1959–1962: Rosewood “slab” fingerboard

1962–1983: Thinner, curved, rosewood “round-lam” fingerboard

1967–1970: Maple fingerboard offered as option

1970: One-piece maple neck returns

Pictured: 1961 Fender Telecaster in Blonde with Slab Rosewood Fingerboard

Changes to the Fender Telecaster's Tuners

Pre-1951: Tuners stamped “Kluson Deluxe” and “Pat. Appld”

1951–1957: Tuners had plain covers

1957–1964: Tuners stamped with “Kluson Deluxe” in vertical line

1964–1966: Tuners stamped with “Kluson” and “Deluxe” on parallel, vertical lines

1967–1976: Proprietary “F”-stamped tuners

1976–1983: Schaller manufactured tuners with closed cover

Pictured: 1966 Fender Telecaster in Olympic White Tuners

Changes to the Fender Telecaster's Neckplate

1954–1965: Four-bolt neckplate with stamped serial number

1965–1971: Four-bolt neckplate with stamped serial number and reverse “F”

1971–1976: Three-bolt neckplate with stamped serial number and reverse “F”

1976–1981: Serial number moved to headstock, three-bolt neckplate with stamped reverse “F”

1981–present: Four-bolt neckplate with stamped reverse “F”

Pictured: 1968 Fender Custom Telecaster in Sunburst Neckplate

What Is the Value of a Vintage Fender Telecaster?

Another important aspect to shopping for a vintage Telecaster is knowing what it's worth—both how much the market price is and how much it's worth to you. After all, if you're buying one to play, you might want to find a deal on a more well-played instrument and put in a little work. Don't underestimate sweat equity.

The best approach to this is to spend some quality online time looking through vintage inventory to see what going prices are for various models in varying conditions. The ideal place to start is with our listings at Guitar Center Vintage. This will also help you determine what kinds of deals are available. Of course, the guitar is more desireable the more authentic/original the instrument is. Which leads us to the next crucial consideration in your journey toward your vintage Fender Telecaster.

How to Check Authenticity on a Vintage Fender Telecaster

Now that you're armed with some great insights about vintage Telecasters, it's time to put them to work. Our vintage expert Hetherington sums it up, “There are so many places we find vintage guitars these days. You've got online marketplaces, guitar shops and regional shows, and there are always auctions, too. And that doesn’t even speak to the guitars that walk in the doors of our stores.” Hunting on your own can be a challenge, though. When buying a vintage Tele from Guitar Center Vintage, all of these steps will have already been taken by our entire team of experts, but it's still valuable to learn some important factors, so you know what questions to ask. The following sections cover much of how Hetherington and his team verify the guitars they buy.

Pictured: 1952 Fender Telecaster in Blonde

How to Read Fender Telecaster Serial Numbers

•  “Serial numbers are really important when it comes to determining the age of a Telecaster,” says Hetherington. You should always check if the serial number matches the expected range for the guitar's model year with a handy serial number decoder, cribbed from one of the appendices in The Telecaster Guitar Book we mentioned above. Serial numbers on Telecasters can be on the bridge plate for very early guitars, or, more frequently, on the neck plate.
• At Guitar Center Vintage, our team has learned to be wary of guitars with no serial number or one that doesn't match the expected range, as they could be replicas or have had their neck plate or bridge replaced.

Date Stamps

• Look for penciled or stamped dates on the end of the neck and in the routed pocket under the bridge to help determine the guitar's age. They should be close in time, but a gap of more than several months might indicate some non-original parts.

Checking for Original Parts and Electronics

• Inspect the guitar's hardware, pickups and electronics to ensure they're original to the instrument. On Teles, a good thing to check is the pickguard, as well. Are they slot head or Phillips screws? Is the pickguard single-ply or multi-ply? Some early. To mid-’50s Teles may be transitional instruments that mix these features.
• From a collectability standpoint, be cautious of guitars with aftermarket or non-original components, as that can impact authenticity. If, on the other hand, you’re buying a guitar as a player, those components may be what you’re looking for on that front.

Check the Finish

• Use a little portable UV/black light flashlight to check the finish. Black light can reveal finish touch-ups and repairs that you might not otherwise notice. A refinish isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but you certainly want to know about it.

Ask About the Telecaster's History

• Inquire about the guitar's history—ownership, modifications made and any available documents like an original bill of sale or certificates of authenticity. A well-documented history is always nice but not always necessary.

Once we’ve determined the level of authenticity/originality, it's time to turn to evaluating the overall condition and playability of the guitar.

How to Evaluate the Condition of a Vintage Fender Telecaster

Okay. Now that you've got some knowledge on the basic dating factors of the vintage Fender Telecaster you're looking at, it's time to turn to overall condition and playability factors. As a starter, it's time to cast your mind back to the section on "What Makes Your Perfect Fender Tele" (you took notes, right?) and keep that in mind while you're looking it over. Does it have the neck profile you were looking for? The pickups? The finish? The vibe? With that checklist fresh in your mind, let's move forward.

Pictured: 1971 Fender Custom Telecaster in Suburst with Bigsby-Style Tremolo

Here's a basic checklist and some tips that Hetherington gave us to go through:

1. Inspect for normal signs of wear: Some playing wear is completely normal and can add that extra bit of vibe. Pick scratches and finish checking are inevitable, but the amount of "patina" that's acceptable is totally up to you. Fret wear is also to be expected but should be relatively minor.

2. You already went over the finish above, but do it again with the assistance of your black light to make sure you didn't miss anything.

3. Check structural integrity—look for repairs or modifications that might impact playability and value. Examine the neck, body and headstock for cracks or other structural issues. As with checking the finish, an inspection with your trusty UV flashlight can reveal otherwise invisible repairs.

4. Inspect the guitar's neck pocket to ensure it's tight, there's no sign of excessive wear on the bolt heads and that the bolts match.

5. Check the action at the 12th fret, which should be around 3–4 mm or 3/32"

6. Check the truss rod to make sure that it's neither cranked all the way tight nor so loose it rattles.

7. Check the bridge saddles for wear and for height adjustment. If they're cranked all the way up or down, that might indicate issues with the neck that they're trying to compensate for.

8. Check intonation at the 12th fret to make sure it's not so far off that it can't be adjusted.

One last tip from Hetherington—it's always good to go shopping for vintage instruments with a knowledgeable friend, especially if this is your first vintage purchase. They might notice things that you don't and might keep you from being a little too impulsive (hey, we've all been there).

If at this point, everything has checked out and you think, "Yeah! This is the one," it's time to think about buying that Telecaster and taking it home.

How to Purchase Your Vintage Fender Telecaster

This is where all the study you've done really comes into play. You've gone over the guitar, you know how well it matches your mental checklist of the perfect vintage Telecaster, and you know what your budget is. Now it’s time to plug it into one of the many great amps available in the store—maybe even a unique vintage one—and get a feel for how it plays. If you and the guitar find that special connection, and the price is right, go for it.

Taking Care of Your Vintage Fender Telecaster

So now you own your very own vintage Tele. Congratulations! Vintage guitars are great, but you always need to bear in mind that, like many senior citizens, they may need some extra tender care to maintain their value and playability. Hetherington offered us some care and maintenance tips to pass along.

Pictured: 1966 Fender Telecaster in Olympic White Headstock

“Store your vintage Telecaster in a climate-controlled environment, away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. And be careful with it—these guitars are often played-in already, so you don't want to add any more damage. Remember, regular maintenance is key for keeping your vintage Telecaster in top shape. That means regular setup adjustments, occasional fret dressing and maybe even an annual service with a professional luthier.”

Come to think of it, that's all good advice for the guitars you already own, too. We stock all the maintenance and care supplies you need—polish, cleaners, fretboard conditioner, humidity control products and the like, so drop by your local Guitar Center or go online at guitarcenter.com and stock up. All your guitars will thank you.

For a more in-depth explanation on how to properly care for your electric guitars, check out Five Ways to Care for Your Electric Guitar.

The Thrill of the Hunt

We know you're itching to go play that new old guitar, but we'd like to leave you with a final thought. Once you've bought your first vintage guitar, you will, in all likelihood, want another one. Finally tracking down the guitar you've been looking for, especially something rare, is an excitement like no other. It combines an Indiana Jones-type of quest with the gathering of esoteric knowledge that culminates in discovering something that's more than just a guitar. It's a piece of history, and its history will continue through you. It's kind of humbling in a way. But the key with it is, as Joe Bonamassa told us when we talked with him at a recent special Vintage Event at our Hollywood store, "Have fun with it." So, get out there and have some fun.

If you're interested in learning more on the process of researching and purchasing a vintage Stratocaster and/or Les Paul, be sure to check out How to Buy a Vintage Fender Stratocaster and How to Buy a Vintage Gibson Les Paul.

If a vintage Tele is a bit out of reach and you're curious about Fender's current Tele offerings, check out A Guide to the Fender Telecaster.