Fender Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe – On The Bench #guitar #fender #fendertelecaster #telecaster

I recently picked up a couple of brand new Fender loaded bodies in auctions on eBay for a great price. I paid about $350 each. They were both Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe bodies with all of the electronics and hardware.

Used condition to new condition a Vintera 70s Telecaster Deluxe guitar ranges in price from $650 used to $1100 for new.

The model I am showing in this video has not been replaced by a Vintera II model. There is sort of a new version of this guitar as a Vintera II that has a Stratocaster tremolo as the bridge and not a fixed hard tail bridge. I do not consider it a replacement.

I then ordered new Vintera three bolt bullet truss rod necks and the F style tuners for another $350 for each guitar. So, I ended up with two brand new guitars for about $700 each.

I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The original version of this guitar was Fender’s attempt at offering a solid body, dual humbucker guitar in 1973. Probably to compete with the successful Gibson Les Paul. Most big ‘70s rock bands had some sort of rock god guitarist leaning back with a Les Paul slung low while playing on stage. This included Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and other bands.

Fender had recruited Seth Lover (inventor of the Gibson PAF Humbucker) in 1967 to design a new Humbucker pickup for Fender. The end product was the Fender Wide Range humbucker pickup. These days the pickup has gained popularity and clones/copies are manufactured by Telenator, Lollar, MojoTone, and Seymour Duncan to name a few.

The Fender Deluxe had marginal success while in production until 1981.

Then in the late ‘90s and early 2000s the Telecaster Deluxe was discovered by a newer generation of guitarists and this led to the first reissues of the model. I was in this group. I was able to pick up an original at the time from a pawn shop for a very low price. I so regret being a moron and selling the guitar a few years later. I have since owned several of the different reissue models that are American made.

The Vintera model in this video is a made in Mexico version with the following specifications.

The body is made of alder and finished with a gloss poly finish.

The 3 bolt Neck is Maple with a Thin “C” shape that has a Scale Length 25.5″, Neck Radius of 9.5″, with 21 Vintage Frets, the Nut Width is 1.650″ and all of this is finished with a gloss urethane finish.

The Neck and Bridge Pickups are Fender® Wide Range Humbuckers

Controls 2 Volume / 2 Tone / 3-Way Toggle Switch

Fender Stratocaster hard tail bridge and saddles.

My guitar weighs 8 Ibs 7 oz

Observations

The Fender American Vintage Il 1975 Telecaster Deluxe goes for $2300 new. Which in my opinion is ridiculous when I look at this guitar. Both guitars have a poly finish. The American guitar’s pickups (Authentic CuNiFe® Wide-Range Humbucking) are different, the guitar comes with a Bone nut, and the guitar has a nice case. Used the American version is still above $1500 per unit.

There is an American Professional II version of the guitar. Brand new the AP II goes for about $1749 and used it goes for about $1200 and up. The AP II has V mod Pickups, 22 frets, a four-bolt neck, more colors, a three saddle bridge, and no bullet truss rod. It is more of a modern update on the classic.

I have owned one each of the American Vintage II and the AP II versions of the guitar. I can absolutely tell you that paying a $1000 more than the Vintera is not a bargain.

At the end of the day the Vintera model of this guitar is a much better bang for the dollar than its American counterparts for what you get.

The overall quality of the neck, tuners, fit and finish of the body, pickups and electronics are excellent. Putting this guitar next to the American Vintage II in a blindfolded test you would be greatly tested to tell which was which. I know I would be.

I used to look down on the Mexican made Fenders with disdain. This was out of ignorance. I think the value you get for the dollar you spent is incredible if you look for deals.