Fender Japan TC'72-65 Black 1983 JV Serial
Fender Telecaster Custom, black, made in Japan 1983. I love this guitar, it's got a lot of swagger. The first two years of Fender's Japan-made guitars bear a serial number starting with 'JV', which stands for Japan Vintage. These guitars have a huge reputation: they were considered the best instruments Fender had produced since the 1960s in terms of sound, feel and historical accuracy. The Tele Custom launched in 1972, featuring a shiny new Wide Range humbucker, designed by electronics wizz Seth Lover, paired with some LP-style controls and a cool oversized pickguard. The Japan version only came out in 1983, so this is a first year example. Folks who love JV stuff will know what I mean when I say this: the neck is magic. The maple is tightly grained with amazing details, carved to a comfy rounded U shape with excellent fret and finish work, and it feels like a million bucks. I'm not totally sure if the neck pickup is a USA-made example or if they're made in Japan, but it sounds great. It's warm, fat and full, with a pleasing balance of shimmering detail and weighty low end punch. The bridge pickup is slicing and open, with a pronounced midrange attack and plenty of clarity. The tone controls for each pickup open up a bunch of possibilities: winding back a little of the brightness on the bridge or doing full doom-grade sludgy goodness on the neck are both fun options, although there's a bunch more too. For a guitar of this age, this presents very well: it's in amazing shape. It's been played, and has the signs to prove it, but it looks fantastic. Tip: this won't be easier to find, or cheaper, in a few years... now is the time.
Model: Fender Japan TC'72-65
Made: Japan, neck date 20 Dec 1983, Fujigen Gakki factory
Serial: JV88657
Finish: black, gloss poly
Body: ash
Neck: maple, maple fretboard, 25.5" scale, 7.25" radius, 43mm nut, moderate U shape
Weight: 3.830kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Fender Japan TL-Vintage single coil (bridge), FHB Wide Range humbucker (neck)
Accessories: basic gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples and scuffs on the end and some dimples on the treble edge and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, dimples and some rub wear on the back only. The back has surface scratches and dents near the neck pocket, scuffs on both horns, surface scratches around the edges in the waist area, dimples along the back edge and elbow area and a small chip and some dents near the jack. The sides have scuffs around the front strap pin and on the top horn, a chip and some dents and dimples in the elbow area and near the jack. The front has dimples around the knobs, bridge and elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/46 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only