The Fender Thinline Telecaster holds a special place in the history of Fender guitars. While it is undeniably a Telecaster, it’s often viewed more as a cousin than a brother to the Telecaster. In this article, we’ll discuss the construction of the Fender Thinline Tele, highlight the key differences from a regular Tele, and discuss why you may want to consider adding a Telecaster Thinline to your guitar collection.
Brief History of the Fender Telecaster Thinline
The Fender Thinline Telecaster was introduced in1968. Fender had a bit of a materials problem at the time. Though by this time Alder was the primary wood on many of Fender’s guitars, Ash was still used often, particularly for Telecasters. Fender originally made Telecasters from lightweight Swamp Ash, which is specially selected ash that grows in wet areas, and is usually fairly lightweight. However, by the late 1960s, Fender’s Ash was mostly heavier Northern Ash, which translated into heavier guitars. Fender’s solution to this problem was the Thinline Telecaster.
Thinline Construction
The body features a semi-hollow design, consisting of a solid center block running through the middle of the body, and hollow chambers on either side. Interestingly, the Telecaster Thinline body is constructed by hollowing out the body from the back, then gluing a piece of wood onto the top to seal the guitar.
Fender’s original Thinline bodies were made of Ash or Mahogany. At the time, Mahogany was an unusual body wood for a Telecaster, and invited comparisons with the Les Paul. The most noticeable feature however, was the single F-hole on the upper section of the body.
The finish on original Thinlines was a clear finish, one that highlighted the wood grain and natural color. Eventually, custom colors and sunburst colors were offered.
Key Differences from a Regular Telecaster
The table below shows key differences of the Thinline Telecaster.
| Specification | Thinline Telecaster | Standard Telecaster |
| Body Type | Semi-hollow | Solidbody |
| Body Wood | Ash or Mahogany | Ash or Alder |
| Pickups | Single Coil or Wide Range HB | Single Coil |
| Pickup Mounting | Pickguard Mounted | Body Mounted |
| Control Plate Mounting | Pickguard Mounted | Traditional Mounting |
| F-Hole | Yes | No |
This was the first Telecaster where the neck pickup was mounted on the pickguard, instead of being screwed directly into the body. The Telecaster Thinline pickguard mounting would eventually become the standard mounting for Fender’s non-vintage Telecaster models.
Thinline Tones
With its hollowed out body, you might expect a Thinline to sound drastically different. Surprisingly, this is not the case! Though the body is mostly hollow, Thinlines have a centerblock, and guitars with centerblocks tend to sound more like solidbodies than truly hollow instruments (Gibson’s ES-335 is a good example of this).
Wide Range Humbuckers
One of the biggest differences is in the pickups. While Fender’s first version of the Thinline came with standard Telecaster pickups, later iterations (called Version II) used the Wide Range Humbucker, designed by Seth Lover (formerly of Gibson).
The Wide Range pickup differs from a standard humbucker in that it has magnetic pole pieces, like a single coil pickup. It also lacks the bar magnet found in traditional humbuckers.
Compared to a typical humbucker, Wide Range Humbuckers exhibit extra “Fender-like” clarity. It’s as if Fender wanted to compete with Gibson, but also realized that their signature tone was brighter and clearer than most humbuckers.
Compared to a typical humbucker, Wide Range Humbuckers exhibit the clarity we associate with classic Fender pickup designs. It’s as if Fender wanted to compete with Gibson, but also realized that their signature tone was brighter and clearer than most humbuckers.
What Does A Thinline Really Sound Like?
It’s not accurate to say that there’s no difference in tone between a Thinline and regular Tele. Rather, it’s just less than you might think. Many assume that a hollowed out body and humbuckers equates to warm, fat, jazzy tones. And to some extent it does, but remember, the neck pickup on a regular Telecaster can get round and mellow too. There is a bassy warmth in a good Thinline.
You can hear the rounded twang of a Thinline in this video from Fender Guitars. They demonstrate both clean and distorted tones, and I think you’ll agree that a Thinline is still very much a Telecaster.
Famous Thinline Players
Jonny Buckland of Coldplay is perhaps the most renowned lover of Thinline Teles. Curtis Mayfield played one in the 1960s for his soulful sound, and Buck Owens used one for his signature traditional country sound. Bill Frissell is known to use Thinline Teles in a jazz context.
Fender Thinlines Today
Some products are smash hits straight away, while others take years to gain momentum in the market. Thinline Teles fall into the later catetory. Although the Thinline wasn’t overly popular when it was released, Fender has continued to produce Thinline models at various price points. Examples of Thinlines available today are:
- Fender Modern Player Telecaster Thinline Deluxe
- Squier Classic Vibe 60s Telecaster Thinline (60’s inspired)
- Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline
- Fender 72 Thinline Telecaster (70’s inspired)
- Squier FSR Thinline Telecaster
- Telecaster Squier Thinline
- Squier Paranormal Cabronita Telecaster Thinline
- Fender American Vintage II 1972 Telecaster Thinline
- Fender Custom Shop Limited-edition Rosewood Telecaster
- Fender Britt Daniel Telecaster Thinline
Since it’s introduction, the Thinline has been tried and modified in various ways. Naturally, there are now Telecaster Thinline Bigsby models available, as well as P90 models. The unique sound of P90 pickups work great in a Tele, giving you everything you like in a single coil, but fatter. Two great examples of the P90 sound in a Tele are the Squier Paranormal Cabronita Thinline Telecaster, and the Jim Adkins JA-90.
Conclusion
The Fender Thinline Telecaster is indeed a bit of an outsider. Born out of necessity, it’s it’s every bit a Tele, but then some. ingle coil models sound very close to regular Telecasters, but with the benefit of reduced weight. In models with Wide Range Humbuckers, the Thinline Telecaster offers a distinct voice, but one that is still unquestionably Fender. Whatever your sound, there’s a good chance that a Thinline Tele can get it for you.
Here are a few recommended Thinlines:
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