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Post subject: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing good?
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 10:13 pm
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I just got a '99 U.S. Fat Telecaster, S/N N9506xxx. It's got the maple neck, which from reading a few other threads, were apparently only made for a couple of years before being switched to all rosewood. It's got the silver humbucker bridge pickup. I'm really curious if this guitar is really all that rare given it's not a California Series and has the maple neck. Honestly, in my first spin, it feels pretty strange given my only other electric is an '06 AmDlx Strat. The Fat Tele is the candy apple red, white pickguard, maple neck (I'll post pics tomorrow when I take some). Back to my original question, is this really a good find? Should I hang onto it (doubt I'll play it much) or sell to someone who'll appreciate it more (again, if it's really become a little bit of a hard-to-find type of guitar). I'm really on the fence about this one.


Last edited by kuharris on Mon May 21, 2012 6:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 6:54 am
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Finally took a few pics this morning.
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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:36 am
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First of very nice Fat Tele - looks to be in really good shape!

Here is when I wish I had retained all those old Fender Frontline catalogs from the late 1990s -early 2000s. I just don't remember Fender actually discontinuing the maple fingerboard for these. If they did, I don't believe that happened until at least 2003 (the final update of this style Tele); I know they were available with both maple and rosewood from the time they were introduced (circa 1998) until at least 2003 - so that would be 7 years of production. Of course also not every color was available every year either.

I would say it's a fairly rare production Fender, but not so rare that it will become a true "collectable". As long as you're happy with the Tele I would just keep it - it's always nice to have a couple of different types of guitars around.

EDIT: Fixed typo - while the "hot rodded" American Standard Strat models came out in 1996 the Tele didn't come out until 2008.


Last edited by John C on Mon May 21, 2012 8:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:46 am
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Thanks, John! This is the thread where it was discussed about the maple necks only being produced for two years or so: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=44766

It's really not all that relevant as I'm not a "collector". I buy guitars to play them vs. saving them. I appreciate your input. I'm just brand new to Telecasters and am trying to get used to the difference from my AmDeluxe Strat, which is my only other electric. I've got lots to learn about how to play these to get the different kinds of sounds out of them. Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 8:41 am
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Yep - I remember that thread and actually posted on it a couple of years ago. :D

There is another thread here on various "odd" Tele models that has the spec sheet for the January 2003 revision of this guitar (the name changed to Tele SH - S for "single" and "H" for "humbucker) that indicates they were available with both maple and rosewood fingerboards. What is missing is a spec sheet for the time period between 2001 and 2003 to see for sure if the rosewood was dropped. Forum member chromeface has a lot of details on what was produced then, but some of his details are only applicable to what Fender sold in other countries, not to what they sold here in the USA.

Here is the other thread (if this doesn't post up, the spec sheet for the 2003 version is the first post on page 2 of the thread):

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=50649&start=15


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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 6:14 pm
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Beautiful Telecaster!


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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 10:01 am
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The Tele SH was initially offered without pickguard and S-1 switch, featuring an Atomic II humbucker in the neck. Later versions were available with a 1-ply black vinyl pickguard (changed to 3-ply white parchment in 2005), Fender Enforcer neck HB and S-1 switch. Fender discontinued this model in late 2006/early 2007.


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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 9:30 am
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I have a sunburst, maple neck US Fat Tele that I bought new around 1997 or 1998. My guitar-playing buddy had seen it at Guitar Center and said "You have to see this guitar". I bought it on the spot. It sounds marvelous through either my 1961 blond/oxblood Tremolux or late 90's blond/oxblood Blues Deluxe. Can get anything from a nice jazz vibe to traditional Tele twang. After hearing this guitar for a while, the friend who pointed it out to me offered to buy it from me (at a profit!). Shortly after I bought it, they stopped making the maple neck version and even the rosewood one was hard to find.

[img]c:/documents/US%20Fat%20Tele.jpg[/img]

I saw the "California Fat Tele" (a much cheaper guitar) in a few places and tried playing it....it had the traditional 3-piece tele bridge and a rather metallic (and to me unpleasant) sound...and no jazz vibe at all, which for me is the reason for having the humbucker.

My friend wound up assembling one from parts, using quilted maple body. He still has that guitar.

I doubt you will find many US Fat Teles (especially with the maple neck) for sale anywhere. I suspect (and certainly hope!) that it's value will remain high and increase due to its rarity.


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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:25 am
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Can someone tell me how to post a picture here??


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Post subject: Re: U.S. Fat Telecaster '99 - Maple Neck - is this thing goo
Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:25 am
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Using the IMG tags with your HDD's location will not work. You must create an account within an image host (ImageShack, PhotoBucket, Flickr) and upload your photos there in order to make the tags functional.

The IMG function requires an URL address and an Internet connection otherwise it couldn't work.


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