‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s Fender Telecasters: What’s The Difference?

• The Origins of the Fender Telecaster
• ‘50s Fender Telecasters
• ‘60s Fender Telecasters
• ‘70s Fender Telecasters
• Which Telecaster Era is Right For You?
• Fender Telecaster Ranges
• ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Fender Telecasters: FAQs
• Maple vs Rosewood Telecaster Fingerboard: Which Sounds Better?
• Want To Learn More?

The Fender Telecaster was the world’s first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar, and it still proudly holds its own today. As one of the most beloved and iconic instruments of all time. Loved by many for its crisp, cutting tone and stripped-back simplicity, the Tele has long been a favourite across plenty of different genres, including country, rock, funk, and punk. Quite simply, it isn’t a stretch to call the Telecaster one of the most beloved and iconic instruments of all time.

A lot about the Fender Telecaster has changed over the course of its fruitful existence, but one constant throughout its lifespan is that unmistakable single cut, T-style guitar silhouette. However, while the famous form has remained practically unchanged since the early ’50s, the Telecaster has undergone several subtle but important changes from decade to decade. From tonewoods and pickups to neck feel and circuitry, each generation has added a chapter to the Telecaster story.

In this guide, we’ll explore the differences between Fender’s ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Telecasters and check out what sets them apart, how they feel, and which one might be right for you.

The Origins of the Fender Telecaster

It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that before the Telecaster, there was nothing quite like it. Fender launched the Broadcaster in 1950 as a revolutionary new electric guitar design: solid-bodied, bolt-on neck, and mass-producible. Due to a trademark dispute, the Broadcaster was briefly renamed the ‘Nocaster’ before finally taking on the Telecaster name in 1951.
The idea was simple enough: create a reliable, affordable, and great-sounding guitar that could withstand the rigours of touring and studio work. And thanks to its minimalist, no-nonsense layout, featuring a single-cutaway slab body, two single-coil pickups, and a straightforward control scheme, it didn’t take long for musicians to take the Tele into their hearts.
What it might have lacked in flash, the Telecaster more than made up for in reliability, versatility, and that characteristic twang. With a warm, almost jazzy, neck pickup and a bridge pickup that delivers a bright, biting tone that can cut through any mix, plenty of players saw the Tele’s potential, with country strummers, blues noodlers, and future rock idols all quick to adopt the humble guitar.

Fender Telecaster

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‘50s Fender Telecasters

Following the trademark dispute with competitors Gretsch, Fender decided to refresh, rename and re-spec the original Broadcaster. The final outcome was the first recognisable Telecaster, which we all know and love today. The classic ‘Tele twang’ is a timeless sound that works brilliantly for pretty much everything, from pop through to rock and more niche genres, as well as providing a blank slate for intrepid guitar effects.

The secret ingredient to the ‘50s Tele tone is, of course, the single coil pickups. However, as variables like magnet type and number of windings hadn’t been standardised across the production line in the early days, each individual Tele sounded slightly different – so there was a bit of pot luck with which one you got to try out at the guitar store! That said, there were some typically Tele sounds that players could expect, including a warm, articulate and punchy sound, thanks in particular to the flat pole pieces. Additionally, early ’50s models featured the so-called ‘dark circuit’, which rolled off high end on the neck pickup to simulate a bassier tone. This was eventually replaced by a more traditional tone circuit later in the decade.

One aspect of the ‘50s Telecaster that some players find tricky to navigate at first is the chunky old-school U-shaped neck, which might feel a little on the thick side if you’re accustomed to a modern guitar setup. That said, many love the thicker neck shape filling out the palm of the fretting hand, and the rounded fretboard is ideally suited to fretting chords and big string bends.

‘50s Tele Key Features

• Ash wood body
• Maple neck and maple fretboard
• Two low-output single coil pickups
• 7.25-inch fretboard radius
• Deep ‘U’ shape neck pattern
• Three-saddle fixed ashtray bridge

Modern ‘50s Telecaster recreations include:

• Vintera II ’50s Nocaster
• American Vintage II 1951 Telecaster
• Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster

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‘60s Fender Telecasters

The 1960s ushered in a new era of guitar-centric music, and Fender introduced several Telecaster design changes to accommodate these new demands. By the turn of the decade, playing feel had become a key issue that they simply had to nail down. Guitarists were becoming increasingly technical, with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page all pushing the boundaries of the instrument. 

With the aim of providing a sleeker playing experience, the thick neck was switched out for a thinner ‘C’ shape, while the fretboard radius was expanded to 9.5 inches to make those string skips and legato runs much more manageable.

To hit that modern sound and provide more versatility, Fender also played with the wiring. They removed the dark circuits and gave Telecasters new pickups that were better able to handle the higher gain levels and thick-sounding germanium diode fuzz that was popular at the time. The added introduction of staggered pole pieces also allowed for a tighter frequency balance across all strings, while the switch to enamel wiring offered a more defined, scooped voicing.

But the changes didn’t stop there! Fender also played around with their choice of tonewoods, swapping out maple fretboards for the deep brown hue of rosewood and introducing alder bodies in a range of solid colour finishes.

The end result of these changes was a go-to guitar for session players and emerging rock musicians, who wanted a no-nonsense instrument that could handle anything they threw at it, from surf to soul to psychedelia.

’60s Tele Key Features

• New rosewood fretboard
• Alder bodies for coloured finishes
• Expanded 9.5-inch radius fretboard
• Slimmer ‘C’ shape neck
• Tweaked pickups with staggered pole pieces

Popular ‘60s-inspired models include:

• American Vintage II 1963 Telecaster
• Vintera II ’60s Telecaster
• Squier FSR Classic Vibe ’60s Custom Telecaster

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‘70s Fender Telecasters

The 1970s marked a new era for Fender, both stylistically and structurally. After the company’s sale to CBS in 1965, mass production and cost-saving took on a much bigger focus. As a result, ’70s Teles gained a reputation for heavier builds – and some quirky design changes!

Cost-cutting changes began with the introduction of polyurethane finishes, which, while more durable than nitro paintjobs, can result in a guitar with a tad less resonance. Neck profiles got chunkier again, often including bullet truss rods and three-bolt neck attachments. Larger “CBS-era” headstocks, block logos, and cheaper but heavier ash bodies all became the order of the day.

However, one great thing to come out of the ’70s was the in-house wound Wide Range humbuckers. Up to that point, Telecasters were equipped exclusively with single coil pickups. But the introduction of humbuckers provided a completely new dimension to the Tele sound, putting it closer in line with other humbucking competitors. Humbucker-configured Teles are great for heavier rock and that love/hate jazz fusion tone.

‘70s Tele Key Features

• Introduction of Wide Range humbucking pickups
• Options for single coil/humbucker and humbucker/humbucker pickup configurations
• Independent volume/tone controls to reflect pickup changes
• Options for six saddle bridges
• Extended pickguard shape
• More fancy finishes

Modern versions of the ’70s Tele include:

• Vintera II ’70s Tele Deluxe
• American Vintage II 1975 Telecaster Deluxe
• Squier Classic Vibe ‘70s Telecaster Deluxe

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Which Telecaster Era is Right For You?

Choosing the right Telecaster for your style and playing preferences can make all the difference to your Tele experience. As we’ve laid out above, each era offers its own distinct character, from the bright twang of the ’50s to the chunky humbucker power of the ’70s. So, to help you pick, here’s a quick summary of all the key points:

You might prefer a ’50s Tele if:

• You love vintage aesthetics and clean, spanky tones
• You favour country, rockabilly, or roots music
• You like the feel of a chunky maple neck

A ’60s Tele could be ideal if:

• You play classic rock, blues, or soul
• You want a more balanced, comfortable feel
• You prefer rosewood fingerboards and vintage colour options

Choose a ’70s Tele if:

• You play heavier rock, punk, or funk
• You want more output or humbucking options
• You dig retro styling and larger necks

Fender Telecaster Ranges

Whichever decade-specific Telecaster piques your interest, Fender offers a nice spread of price points to choose from. At the top end, you can’t beat a Custom Shop Telecaster guitar. They’re some of the best guitars in the world, offering the closest likeness to their historic counterparts. The Fender Custom Shop team take extreme care to get every spec spot on in line with the originals. If you like a certain date-specific feature, for example, a ‘U’ shape neck, but prefer hotter ’60s pickups, they’ll go out of their way to get it done.

The USA-made American Original line boasts the best of the production line woods and hardware, a naturally ageing nitro finish and an option for pickups by heralded designer Tim Shaw. The only major difference between these and an original Tele spec from the era is the updated modern fretboard radius.

Fender Standard Telecaster Guitars

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Fender Player II Telecaster Guitars

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Fender Custom Shop Telecaster Guitars

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Fender American Professional II Telecasters

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’50s, ’60s and ’70s Fender Telecasters: FAQs

What’s the difference between ’50s and ’60s Telecasters?

The main differences are in the body wood (ash vs alder), fingerboard (maple vs rosewood), and neck shape. ’50s Teles sound a touch brighter but feel chunkier, while ’60s versions are smoother and rounder, both in tone and playing experience.

Are ’70s Fender Telecasters good guitars?

It’s true that CBS-era instruments sometimes had inconsistent quality, but many ’70s Teles are prized for their bold sound and cool looks. They’re essentially heavier and more aggressive than earlier Tele versions, but they’re great for funk, punk, and classic rock.

What’s the difference between a Telecaster Deluxe and Standard?

The Deluxe features dual humbuckers, a larger headstock, and a Strat-style control layout, giving it a thicker tone and more versatility than the classic single-coil Tele.

Is a Telecaster better than a Stratocaster?

That depends on what you’re after! Teles are simpler, twangier, and often more direct. Stratocasters are more versatile, with extra pickup options and a contoured body. Whichever way you go, both guitars are absolute classics.

Maple vs Rosewood Telecaster Fingerboard: Which Sounds Better?

Maple has a snappier, brighter tone with more attack, while rosewood feels a bit warmer and smoother. As with so many guitar construction materials, it mostly comes down to feel and your personal preference.

Want To Learn More?

Check out these related articles:

• ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Fender Stratocasters: What’s the Difference?
• ’50s vs ’60s Les Pauls Guitars: What’s the Difference?
• Fender Standard vs. Player II vs. Squier Classic Vibe

Or browse our full selection of Fender Telecasters and find your perfect match today!

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