1971 Fender Rosewood Telecaster
Maker
Fender
(American, founded 1946)
Date1971
ClassificationsMusic
Description1971 Fender Rosewood Telecaster, serial number 334797, in natural finish. Its pots are dated to the 36th week of 1966, which is to be expected on this 1971 model as Fender purchased a huge stock of pots in 1966 and continued to use these parts through the early 1970s.Fender introduced their first electric guitar, the Broadcaster, in 1950. The name was short-lived, as guitar manufacturer Gretsch had previously trademarked “BroadKaster” and challenged Fender’s use of the name. Fender responded by removing the name altogether, manufacturing their electric guitars without a label into early 1951, which later was referred to as the “Nocaster” era. By mid-1951, Fender settled on a new name for its dual-pickup electric guitar: Telecaster.
This Telecaster was part of a limited run of entirely rosewood guitars manufactured by Fender from 1969 to 1972. George Harrison played a prototype rosewood Telecaster during The Beatles’ final public performance on the rooftop of Apple Corp in January 1969. Fender began production of all rosewood Telecasters soon after due to popular demand.
First seen as a novelty instrument, the Telecaster did not gain popularity until the mid-1950s when country music guitarists adopted it for its twangy sound. The guitar then became popular with rock and roll musicians such as Joe Strummer, Keith Richards, and Chrissie Hynde.
