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Fender 72 Telecaster Thinline Reissue Reviews  5 / 5 based on 6 reviewsThis was a '72 Telecaster Thinline with ash body and natural finish.
Primarily a singer, I've been playing guitar for about 10 years, been in a band (drummer!), and have continued to record and play with other musicians on a non-professional basis. My styles range from folk to hard rock, with heavy power-pop leanings -- Big Star, not Green Day.
I played this guitar for about 20 minutes at Guitar Center in Hollywood, CA. It was selling for around $750.
The neck is bigger than most Fenders I've tried but pretty comfortable. The sound seems to evoke elements from other good guitars: It has the volume, power and growl of humbuckers, but also has a pretty nice attack and treble cut, like a Telecaster. The pickups have an appealing, almost Gretsch-like character and the guitar's responsive to right-hand dynamics, making it a great rhythm guitar. The natural finish looks pretty good. And because of the semi-hollow construction, this guitar is light.
This is one of those lower-end Fenders that feel cheap. I own a Lite Ash Telecaster made in Korea, and that one blows this '72 Thinline away in terms of construction quality and hardware. And the Lite Ash Telecaster's price tag is a good $120 below the Thinline.
I don't know whether this '72 Thinline is Mexican or Korean, but I think there are some serious issues. The chrome volume and tone pots both feel loose and actually wobble sideways, feeling like they were improperly fitted. And the body feels rougher, as if the finish weren't applied well.
Finally, if your point is to find a Fender that sounds Gibson-esque, this guitar doesn't do it. The neck pickup with the tone backed off still doesn't have enough jazzy sweetness, and it can't do SG-style neck-pickup wails, either. You can get a nice, woody overdriven sound from the neck pickup for rhythm, but it doesn't do Gary Moore- or Slash-style leads.
Doesn't feel great. Basically this was a guitar that feels used even though it's new.
This is a good guitar if you like the unique attack of the Telecaster but need more volume and muscle in the sound. It's not a substitute for a Les Paul or SG if you want the bluesy, wailing Gibson/PRS lead sound, but the Telecaster Thinline does rhythmic parts well. I think construction quality is an issue here, though. I don't like "reliced" or "beat-up" guitars, and if I were to pay $750 for a new guitar, I want it to feel new and pristine. This one doesn't, and I felt like the control pots would fall off in a week or two. That was enough to offset many of the positive points about this guitar. I might want to use this guitar on a recording, but I'd be hesitant about buying one unless they fixed the quality issues. Derek Mok rated this unit on 2008-12-25. I am currently a solo rythme guitarist and songwriter recording demos and hoping to start/join an indie band.
After buying a 335 I decided that I wasn't a Gibson player, as a £1,700 Gibson didn't give me as much pleasure as my £300 Fender Standard Stratocaster. I always wanted a tele and so went to Machinehead in Hitchin to buy the Lite Ash model. After trying it out for about half an hour I just couldn't justify purchasing it (my strat can pretty much cover similar tones) and tried out the Thinline Telecaster just to kill time while I decided what to do.... but after strumming two chords I'd fallen in love. It cost me £675 (this included a beautiful setup by Machinehead).
I've finally found the perfect medium ground between the (sometimes) shrill distorted tones of my strat and the heavy, murky tones of a 335. This humbuckered Thinline Tele growls and purrs beautifully, I've never been so satisfied by a guitars' output and overall sound. Initially I wasn't too sure about the "U" shaped kneck (as I didn't get on with the Gibson style) but found it helps me even more (being a novice to medium player). Also as a semi-hollow guitar it's body width isn't too bulky and unmanagable, it's even lighter than my strat. The model I bought was the one with the natural finish and it's just so stunning and stylish to look at, I'm so proud I bought it.
Apparently the 3 bolt neck plate can cause tuning problems in the future (if you're planning on keeping it for about 30 years, which I certainly am, hehe) but that's the fault of those crazy 70s designers, and I suppose the reissue has to stay faithful to the original specs.
The construction is sturdy but light (making it so easy to play standing up), the natural finish and "f" hold is very classy.... it's just perfect from top to bottome.
After being in denial about thinking the sun shone out of Gibsons backside, I've finally come to terms with the fact that Fender make the electric guitars for me, and the '72 Telecaster Thinline feels like it was made to satisfy every playing need I have. Whether clean or distorted, this leccie is simply one of a kind. Buy it, buy it now!! :o) if u want to ask me more I'm at www . myspace . com /tokyoone James rated this unit on 2007-02-24. At one time I owned a MIJ model and I really missed it so while in Iraq I saved my money, went on leave and it was waiting for me back home at the Music store.
it had a beautiful finish and you know that 70s appeal the tone is good at one time I owened a Lespaul standard and I had to tune it everyday but the 72 reissue that was leaning aganist the wall was always dead on
So while in Iraq i,m drooling for this guitar waiting for that crowning moment when I would walk through the doors of the music shop and get my Guitar ,first thing sloppy neck pocket very disapointed you could slide a thin pick right down in there, and when I tried it out the bridge pickup did not work so the store checked it out and it was dead can you imagine that what happened to quality control? and it really needed a good set ,The music store got a new pickup and it,s fine now.
with the exceptions already mentioned everything else was fine great finish and hardware I must say that it,s one off the best looking guitars that fender makes
I have a another tele MIM and its great can,t say enoutgh good about it It,s solid as a rock but I believe the MIM guitars need tighter quality control so every guitar coming out of Mexico should exceed standards mastercaster rated this unit on 2006-03-16. Well, I play for my church, i have been playing for 3/4 ish years, i like rock music
I bought it at Guitar Center For $700 With a Hardshell case.
It's great, great neck great feel, great sound.
uhhm mine came with a nick, other than that, the lack of replacable pickups, plus u have to get the right pick guard.
Great except for the nick
I would reccomen this guitar highly Joe Faity rated this unit on 2005-12-28. I bought it at guitar center new, because i wanted to upgrade from my epiphon e series xplorer. i bought i with a case for 700.
It is a telecaster! curved neck great feel, great tone! great action, all around a great guitar.
well the pick guards would be hard to find, but its 4 ply, and the pick ups would be hard to find.
Great, built well, like i said from the 4 ply pick guard, all the way to the tuners, built like a rock!
over all a great but if you like a more meaty feel this wouldnt be for you but if u love smooth and sleek, GREAT BUY Joe Faity rated this unit on 2005-04-14. Purchased at Sam Ash Music in Edison, NJ, for just under $670
great looks, excellent playability, amazing sound, light weight
Not a single thing. Well, except for the fact that it only comes with a gig-bag; I'm a real fan of hard-shell cases. But, I rectified this shortcoming with a nice 'tweed' case from Musician's Friend for under seventy American dollars.
I was a little unsure about how I'd like the Mexican reissue, but its quality is superb in every respect. This Tele has quickly become my preferred guitar, to the sad exclusion of my '88 American Strat.
Way back when, after cutting my electric guitar teeth on a 1969 Gibson SG, a friend of mine lent me his original '72 Tele Thinline, and I instantly became a Fender man. It was the maple neck that did it more than anything; I loved the feel and the way my hand and fingers just felt a part of it instantly. Since then, I have waited, nearly patiently, for my own Thinline, and was thrilled to see that Fender reissued this holiest of my personal grails. Since purchasing mine, I simply can't imagine how I got along without one. Run, do not walk, to your local music store and strap one on. I'll wager the mortgage that you'll walk out with it. Now if only Fender would reissue the Starcaster... Bill Martinak rated this unit on 2003-07-12.
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