Travel Author Tom Stienstra

Tom Stienstra

Telecaster for sale
1977 Fender Telecaster Custom - The Magic Sound -- $2,950

This is a vintage American beauty, a rare treasure in studio, on stage, in the garage or at home -- a showpiece -- and comes with original tweed case and original, framed full-page display ad. This particular model, color, condition, sound, playability and accessories are extremely desirable and difficult to find. This fine stringed instrument has been the choice of legendary guitarists Keith Richard (Keef) of the Rolling Stones and Ray Nichols of Merle Haggard's Strangers, as well as Radiohead, Lee Renaldo, Wilco and many others. This Telecaster Custom is now available for the first time for sale by its original and only owner, Tom Stienstra. It has minimal use as primarily a recording studio guitar. It was played by the owner for soundtracks for an ESPN outdoors TV show and a special on CBS-San Francisco.

The look
This Fender Telecaster Custom features the rare and prized black-on-black finish, with white border on pick guard. It is 100 percent untouched stock, original Fender Humbucker pickup at neck and Fender Tele pick-up at bridge, untouched electrics, original ash tray bridge cover, tuners, neck, fretting, and all other accessories. Finish is polished. Neck is smooth polished with classic Fender skunk stripe. Wear is extremely minimal, rare stellar condition for a guitar 29 years old. The neck is clean with zero finger wear on front or hand wear on back. The guitar has two very small dings, too small to discern in a photo, one nick on the bottom edge of the neck at the 9th fret, and another at the top outside edge of the body where it tucks under your right arm. There are some faint pick marks on the pick guard; these too are too faint to show up in a photo.

The sound
This is a remarkable sounding instrument, among the most desired of any Fender guitar - many manufacturers, including modern Fender, have failed in attempts to copy it. On stage it blows away all Stratocasters, new-era Telecasters and Les Pauls. This Tele bridge pick-up provides unbelievable bite and sustain. The Humbucker pick-up provides unbelievably fat, deep and sonorous tones. When you mixed the sound between the two pick-ups, the result is the best of both worlds, both striking and penetrating; the sound that many professionals die for until they get this guitar in their hands.

The playability
Ideal string spacing on a highly polished aged C-style neck and makes this guitar feel like you're cutting warm butter when running the neck. Individual strings are easy to find without thought. String size provides unique impacts. .010s provide the best all-around sound for most conditions -- but .011s provide sledgehammer rhythms and low-end power and .009s provide string-bending capability and lightning-fast, soft touch runs. The present owner changed strings according to the desired effect in studio.

The investment
This prized example has gone up in value each year. Models in similar stellar condition have been advertised for $2500 to $4,000 in Vintage Guitar magazine. The original Humbucker pick-up alone has sold for $200 to $500. New guitars start losing their value the moment you write your check, and cannot provide anything close to the same magic sound, feel, playability and investment. Accessories
This guitar comes with original tweed case. Exterior is extremely worn that says: "Inside is a vintage instrument." Case interior is near mint, bright red and unfaded. The buyer will also receive a 30-year-old framed one-page Fender advertisement that appeared when the guitar was introduced.

Shipping
Guitar will be professionally boxed and shipped by Herreid's Fender Guitar & Music Shop, in Redding, California at a cost of $30.

Buyer's remorse clause After paying in full, buyer has 48 hours after taking possession of purchase to return for 90 percent refund, excluding shipping, providing guitar is in same condition as when purchased.

Initial contact:
Tom Stienstra
tstienstra@sfchronicle.com
or
P.O. Box 151, Mount Shasta, CA 96067