Fender Bigsby Telecaster Joe Riggio Refinished 1969 Blonde

No sales tax for customers outside California.

This 1969 Fender Telecaster is a factory Bigsby model that has received a killer, relic refin from Joe Riggio.  What an amazing job!  The original finish on the face of the headstock shows some serious color, so Joe added what guitar nerds like to call "tan lines" to the body in the refinish process, leaving the finish light under the pickguard, Bigsby, bridge and control plate, so the body would match the look of the headstock face. 

The headstock face is dark for a couple of reasons.  Fender would shoot the front of the poly-finished, late 60s and early 70s headstock with a blast of nitrocellulose lacquer over the logo to protect it.  This finish ages and takes on color over the years.  The poly finish on the rest of the guitar usually lags behind, though you will see blonde, poly Fenders yellow out as well.  The neck finish is original on the back - note how light the color is.  

The neck has been refretted, a welcome update as the stock frets on these guitars were really low from the factory.  The fretboard was refinished in the refret process, as is customary for poly finished, maple necks.

For a late 60s Tele, and especially one with a Bigsby, this guitar weighs a very reasonable 8lbs 13oz.. 

The guitar original where it counts, from the 66 pots to the F tuners.  You may know this factoid, but Fender bought a huge supply of CTS pots in 1966 when CBS had fully taken the company over, so you see 66 pots in instruments all the way into the 70s.  

This is a great player with a killer sounding set of original pickups.  It set up perfectly for us with a new set of 10-46 strings.  The truss rod is loosened all the way, so no additional relief can be added unless perhaps you move to 11 or 12 gauge strings.  You really don't want to use a Bigsby with 9 gauge or lighter strings anyway.

The original case is included.  One spot on the top of the case took a hit near the leather end wrap, but the rest of it is really nice with working latches and hinges.

• Color: Blonde
• Weight: 8lbs 13ozs
  
• Body: Ash
• Neck: Maple
• Neck Profile: See picture
• Fretboard: Maple
• Inlays: Black dots
• Frets: Re-fretted, jumbo.
• Fret count: 21
• Nut: Bone
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Radius: 7.25
• Scale: 25.5"
• Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.87"
• Neck thickness at 12th fret: 0.94"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 5/64"
• Total length: 38 1/4"
• Lower bout: 12 3/4"
• Waist: 9"
• Upper bout: 11"
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 3/4"
• String gauge: .011-.048"
• Hardware Color: Chrome
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Fender
• Bridge Pickup Reading: 6.80k
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Fender
• Neck Pickup Reading: 6.45k
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Original
• Knobs: Original 
• Switch: Replaced
• Pots/Codes: Original 304-6618
• Case: OHSC
• Notes:

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