The “In-Depth Comparison” series is back for the first time in about 20 years. Back
then, I was known as “Macchan,” but I’ve since grown up to become Matsui, the store manager at TCGAKKI… (Though maybe I haven’t really grown up that much…)
Today, I’d like to introduce the Rosewood Telecaster! As many of you probably know, this is a rare and valuable Telecaster that was first released in 1969 and produced in very limited quantities in 1970 and 1972.The image of George Harrison playing one in the “Let It Be” music video is incredibly famous, and I think it’s a guitar that the Beatles generation has always admired. In this article, we’re boldly conducting a thorough comparison between
this rosewood Telecaster and a Fender Japan model. This is a bold comparison that only our store—which has no barriers when it comes to manufacturers or distribution—can pull off! Please enjoy.
A Thorough Comparison! Rosewood Telecasters
1. Appearance
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
1982 Fender Japan TL69
*Both have a captivating look! The gloss and the rosewood grain are beautiful, giving each a truly unique presence. To be honest, just by looking at them at a glance, it’s probably impossible to tell which is the original and which is the Fender Japan model.
2. Logos
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
1982 Fender Japan TL69
*Although the logos have the same shape, the original features a black outline with a lighter shade of gold and includes the “Registered Trademark” symbol, indicating it’s registered with the Patent Office. The Fender Japan version features a black outline with a very deep gold color and does not include the “Registered Trademark” symbol.
3 Tuning Pegs
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
1982 Fender Japan TL69
*There is a decisive difference in the tuners. The original is equipped with Schaller tuners, commonly known as “F-keys.” The Fender Japan model is equipped with Gotoh-made Kluson-style tuners.
4 Frets
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
1982 Fender Japan TL69
*The Fender Japan model has a width of 2 mm, but since the height has been reduced, the actual height is unknown; it gives the impression of being wide and relatively low. The original also has a width of 2 mm, and since it has been filed down, the actual height is unknown. While Fender gradually began installing taller frets in the 1970s, this model still uses relatively low frets.
5 Neck Width, Thickness, and Shape
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
The neck profile is slightly tapered toward the side in the lower positions, resembling a soft V-shape, but it takes on a C-shape in the higher positions.
Nut width: 41.4 mm
; neck width at the 1st fret: 41.9 mm;
neck thickness one fret below the 1st fret: 21.7 mm
; neck width at the 12th fret: 50.6 mm;
neck thickness one fret below the 12th fret: 23.6 mm
1982 Fender Japan TL69
*C-shaped neck: Nut
width 42 mm
; neck width at the 1st fret 42.3 mm;
neck thickness 1 fret down 20.7 mm
; neck width at the 12th fret 44.5 mm;
neck thickness 12 frets down 22.2 mm
*To be honest, I didn’t expect the difference to be this significant. The original has a more pronounced taper and is wider, but when I actually played it, the neck didn’t feel that thick. The Fender Japan model also doesn’t feel that thin when played, but when you look at the actual measurements, there’s a significant difference.
6 Body Shape, Thickness, Weight, and Construction
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
Body thickness: 44.6 mm;
Weight: 3.63 kg
1982 Fender Japan TL69
Body thickness: 44.5 mm;
Weight: 4.16 kg
*While there is some margin of error in the thickness measurements, the weight difference is quite significant. Although both feature hollow-body construction to reduce weight, the original model is lighter. Both are constructed with maple sandwiched between rosewood layers in the center, a structure that can be seen in the control cavity. Honestly, the Japan model appears to be crafted with greater care.
7 Pickups
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
Bridge pickup resistance: 6.19 kΩ;
Neck pickup resistance: 5.8 kΩ
1982 Fender Japan TL69
Bridge pickup resistance: 10.35 kΩ; neck pickup resistance: 9.25 kΩ; this marks the final era of the gray bobbin pickups.
*While resistance values alone don’t tell the whole story about sound, the Fender Japan model clearly has higher output. Since rosewood is a hard material that doesn’t easily allow sound to resonate within the body, it’s possible that Fender Japan deliberately chose to use higher-output pickups.
8 Potentiometers, switches, capacitors, jacks, and wiring
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
The pots are Stackpole, the switch is CRL, and the capacitor is Circle D. The pickups use enamel-coated wire.
1982 Fender Japan TL69
The pots are CTS, the switch is CRL, and the capacitors are Circle D; the build quality is on par with U.S. models, and the parts are solid. The pickup wiring is cotton-insulated, indicating that the pickups are also U.S.-made.
*In terms of the quality of the parts used, there is virtually no difference. However, considering the pickup wiring, the Fender Japan model has a slight edge.
9 Pickguard
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
This model uses a pickguard that’s very characteristic of that era, with tortoiseshell-patterned celluloid on the bottom layer of the three-ply construction. The exact reason for this isn’t clear, but it was likely because they had leftover celluloid originally purchased for Mustang models. As a result of this, the pickguard inevitably swelled significantly; the expanded tortoiseshell layer affected the entire piece, eventually causing the pickguard to crack. Honestly, I think, “I really shouldn’t have done that…”
1982 Fender Japan TL69
This is a standard three-ply black/white/black plastic pickguard. Since it neither swells nor shrinks, I can remove it with complete peace of mind.
10 Strap Pins
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
1982 Fender Japan TL69
*Neither has any distinctive features, but the original screws are wood screws.
11 Screws
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
* Tuning peg mounting screws
* Joint fastening screws
* Pickguard mounting screws
* Bridge mounting screws
1982 Fender Japan TL69
* Tuning peg mounting screws
* Joint mounting screws
* Pickguard mounting screws
*Bridge mounting screws
*There are differences in the screws used in various parts.
12 Bridge and Saddle
1970 Rosewood Telecaster
1982 Fender Japan TL69
※Neither has any particularly distinctive features, but the original screws are wood screws.
(Overall Impression)
This isn’t just because I’m Japanese—I’m not letting my bias cloud my judgment. To be blunt, the Japanese-made models are more precise and solidly built. However, strangely enough, when it comes to the airiness of the sound and the richness of harmonics, the original models have the edge. While this is true of Fender guitars in general, the roughness of the construction actually becomes a defining characteristic of the overall sound, creating what is often referred to as the “Fender sound.”Fender Japan guitars have a cohesive sound that leans toward a clean tone, and this cohesion stems directly from their solid construction—a characteristic often cited as part of the overall impression of Japanese-made guitars.The reason Fender guitars have taken the world by storm
to this day—and vintage models command such high prices—is that they were essentially “finished products” from the very beginning. The fact that they were manufactured more like mass-produced factory goods rather than artisanal instruments actually had a positive impact on their later sound—a rather ironic reality for those who seek out and craft guitars as true musical instruments.While this is just
my personal opinion, I believe it was the Japanese who laid the foundation for Fender. From the launch of Fender Japan to the training of staff at the Corona and Mexico factories, and even the proposal for relic processing, the cornerstones of Fender’s success would not have been possible without the Japanese.
As a Japanese person and a huge fan of Fender guitars, I intend to spend my entire life exploring and enjoying them.
Author: Matsui (Store Manager, TCGAKKI)
Joined TCGAKKI after serving as store manager at Kyoritsu Gakki’s Shinjuku branch. As a store manager, he has overseen a wide range of genres, including the vintage guitar floor, electric basses, amplifiers, and parts. He is one of the industry’s leading experts in electric guitar sales, deeply trusted by renowned musicians. His favorite band is B’z. His hobbies include horse racing and golf.
Qualifications and Achievements: 20 years as a musical instrument appraiser; has contributed as a writer and supervisor to publications such as *Guitar Magazine*
▶︎Articles Written
: “Real Closet Classics” ~ An Unused
1961 Stratocaster; “1951 Fender Nocaster ‘PROTO’”
The History of Tuners: A Journey Through Famous Brands; “The History of Pickups
and the Trajectories of Great Musicians” Column
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