Description: 1957 & 1958 Fender Telecaster (Tele) guitar
Collectibility Rating: B
Production: no official (or unofficial) production numbers available.
General Comments:
The Fender Telecaster guitar is one of the most popular solidbody electric guitar ever made, and is the solidbody guitar that started it all. Early models (pre-1965, known as "pre-CBS" models, since CBS bought Fender in January 1965) are the most collectible. Originality and condition are the two most important features of a vintage Fender guitar, and Fender Telecaster, Nocaster, Broadcaster, and Esquires (Teles) do seem to have been easily modified (due to their "bolt together" nature).

Serial number range for the 1957 Fender Telecaster are generally 16000 to 25000 (some numbers with a "0" or "-" prefix) and is stamped into the rear metal neck plate. The serial number range for the 1958 Fender Telecaster is generally 25000 to 30000 (some numbers with a "0" or "-" prefix), again on the neck plate. If you need to figure out the exact year of your pre-CBS Fender Telecaster, use the serial number and the general features of the guitar. See the Fender Serial Number Info web page for help determining the year.

If you have a vintage pre-CBS Fender Telecaster (Tele) guitar for sale, please let me know. I am a private vintage guitar collector (not a store), and you can contact me at cfh@provide.net

See the next year's 1959/1960 Fender Telecaster guitar.
See the previous year's 1956 Fender Telecaster guitar.
Back to the main Fender Vintage Guitar Info webpage

1957 Telecaster specs:

• Most 1957 Teles have a neck with a "strong V" backshape.
• Sunburst finish done on a small batch of Telecasters, and then discontinued.

1958 Telecaster specs:

• Bridge saddles change from smooth to threaded saddles. Also the angle of the string height screws changed back to be about 90 degrees.
• Strings anchor at bridge ("top loading") instead of going thru the body (late 1958). This changed the sound of the Telecaster (and not for the better!)
• Neck is a thinner "D" neck shape (the famous "V" neck is gone). As 1958 progresses, the neck backshape gets thinner.