Vintage Vibes: 1970 Fender Rosewood Telecaster
VINTAGE VIBES: 1970 Fender Rosewood Telecaster
Shelby says there's something in the way this 1970 Rosewood Fender Telecaster moves. Most commonly associated with George Harrison of The Beatles and Traveling Wilburys fame, the Rosewood Telecaster was designed for Fender in the 1960s by former Rickenbacker luthier Roger Rossmeisl. This 1970 model differs from the original Rossmeisl prototype Fender gave Harrison in that this body is two pieces of rosewood bound together, whereas Harrison's was solid rosewood. But you'll see it weeps just as gently, if not more so. Don't let us down, Shelby.
Shelby Describes the 1970 Fender Rosewood Telecaster

The Rosewood Telecaster became synonymous with one iconic guitar artist, a gentleman by the name of George Harrison from a band called The Beatles. If you don't know who the Beatles are, stop watching this video. Look that up, then come back.
The Rosewood Telecaster was designed by Roger Ross Maisel, who started his career with Rickenbacker and moved to Fender in the mid-'60s. The Beatles began their career playing Rickenbackers, so when Fender gave the prototype to George Harrison, they gave him a guitar that was designed by the very same man. A fitting end as George decided to play it in their last public performance on The Abbey Road Studio rooftop in 1969.
The original version of this guitar is quite heavy because rosewood is an incredibly dense wood. So what they did for this 1970 Rosewood Telecaster is swap the solid body for two pieces of rosewood sandwiched together, giving this '70 model a lighter, chambered body.
Fender produced the Rosewood Telecaster from 1968 to 1972, but it's unclear how many. They were never very popular. It's only in retrospect that these have become a coveted piece of history.



SHOP VINTAGE FENDER
Related Posts
Fender | Player II
Named for their player-friendly features, Fender Player II Series instruments feature Modern “C”-shaped necks with rolled fingerboard edges, 9.5”-radius fretboards, and medium jumbo frets—plus, a new neck tint for a more classic vibe.
View DetailsBOSS | Katana V3 Amplifiers
Take your guitar-playing ambitions to the next level with the new generation of Boss Katana V3 amplifiers! Available in 100-watt and 50-watt amp head or combo amp options (1x12” or 2x12”)—as well as the flagship Artist options, which offers 100 watts of Class AB power in both head and combo amp options—the Boss Katana V3 series provides guitar players with an indispensable centerpiece for studio recording, live performance, and daily practice.
View DetailsPRS | DGT 15 Amplifier Head & Cabinet
Designed from the ground up to rival David Grissom’s favorite vintage amps, the PRS DGT 15 comes packed with tone-sculpting features to go from sparkling cleans to heavy overdrive, offering Texas-style tones that transcend the limitations of typical single-channel amps. Learn more about the latest PRS Guitars amplifiers Chicago Music Exchange's Soundboard Blog today!
View Details