Ask Zac Episode 18 - The Maple Cap Neck Telecaster Story

I love maple cap neck Telecasters, and I give you the why, and the history of these guitars that were only made in large quantities from 1966-1968. The maple cap necks began to appear after Fender switched from maple necks, to a maple neck with a separate rosewood fretboard in 1959. Hold outs wanted a maple neck, so Leo began to quietly offer guitars that had a separate maple fretboard. These "maple cap" necked Telecasters lack a skunk stripe on the back of the neck, or the walnut plug on the headstock. The earliest versions are from around 1962 and 1963. By 1966 they are standard issue, and are being produced in large quantities. In early 1969, Fender reverts to 1 piece maple necks with the skunk stripe, and the maple cap neck era is over.

Some Great Telecaster reference books:

The Fender Telecaster: A Detailed Story of America's Senior Solid Body Electric Guitar https://amzn.to/343Aq3Y

Tony Bacon's Telecaster book  https://amzn.to/2xG8SWg

Gear for this video

1967 Telecaster

D'Addario XL120+ 9.5-44 strings https://amzn.to/3a5qxVi

1965 Deluxe Reverb with Celestion Vintage 30 speaker