For Sale: 1986 Fender Japan TL52-65SPL BLD “Micawber” Keith Richards Telecaster – Vintage Natural MIJ w/ Tweed HSC

Up for sale is a 1986 Fender Japan TL52-65SPL BLD “Micawber” Keith Richards-style Telecaster in Vintage Natural, complete with a non-original tweed hard-shell case.

This is a very cool and increasingly hard-to-find Made in Japan Tele from the Fujigen era, built in the style of Keith Richards’ famous Micawber Telecaster. With its white ash body, one-piece maple neck, maple fingerboard, black single-ply pickguard, and vintage-style Tele appointments, it captures the look and feel of one of the most iconic Telecaster styles out there.

Condition

This guitar is in very good condition and I would rate it a solid 8/10. It shows light scratches, dings, some tarnish to the hardware, and some clear coat wear on the fingerboard in the first few fret areas from years of use. Please review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.

There are no cracks, breaks, or structural issues. The neck is straight, the frets are in good shape, and the guitar plays well up and down the neck with no issues. It has also been recently professionally set up and is ready to go.

Specifications

Model: TL52-65SPL BLD
Year: 1986
Made in Japan (MIJ)
Serial Number: F022465
Finish: Vintage Natural / Blond
Weight: 10 lbs 2 oz

Body: White Ash
Neck: 1-Piece Maple, Thin C Shape
Fingerboard: Maple
Radius: 7.25"
Frets: 22 Vintage-Style
Nut Width: 1.67"
Neck Depth: .83" at the 1st fret, .90" at the 12th fret
Pickups: 2 Fender Japan TL-Vintage Single-Coils
Bridge: 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Telecaster Bridge
Pickguard: Single-Ply Black
Case: Non-Original Tweed Hard-Shell Case

Tone & Feel

This guitar delivers the kind of punchy, lively Tele tone you would expect from a good ash-bodied Fender Japan reissue. It has clear highs, strong attack, and that dry, snappy response that works especially well for classic rock, country, and blues. The 7.25" radius and vintage-style feel keep it firmly in that old-school Tele territory.

At 10 lbs 2 oz, this one is on the heavier side, which some players really prefer for the added solidity and response.

Transparency & Photos

As with all Guitar Chimp listings, detailed photos are provided of the actual instrument. At the end of the photo set, you’ll find close-up images taken under direct lighting to highlight any wear. We don’t just describe the condition — we show it in detail so there are no surprises. Many customers tell us our guitars often arrive in better condition than expected.

Why Buy From Guitar Chimp?

With over 18 years of experience, Guitar Chimp is trusted by players and collectors worldwide for high-quality, player-ready instruments. Every guitar is thoroughly inspected and professionally set up by our in-house luthier.

We are experts at shipping and have safely shipped thousands of guitars all over the world. Every instrument is professionally packed, fully insured, and shipped with signature confirmation, so there is no risk to you as the buyer. We know how to pack and ship guitars so it arrives safely.

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This 1986 Fender Japan TL52-65SPL BLD “Micawber” Keith Richards-style Telecaster is a great-playing Fujigen-era MIJ Tele with classic looks, lots of vibe, and the kind of honest wear that suits the model well.

🎸 Jerald – Guitar Chimp
Providing The Finest Guitars, Basses & Amps Since 2006