For Sale: 1995 Fender Japan MIJ TL52-65SPL ’52 Micawber Keith Richards Telecaster – Butterscotch Blonde | Tweed HSC

Up for sale is a 1995 Fender Japan MIJ TL52-65SPL ’52 Telecaster in classic Butterscotch Blonde, complete with a non-original tweed hard-shell case.

This is a very cool and increasingly hard-to-find Fender Japan Telecaster with unmistakable Keith Richards “Micawber”-inspired styling. The combination of an ash body, one-piece maple neck, black single-ply pickguard, and vintage-style Telecaster hardware gives it the classic early-’50s look that has become synonymous with Richards’ famous Tele.

Built during a highly regarded era of Fender Japan production, this TL52-65SPL delivers vintage Fender aesthetics with excellent Japanese craftsmanship.

Condition

Excellent – 9/10

This guitar has been played and shows light scratches, a few dings, and some tarnishing to the hardware from normal use.

There are no cracks, breaks, or structural issues. The neck is straight, the frets are in good shape, and the guitar plays cleanly up and down the neck with no buzzing or dead spots.

It has also been recently professionally set up and is ready to play.

Please review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.

Specifications

• Model: Fender Japan TL52-65SPL

• Style: ’52 Reissue / Micawber-Inspired Telecaster

• Year: 1995

• Country of Manufacture: Japan

• Serial Number: U049212

• Finish: Butterscotch Blonde

• Body: Ash

• Neck: 1-Piece Maple

• Fingerboard: Maple

• Neck Profile: Thin C

• Fingerboard Radius: 7.25"

• Frets: 22 Vintage-Style

• Nut Width: 1.67"

• Neck Depth: .85" at 1st Fret / .91" at 12th Fret

• Pickups: Fender Japan TL-Vintage Single-Coils

• Bridge: 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Telecaster

• Pickguard: Single-Ply Black

• Weight: 8 lbs 10 oz

• Case: Non-Original Tweed Hard-Shell Case

Micawber-Inspired Styling

The combination of the Butterscotch Blonde ash body, black pickguard, and maple neck immediately evokes the look associated with Keith Richards’ legendary “Micawber” Telecaster.

Rather than being a modern interpretation of the Tele platform, the TL52-65SPL stays firmly rooted in vintage Fender territory with its traditional radius, vintage-style frets, three-saddle bridge, and straightforward Telecaster layout.

It’s a particularly cool Fender Japan model for players who appreciate the stripped-down look and attitude of Richards-style Teles.

Fender Japan TL-Vintage Pickups

A pair of Fender Japan TL-Vintage single-coil pickups provides the familiar clarity, bite, and attack associated with a traditional Telecaster.

The ash body and vintage-style construction complement the straightforward electronics, making this a natural fit for classic rock, blues, country, roots, and other styles where a responsive Telecaster shines.

Tweed Hard-Shell Case Upgrade

This guitar includes a non-original tweed hard-shell case, which is a substantial upgrade over having the instrument supplied with a soft gig bag.

The rigid construction provides significantly better protection for the guitar during storage, transportation, and shipping, while the traditional tweed exterior is also a perfect visual match for a vintage-inspired ’52-style Telecaster.

It makes for a more complete and protective package and is a valuable addition for a Fender Japan instrument of this age.

Transparency & Photos

The photos show the exact instrument you will receive—no stock photos.

Close-up images taken under direct lighting are included at the end of the photo set to clearly document the scratches, dings, hardware tarnish, and other signs of use.

Many of our customers tell us their guitars arrive in better condition than expected.

Why Buy From Guitar Chimp?

With over 20 years of experience, Guitar Chimp is trusted by players and collectors worldwide.

• Professionally inspected and set up by our in-house luthier

• Honest, accurate condition descriptions

• Real photos of the actual instrument—never stock images

• Thousands of guitars and basses shipped worldwide

• Professionally packed, fully insured, and shipped with signature confirmation

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