1986 Fender Japan TL67-70SPL Telecaster "Sonny"
This guitar was originally a Japanese reissue of one of Keith Richards' guitars, named "Sonny" because it was sunburst. My one has had the sunburst finish stripped. Keith's one is a 1966 model that he keeps tuned in open G and with the 6th string removed.
Keith Richards playing his "Sonny"
Credit: Paul Bergen / Redferns
I believe that the model TL67-70SPL can be decoded as follows: TL = Telecaster, 67 = 1967 re-issue (even though Keith's is actually a '66), 70 = original price (70,000 Yen), SPL = special build. Apparently these were only built for the Japanese market.
With the replacement neck pickup
as I received it
With the original humbucker reinstalled (sounds spectacular)
This guitar has been heavily modified but I have reinstalled the original Gibson style Humbucker in the neck position, which sounds stunning especially with both pickups turned on. The finish has been removed and the body is bare wood treated with Danish oil. If it is the original body it would be white Ash but if not it could possibly be Alder. It has the original very heavy solid brass bridge and saddles but the brass humbucker pickup surround and the brass control plate and knobs are not original.
When I got this guitar the neck had been very badly re fretted so I had to spend some money getting the frets removed, fingerboard revarnished and frets put back in properly. It has a 9.5 Radius Fretboard and the weight is 4.05kg or 8.9lbs.
Upgrades included:
- New Fender 51 Nocaster Pickups (one of which has now been replaced with the original humbucker)
- Brass control plate and knobs
- New CTS 250K Pots with Fender 3 way switch
- New GOTOH sealed tuners the same as originals
- New stainless steel frets
