1957 Fender Telecaster
The 1957 Telecaster is a benchmark pre-CBS Fender — Formvar-wound pickups, maple neck, and the string-through-body bridge that gives the Tele its signature snap and sustain.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Recent Sales
Showing 9 verified sales for 1957 Fender Telecaster. Reissues, replicas, and parts listings are filtered out.
Specifications
| Body Wood | Ash (blonde) or Alder (other colors) |
| Neck Wood | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Maple (integral) |
| Scale Length | 25.500" |
| Frets | 21 |
| Pickup Config | SS |
| Bridge | 3-saddle string-through-body bridge |
| Tuners | Kluson Deluxe single-line |
| Nut Width | 1.65" |
| Finish Options | Blonde, Sunburst, Custom Colors |
Pickups & Electronics
Two single-coil pickups with Formvar-wound wire. The 1957 pickups are among the finest vintage Tele pickups — rich, complex tone.
What Changed in 1957
Truss rod moved to headstock adjustment. Alder body introduced for non-blonde models. The mid-1950s Telecaster is at peak pre-CBS quality.
Collector's Notes
Blonde ash-body examples are the most traditional Tele aesthetic. Custom Colors command large premiums. All-original 1957 Teles are increasingly rare and valuable.
How to Authenticate a 1957 Fender Telecaster
Check the serial number on the neck plate (or headstock for later models). Fender serial numbers were not strictly sequential — the neck date stamp (penciled on heel) and body date stamp (neck pocket) are more reliable for precise dating. The neck date stamp (penciled on the heel, visible when the neck is removed) is the single most reliable dating method for Fender guitars. Body dates in the neck pocket or under the pickguard corroborate. Pot codes should read 304 (Stackpole) or 140 (CTS) followed by date codes from 1956-1957. Pots should predate the guitar by no more than 12-18 months. The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer — under UV/blacklight, original nitro fluoresces differently than modern polyester or polyurethane. Nitro finishes check (develop fine cracks) and wear naturally. Refinished guitars often have a too-perfect look. One-piece maple neck with no separate fingerboard — verify this construction. Pre-CBS Fender (before January 1965 acquisition). Spaghetti logo on headstock. Cloth wiring throughout. Three-way switch (five-way not available until mid-1970s). Kluson tuners. Slab body (alder or ash). Two single-coils (bridge and neck). Three brass saddle bridge is standard pre-CBS. Check for replaced tuners (original Kluson Deluxe single-line should be present), refrets, body routing modifications, and any filled screw holes. Original custom color finishes are verified by examining color in pickup cavities and under the pickguard. Original case adds provenance value.