Fender Japan Standard Telecasters

The TL354

The TL354 is a little odd in that there is a Fender version and a Squier version which are very similar. It started in the mid to late 80s and it isn't clear when the Fender version stopped, but it is hard to find any that are dated after 1990. The Squier version however dates from 1985 to at least 1996. I can't find the Fender model in any catalogues.
To complicate the issue even more there is a Fender and a Squier TL354 made in Korea in 1987. The models are very losely based on a 54 Tele, but have no pretensions to vintage re-issue.
The MIJ Squier and the Korean models are covered elsewhere on this site.
Some specs
Body Usually Alder some Ash
Neck Maple C shape
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Standard Telecaster 2 string trees with Fender usually the serial number and Telecaster Made in Japan
Pickups 2 Alnico in standard tele style
Tuners Gotoh Sealed Diecast
Nut 1.65"
Pickguard Sinle ply 8 hole white or black depending on body colour
Usual Tele controls 3 way with 1 volume 1 tone rounded Knurled Chrome controls
Bridge usually 6 saddle chrome toploader

Pictures




A rare one

This is a 1985 A serial number in Ash with a string through 3 saddle bridge factory fitted
it is clearly marked as a TL354 and I am assured is all original

Telecaster Standard Series

The next time I can find reference to a standard model is in the 1995 Twang and here is where things get weird, the Standard series shows 4 guitars with Japanese designations the Telecaster is the TL-35 but it also shows Fender standard designation numbers for them as well in the case of the Tele it is 13-3202 which is the designation for a Mexican made Squier series Telecaster. It is made of Poplar and is obviously not a Japanese made guitar. This is the only time I have seen anything other than Japanese made guitars in a Twang, then in 1996 it is still there as TL-35 but with the tell tale 13-3202 gone, in 1997 it is q TL-38 but that's just a price rise. In 1998 there is a change to what are obviously Japanese guitars. It is almost as if Fender Japan are trying to pass off MIMs as MIJs. Don't know what they would say on the headstock.

The Standard Tele in the Twangs are now
1998 TL-38j and TL-40j same guitar except for the colour
1999, 2000, 2001 TL43j same guitar as TL-40
2002 it has become the J Craft Standard same guitar and still TL-43 but the J has gone
2003, 2004 no change
by 2006 it has become the J Craft standard TL-50
By 2010 it has become the TL-STD still under the J Craft Standard banner.
Colours came and went started as Black or Vintage White on the TL38j or Blonde on the 40j thereafter other colours included Candy Apple Red, US Blonde, and Snow White.

All the above models are essentially the same guitar and look quite similar to the TL-354 but have different specs. Basswood bodies 250mm radius and only one string tree.

Some specs
Body Basswood Matt finish
Neck Maple C shape
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage frets 250mm radius
Headstock Standard Telecaster 1 string tree with Fender and Telecaster Made in Japan
Serial Number either on the back of the headstock or base of the neck.
Pickups 2 single coils in standard tele style may be ceramics
Tuners Gotoh Sealed Diecast
Nut 1.65"
Pickguard Single ply 8 hole white or black depending on body colour
Usual Tele controls 3 way with 1 volume 1 tone rounded Knurled Chrome controls
Bridge 6 saddle chrome toploader

Note You see a lot of these advertised as mid 90s mainly due to confusion over the S,T and U serial numbers