Fender produced several Korean Fender branded Telecaster style guitars here are some details in no particular order
Like the equivalent Stratocasters these guitars are problematic for several reasons. They don't appear in any official documents that I can find.
The serial numbers are so prone to wear that they often appear to be blank unless you use a magnifying glass in bright sunlight,
this has lead to people assuming perfectly good guitars are fakes or stolen because of the seeming lack of serial number.
Very similar guitars bearing the Squier brand are much more common but they don't appear to be exactly the same the tuners
at least are different and who knows what else. Whilst there are definitely E10 Fender Telecasters I have never seen an E7 Telecaster
but as there are E7 amd E10 Strats it is possible there are E7 Telecasters
This is what I know from very little source material
Despite some sources the E10 was 1987, some suggest later but that's wrong. These are very good quality guitars built by Young Chang.
Specifications*
Body Alder and Maple
Neck Birdseye Maple Satin Poly finish
Fretboard Birdseye Maple 21 frets dot markers 12" radius
Headstock Natural with Fender Gold Transition Logo on the front and serial number and made in Korea on the reverse 2 string trees
Tuners Chrome Gotoh
Pickups Standard Telecaster design probably Ceramics
Controls Standard Telecaster Chrome
Nut
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 6 Saddle Chrome
Pickguard Black 8 hole
* These are the specs of the ones I know about there could easily be a version with a Rosewood board or a later style pickguard
Any additional information would be much appreciated.
Update November 2020
Roccobagadonut from the Squier forum knows as much about Fender/Squier Korean as anyone I know he informs me that the only
Telecaster made was the one E10 model shown above. Good enough for me.
Made in the Cort factory the Lite Ash was introduced in 2004 and continued to 2008 originally released in Natural only other colours later.
I have played one of these a bit my son owns one. Good quality I like these guitars.
Specifications
Body Light Ash polyurethane finish
Neck Birdseye Maple Modern C Satin Poly finish
Fretboard Birdseye Maple 22 Medium Jumbo frets 9.5" Radius Abalone dot markers
Headstock Natural with Fender Gold Transition Logo on the front and serial number and made in Korea on the reverse 2 string trees
Tuners Diecast Sealed Chrome
Pickups Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro 2 staggered x 2 1 black 1 chrome
Controls 1 Volume 1 Tone Chrome Knurled type 3 way switch
Nut 1.625"
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Vintage 3 Brass saddles
Pickguard Black Single Ply
Colours Natural, Black or Vintage White
Launched in 2006 and made for about two years, according to Fender this guitar was the first use of Koa wood
outside the custom shop. Made in the Cort Factory
Specifications
Body Basswood with a Koa Veneer top Polyurethane Finish
Neck Birdseye Maple Modern C Satin Poly finish
Fretboard Rosewood 22 Medium Jumbo frets 9.5" Radius Pearl dot markers
Headstock Natural with Fender Silver embossed Spaghetti Logo on the front and serial number and made in Korea on the reverse 2 string trees
Tuners Diecast Sealed Chrome
Pickups Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro 1 chrome 1 black
Controls 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.625"
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 3 saddle brass
Pickguard 8 screw 3 ply white pearl
Colours Light (antique) Burst only
Made in 2004/5 Cort Factory in two colours Black or Atlantic Blue. There was a second version of this model made in Mexico from 2008
Specifications
Body Basswood* Polyurethane Finish
Neck Set Neck Maple modern C polyurethane finish
Fretboard Rosewood 22 jumbo frets no front dot markers
Headstock Matching Fender Spag style logo in 2 string trees serial number and Made in Korea on Back
Tuners Black Sealed diecast
Pickups 2 Seymour Duncan Black Coverless Humbuckers Pearly Gates at the neck and a 59 reverse polarity at the bridge
Controls 1 Volume 1 Tone Chrome Knurled 3 way switch
Nut 1.625
Hardware Black
Bridge Black 6 saddle small hardtail
Pickguard None
* I have seen several listings where the body is said to be Mahogany but the Fender Frontline says Basswood
The Korean version of this is called the Telecaster Custom FMT in the 2003 Frontline and the Custom Telecaster FMT
in the 2004 Frontline. From 2005 it was made in Indonesia but appears to be the same guitar except for pickups. As is obvious from the name it is
distinguished by a Flame Maple Top
Specifications
Body Mahogany with Flame Maple Top Polyurethane Finish Cream Binding
Neck Set Neck Mahogany modern C polyurethane finish
Fretboard Rosewood 22 jumbo frets front dot markers
Headstock Matching Fender Spag style logo in 2 string trees serial number and Made in Korea on Back
Tuners Sealed diecast see hardware
Pickups 2 Humbuckers Fender Made 1 Atomic ii and 1 Black Canyon*
Controls 1 Volume 1 Tone Chrome Knurled 3 way switch
Nut 1.625
Hardware Black except on the Crimson Transparent which is brushed Chrome
Bridge Black 6 saddle small hardtail
Pickguard None
Colours Amber, Crimson Transparent, Butterscotch Blonde, Black Cherry Burst or Blue Transparent
* These are the pickups specified in the 2003 and 2004 Frontlines but I have seen several Korean made with
Seymour Duncans and it's hard to believe that so many have been changed so some could come with SDs the Indonesian ones certainly do.
Perhaps the pickup specs changed before they moved production to Indonesia. Again if anyone knows for certain please let me know.
The Squier series Standard Telecaster was produced from 1992 to 1994. This was made at the Cort factory a relatively
low quality model replaced by a Mexican made equivalent.
Specifications
Body Not sure seen it described as "Hardwood"
Neck Bolt on Maple radius probably 12"
Fretboard Maple 21 Frets dot markers
Headstock See picture plain 2 string trees serial number and Made in Korea on Front
Tuners Chrome sealed diecast
Pickups 1 plain metal 1 black angled probably ceramics
Controls 1 Volume 1 Tone Chrome 3 way switch
Nut 1.625
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Black 6 saddle small hardtail not through body
Pickguard 8 screw white
Colours Black, Red, Blue or White
There are three models all produced in 2003 for one year only. They are the GT, the Scorpion and the Celtic only slight differences between the models.
Specifications
Body Mahogany
Neck Set Mahogany Modern C radius 12"
Fretboard Rosewood 22 Jumbo Frets
GT has dot markers Celtic and Scorpion no dot markers but a special inlay at the 12th Fret
Headstock See picture matching 2 string trees serial number and Made in Korea on back
Tuners Chrome sealed diecast
Pickups 1 Humbucker no coil split GT is Seymour Duncan Invader and the other 2 have a Fender Atomic 2
Controls 1 Volume
Nut 1.625
Hardware Black Chrome but Black on the scorpion
Bridge 6 saddle small hardtail through body stringing
Pickguard None
Colours According to catalogue
GT Chrome Red or Chrome Blue, Celtic Chrome Silver, Scorpion High Gloss Black.
But see picture of GT above there may be other colours.
Baelzebub from the Strat forum has alerted me to this model and kindly provided most of the following detail and some pictures.
Although produced over a period from 2004 to 2007 only 700 units of each colour were made. It is said to be the forerunner of the
JA90.
Specifications
Body Ash Semi Hollow double cutaway polyurethane finish Quilted Bubinga top
Neck Maple set neck Modern C polyurethane finish
Fretboard Rosewood 12" radius 22 medium jumbo frets abalone dot markers
Headstock Matching Silver Fender Spaghetti Logo 2 string trees. Serial number and Made in Korea on reverse.
Tuners Chrome Sealed Diecast
Pickups American made Seymour Duncan SP-90-1NRWRP vintage in neck position and SP-90 3B Custom in bridge.
Controls 1 volume 1 tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65"
Hardware Smoked Chrome
Bridge T.O.M with stoptail
Pickguard Small 3 ply black see pictures
Colours Black Cherryburst or White
Years available 2004-2007
Created for the Jimmy Eat World Front man the early ones of these were made in Korea, production then moved to Indonesia around
2010 to 2011.
Specifications
Body Ash Semi Hollow double cutaway polyurethane finish Quilted top
Neck Mahogany set neck Modern C polyurethane finish
Fretboard Rosewood 9.5" radius 22 medium jumbo frets abalone dot markers 24.75" scale
Headstock Matching Gold very thick Fender Spaghetti Logo 2 string trees. Serial number, signature and Made in Korea on reverse.
Tuners Chrome Sealed Diecast
Pickups Seymour Duncan Soapbar 90-1NRWRP Vintage P-90 (neck) and SP90-3B (bridge) pickups
Controls 2 volume 2 tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65"
Hardware Smoked Chrome
Bridge T.O.M with stoptail
Pickguard Small 3 ply black
Colours Black Cherryburst or Transparent Ebony
Years available Oct 2008 to 2010
Model Number 026-2600-521 launched in 2008 as a special edition in the frontline, very similar to the FMT except instead of
a Flame top it has a spalted top. Spalting refers to colouration caused by certain fungi on wood. Carried on until at least 2011
at some point production moved to Indonesia
Specifications
Body Mahogany with Spalted Maple Top Polyurethane Finish Cream Binding
Neck Set Neck Mahogany modern C polyurethane finish
Fretboard Rosewood 22 jumbo frets front dot markers
Headstock Matching Fender Spag style logo in 2 string trees serial number and Made in Korea on Back
Tuners Sealed diecast see hardware
Pickups 2 Humbuckers Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates 59
Controls 1 Volume 1 Tone Chrome Knurled 3 way switch push pull coil split on tone
Nut 1.625
Hardware Chrome
Bridge Black 6 saddle small hardtail
Pickguard None
