Fender TN-70 Telecaster Thinline – Natural Mahogany – MIJ Fujigen – Boutique Pickups – Includes Hardshell Case – Used Very Good
The TN-70 is one of the most coveted and least-known guitars in the Fender Japan catalog — a domestic-market-only export produced at the Fujigen factory during the golden era of Japanese Fender production, built to a spec that the standard American lineup simply didn't offer at the time. The semi-hollow mahogany body is the defining feature — where most Telecaster Thinlines use ash or alder, this one is built from mahogany throughout, which gives it a fundamentally different voice. Warmer, fuller, and more resonant in the low mids, with a bloom and sustain that the denser woods can't replicate, and featherlight in a way that makes a full set genuinely effortless. The clear finish over natural mahogany lets the grain of the wood breathe and age visibly, which on this example has produced something that looks and feels like a guitar that has lived a real life — which it has. The maple neck with 7.25-inch radius plays cleanly up the full scale with the comfortable, worn-in feel that players spend years trying to achieve and rarely do.
This particular example has been upgraded with a pair of genuinely excellent boutique pickups — a Cavalier Fat Lioness in the neck position and a Sunday Handwound Hot Hempcaster at the bridge. The Cavalier Fat Lioness is a high-output Tele neck pickup voiced for warmth and fullness with excellent note separation, while the Sunday Handwound Hot Hempcaster delivers hot, chewy bridge Tele tone with enhanced midrange character. Together they make this guitar considerably more tonally interesting than a stock TN-70, and considerably more versatile across styles. The pickguard appears to be a replacement and has been trimmed at the neck pocket — some original pickguard screw holes are visible under it, shown in the photos.
The wear on this guitar is the good kind — honest, natural, and deeply characterful. Finish chips and dings on the body, worn finish on the neck that feels like butter under the hand, and the general patina of an instrument that has been played rather than stored. There is finish that appears to have been glued around the ferrules on the back — cosmetic and non-structural, shown in the photos. This guitar fits like a comfy old pair of jeans. Comes with a nice Fender hardshell case.
This one is priced accordingly to reflect the honest wear and modifications, with the boutique pickup upgrade adding genuine tonal value.
- Make: Fender Japan
- Model: TN-70 Telecaster Thinline
- Country of origin: Japan (Fujigen factory)
- Era: Mid-to-late 1980s / early 1990s (Made in Japan stamp)
- Body: Semi-hollow mahogany
- Finish: Clear gloss over natural mahogany
- Neck: Maple, bolt-on
- Fingerboard: Maple, 7.25" radius
- Scale length: 25.5"
- Nut width: 1.65"
- Frets: Unknown — may have been refretted at some point, play cleanly throughout
- Neck pickup: Cavalier Fat Lioness (upgraded)
- Bridge pickup: Sunday Handwound Hot Hempcaster (upgraded)
- Controls: Master volume, master tone, 3-way selector switch
- Bridge: Vintage-style Tele
- Hardware: Chrome
- Pickguard: Replacement, trimmed at neck pocket — original screw holes visible under guard
- Modifications: Cavalier Fat Lioness and Sunday Handwound Hot Hempcaster pickups installed, replacement pickguard
- Condition: Used Very Good – honest play wear and natural relicing throughout, finish chips and dings on body, worn neck finish, glued finish around ferrules on back (cosmetic), plays well
- Includes: Hardshell case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
