Fender 2017 Merle Haggard Tuff Dog Telecaster Sunburst Near Mint

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

The Fender Custom Shop Merle Haggard Telecaster — known as the Tuff Dog Tele — is not a generic celebrity signature. Its a really unique take on the tele, built to the specifications that Haggard himself developed.

Rather than a solid slab of alder or ash, the Tuff Dog uses a maple center block flanked by select alder wings with tone chambers, topped with a laminated figured maple top. The tone chambers open up the resonance of the guitar. The maple center block enhances sustain and controls feedback at stage volume. The result is a guitar that is simultaneously more resonant than a standard Tele and more controlled than a fully hollow instrument — the best of both constructions combined in a single platform. At 6 lbs 15 oz the chambered construction delivers genuine playing comfort for extended sessions.

The set neck with deep-carved heel is another significant departure — a set neck on a Telecaster changes the neck-to-body energy transfer, contributing to the warm, singing sustain that distinguishes this instrument from bolt-on alternatives. The figured maple neck carries black dot inlays on a maple fingerboard at 9.5" radius, C profile at .817" at the first fret and .966" at the twelfth.

The Custom Shop Texas Special Telecaster pickups are overwound with enamel-coated magnet wire and Alnico V magnets with height-staggered pole pieces — reading 9.85k at the bridge and 8.99k at the neckneck - hotter than standard Tele pickups with a focused, punchy midrange character. The four-way switching expands the standard Tele range to include bridge and neck in parallel, and bridge and neck in series — the series position delivering a thick, full-bandwidth combined sound that approaches humbucker output with single-coil character.

The guitar is a looker, with gold hardware throughout, custom-shaped ivoroid pickguard, ivoroid binding, Mother of Pearl Tuff Dog headstock inlay. Like a traditional Tele, you get strings through body bridge with a 6 block steel saddles. Original hardshell case included.

The frets show very little use.  The guitar is in near mint condition overall.  There is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments, and the action is perfect.  The guitar set up perfectly with little effort.  

We buy, sell, and take trades.

Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
Fender electric guitars - vintage & used
Gibson electric guitars - vintage & used
The largest vintage & used guitar amplifier selection in Northern California
Check out our current stock of Two-Rock amplifiers - we're an authorized dealer

SPECS:

• Color: Sunburst
• Weight: 6lbs 15oz
  
• Top: Figured Maple
• Body: Maple Center Block, Select Alder Wings w/ Tone Chambers
  
• Neck: Figured Maple
  
• Neck Profile: C
  
• Fretboard: Maple
  
• Inlays: Black Dot
  
• Frets: Original Medium Jumbo
  
• Fret Count: 22
  
• Nut: Bone
  
• Nut width: 1-5/8"
  
• Radius: 9.5"
  
• Scale: 25.5"
  
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .817"
• Neck thickness at 12th Fret: .966"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
  
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
  
• Overall length: 38 3/8"
  
• Lower bout: 12 5/8"
  
• Waist: 8 15/16"
  
• Upper bout: 10 7/8"
  
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 3/4"
  
• String gauge: .010"-.046"
• Hardware Color: Gold
• Pickguard: Custom Shape Ivoroid
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Custom Shop Texas Special
• Pickup Reading: 9.85k
• Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Custom Shop Texas Special
• Pickup Reading: 8.99k
• Original?: Yes
  
• Bridge: 6 Block Steel Saddles, String Through Body
• Tuners: Deluxe Sealed w/ Pearloid Buttons
• Knobs: Original
  
• Switch: 4 Way
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: OHSC
  

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.