Electric guitars

Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK

The Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK pairs classic Telecaster construction with a humbucker in the neck position, giving left-handed players two distinct pickup voices. Its solid specification is appealing, though the $1,479 price and lack of an included case are worth weighing.

★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK review

The Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK is a left handed, six string Telecaster made in Japan. Its listed price is 1479. The specifications describe an ash body, a maple neck and fingerboard, and a pickup arrangement that pairs a bridge single coil with a neck humbucker. That combination gives this model a distinct technical profile within the Telecaster format.

This assessment is based only on the supplied specifications. There are no customer reviews available, and no hands on test results have been provided. Details such as the instrument's weight, setup, acoustic response, fret finish, and measured pickup output are not listed, so they cannot be evaluated here.

Body and neck construction

The body is made from ash and finished in black, with a three ply black pickguard. The bolt on maple neck has a U shaped profile, a design detail that identifies its general contour but does not specify its thickness at particular points. Players who prefer a defined neck shape can use that information as a starting point, though the dimensions alone do not establish whether it will feel comfortable in the hand.

The maple fingerboard has a 241 mm, or 9.5 inch, radius and 21 vintage frets. Fender lists a 41.02 mm nut width and a bone nut. These measurements and materials are useful when comparing the guitar with other instruments, but they do not indicate the actual fretwork quality or action on an individual example. A proper inspection would still be needed to assess setup and playing feel.

Its 648 mm, or 25.5 inch, scale length is the long scale commonly associated with this format. The supplied factory string gauge is.009 to.042, using nickel plated steel strings. String gauge is a replaceable setup choice, not a fixed limitation of the guitar, and the specifications do not state whether the instrument ships with any particular action or tuning.

Pickup layout and controls

The pickup system consists of a vintage style Telecaster single coil at the bridge and a Fender wide range humbucker at the neck. This is a mixed configuration rather than a pair of matching pickups. The bridge unit is specified as a single coil, while the neck unit is identified as a humbucker. The available information does not provide pickup resistance, magnet type, output level, or switching options beyond the stated three way selector.

Two volume controls and two tone controls are listed, alongside the three way pickup switch. The control layout provides separate volume and tone adjustments, but the specifications do not describe the precise wiring or whether any control functions are shared between pickup positions. Buyers who need detailed circuit information should confirm it with Fender or the seller rather than assume a particular wiring scheme.

The pickup combination may suit players looking for a Telecaster with different pickup types in the bridge and neck positions. However, tonal descriptions such as brighter, warmer, or more powerful would require listening tests or additional pickup data. The specification sheet supports a clear account of the hardware, not a claim about how the guitar sounds in a room or through a particular amplifier.

Bridge, hardware, and included items

The bridge is a vintage style Telecaster design with three saddles and slotted steel saddle pieces. The guitar also has Fender vintage F stamped machine heads and nickel or chrome plated hardware. These are concrete equipment details, although they do not establish tuning stability, intonation accuracy, or resistance to wear. Those qualities depend on the individual instrument, its setup, and its use.

No tremolo is fitted. Neither a case nor a gig bag is included according to the supplied listing, so buyers should account for separate protection during storage or transport. The product information also identifies the item number as 636710 and the sales unit as one piece.

Verdict

The Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK is specified as a Japanese made, left handed Telecaster with ash construction, a maple neck and fingerboard, a U shaped neck profile, and a mixed single coil and humbucker pickup layout. Its 21 frets, long scale, three saddle bridge, and four individual volume and tone controls make the core configuration easy to identify.

The main limitation in assessing value is the absence of direct playing evidence and detailed setup information. The listed price is 1479, but the supplied data does not state a currency, so no currency specific comparison is appropriate. For a buying decision, confirm the final price, setup condition, and included accessories with the seller. On specifications alone, this is a clearly defined left handed Telecaster variant, but its real world feel and sound remain unverified.

Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK, front view
7.8/ 10 overall score
$1,479current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • Left-handed Telecaster configuration with an ash body and maple neck and fingerboard.
  • Combines a vintage-style bridge single-coil pickup with a wide-range neck humbucker.
  • Bone nut, vintage-style three-saddle bridge, and stamped vintage-style tuning machines.

What bugged me

  • No case or gig bag is included.
  • The fixed three-saddle bridge offers less individual saddle adjustment than a modern six-saddle design.

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

A strong fit for left-handed players seeking a traditional Telecaster feel with a fuller neck pickup option. Also worth considering for players who want maple construction and vintage-style hardware.

Look elsewhere if

Not ideal for buyers who need a case or gig bag included. Players who require individual bridge-saddle adjustment for every string may prefer a different bridge design.
RockCountryBluesFunk

Suggested level: Intermediate

Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK, $1,479Check today's price →

Specifications

Shape, design
Telecaster
Color
Black
Body
Ash
Neck
Maple
Fretboard
Maple
Number of strings
6
Frets
21
Scale
648 mm
Pickup system
SH
Tremolo
No
Including case
No
Incl. gigbag
No
Top
None

Before you decide

Questions players ask

Is this guitar designed for left-handed players?

Yes. The listed model is specifically a left-handed Telecaster.

What pickup configuration does it have?

It has a vintage-style single-coil pickup at the bridge and a wide-range humbucker at the neck, selected with a three-way switch.

Does it come with a case or gig bag?

No. The listed specifications state that neither a case nor a gig bag is included.

What are the scale length and neck dimensions?

The scale length is 25.5 inches. The neck has a U-shaped profile, a 9.5-inch fingerboard radius, and a 1.615-inch nut width.

Can each string be adjusted separately at the bridge?

The vintage-style bridge has three saddles, so it does not provide a separate saddle for each of the six strings.

The last word from the bench

This Japanese-made left-handed Telecaster has a maple neck and fingerboard, an ash body, and a pickup combination suited to both bright bridge tones and fuller neck sounds. Its vintage-style hardware and bone nut add to the traditional feature set, while the two volume and two tone controls allow straightforward adjustment. Buyers should account for the absence of a case or gig bag and decide whether the three-saddle bridge meets their setup preferences. No customer reviews were provided, so this assessment is based on the listed specifications.

Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK, $1,479Check today's price →

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Fender MIJ Trad 70s Tele LH MN BLK

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