Here’s a look at my Vanzandt TLV-CS3J (67 Blonde). I bought this guitar in near-mint condition in May 2025.
I had wanted a great-sounding Telecaster for a long time.
Then one day, a staff member at Oguchi Gakki, a music store I often visit, posted on social media: “An amazing Telecaster just came in.” I still remember seeing that post.
I wanted to know more, so I asked about the guitar and went to try it. As soon as I played the Vanzandt TLV-CS3J (67 Blonde), I knew I wanted it. I bought it that day.
To buy this guitar, I sold three of my other guitars.
This model has a rare set of features. If I found a similar guitar today, I probably couldn’t afford it. It sounds great, and I’m very happy with it.
Vanzandt TLV-CS3J (67 Blonde) Specifications
Only 30 of these guitars were made in 2015. It is part of the Classic Series and has a Jacaranda (Brazilian rosewood) fingerboard. This guitar also weighs less than 3 kg.
| Item | Specification |
| Body | Selected ash, 2-piece |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Jacaranda (Brazilian rosewood) |
| Finish | Nitrocellulose lacquer |
| Pickups | Vanzandt Fullertone set |
| Body color | 67 Blonde |
I’ve also included the specification card that came with the guitar.
First Impressions
When I first played this Vanzandt TLV-CS3J, I was surprised. I remember thinking, “How can it be this light?” Even though the guitar is very light, its sound is not thin. It has a rich, vintage-style tone when played through an amp.
The neck is not too thick. The strings also feel looser than on any other guitar I’ve owned. That felt a little strange at first, but I got used to it quickly. Once I adjusted my playing, the guitar felt comfortable. I could get a good sound without getting tired.
The 67 Blonde finish looks great with the dark Jacaranda fingerboard. The combination reminds me of Robben Ford’s blonde Telecaster. I really enjoy looking at and playing this guitar.
I especially like the 67 Blonde finish because you can see the wood grain through it.
I’ve heard that Fender-related restrictions may make this headstock shape difficult to produce.
I really like its design, as well as the slab fingerboard.
The Jacaranda fingerboard is dark and has a rich, dense look.
I don’t think we’ll see many more guitars with this kind of rare specification.
You can see how dark the fingerboard is, even from a distance.
Sound
This guitar does more than the bright, sharp sound you usually expect from a Telecaster. The neck pickup has a thick, full sound, while the bridge pickup sounds warm. To me, this is the Vanzandt sound I love.
It may sound like an unusual comparison, but this guitar can also make a thick sound that reminds me of a Les Paul. It is also great for rock sounds with some overdrive.
Conclusion
The nitrocellulose lacquer finish is very thin, which is typical of Vanzandt guitars. I need to be careful not to scratch or damage it. Still, I love the vintage look and feel of this finish.
This guitar was made more than ten years ago. I imagine it was already hard to find wood of this quality back then. I wonder if it would be possible to make a guitar with the same features today, in 2026. Ash seems to be getting harder to find, so it may be very difficult.
日本語版 : Vanzandt TLV-CS3J (67 Blonde) | 1年半使用した感想