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Post subject: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:47 am
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Can you spot the differences between a real 1968 Telecaster Bass and a later model Tele Bass? Since the '68 version was only made for part of 1968 they are scarcer and more valuable than '69, '70 or '71 models. Since April one eBay seller has been trying to sell one they describe as, "1968 Fender Telecaster Bass Museum Quality Virgin" which is followed by two exclamation marks, as if to say it is doubly true and super duper remarkable, not to be missed.

This is positively NOT a 1968 Tele Bass. I sent detailed information listing six exclusionary points I found in a quick photo going over to the seller detailing the differences between the instrument listed for sale and a real 1968 model.

I got no reply from "Florida's Oldest Vintage Guitar Shop," which is how the seller describes their business. They persist with the erroneous item description, model year designation and over evaluation of the condition of the item. (Museum quality? Nope. Virgin? Cannot say for sure as it could have mated with a sleek Jazz one night. It certainly is NOT stock.)

I have found six discrepancies between eBay item 171304764014 and a real 1968 Fender Telecaster Bass as soon as I saw the photos. Maybe I even missed one or two points. So much is wrong with this item description and the photos it would be easy to miss something small in the photos.

Suspected at first it was an honest mistake made by an honest seller unfamiliar with what they actually have after being lied to by the person they bought it from. Any Telecaster Bass is scarce after all, so they probably never had seen one in person. However it has been a long time since I messaged them and there has been no edit or reply. Obviously the misdirection was and remains intentional. So I thought I'd turn their item page into a little exercise for all of us.

CHALLENGE! Can you find more than six things amiss that takes this out of the "1968- Museum Quality-Virgin" (otherwise known as Mint) categories?

List six or more points that keep this instrument from being a 1968 Fender Telecaster Bass worth about $5,000 and instead make it player class non '68 worth about $2500 to $3000. Good luck!


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Post subject: Re: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:27 pm
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Good thing that you know your stuff on these vintage Fenders. It will help others that might want to buy these and not get screwed by buying something that isn't what it appears to be.

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Post subject: Re: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:14 pm
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Yes a good thing.

SPOILER ALERT!



HERE ARE THE 6 THINGS I FOUND, CAN YOU FIND MORE?



1. Fender serial 281339 is a 1970 serial which you can quickly verify right here at Fender.com.

2. Fender Neck code 23-18-210-C decodes to a precise final neck inspection date of Tuesday May 5, 1970.

3. The tuners for 68 model T-Basses were small oval paddle tuners not the larger clover style paddles on this example which were introduced on 1969 models.

4. Pickguards were single ply in 1968, not 3 ply.

5. That case was never original for any year with a T-Bass that EVER shipped for USA distribution. Cases were included in the base instrument price of all Fender basses at this time and there was never an “economy case” option. Only export instruments shipped with no cases at all and this is not an export serial. Fender shipped regular red lined P-Bass cases with the Fender logo underscored without the “R” trademark symbol or “Made In the USA” with all Telecaster Basses distributed domestically through 1971. I don't know where it came from but that case did not come with any Fender T-Bass new.

6. I can not see any pot codes on the volume pot at all but clearly see them on the tone pot. The two should be identical but appear not to be which indicates a possible pot swap.

Claiming this is a 1968 Virgin gave me six good chuckles so far. Let me know if anyone finds anything else wrong.


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Post subject: Re: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 2:27 pm
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I would have stopped after the serial number. Not sure I would have caught the paddle tuners right off, and I should have, and would have at some point. There is another "68" there, that one dates to 69, but it has the paddle tuners. Have never seen that case. The volume pot could be a replacement, don't like the solder.

Hopefully people looking to spend that kind of money will at least check the serial number first, but I am also going to message the seller. I am really glad you pointed it out. Maybe enough messages will get him to list it correctly.

Florida's oldest huh? I need to do some checking. Should be able to match the pics to a website. I'm guessing Miami. Or I could just call....

UPDATE: Ft. Lauderdale. I have actually worked with this store according to my records, but never purchased. In both instances prices were high, and not willing to move.

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Post subject: Re: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2015 2:05 pm
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They changed the listing to 1970.
I guess you called it, Brother Dave.

Most of those 1968 Telecaster bass pick guards disintegrated! So seeing one with the original single ply is rare.

Bass cases are always suspect. They take a beating and are often replaced.

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Post subject: Re: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 2:25 pm
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Yes, thanks to BD. I also communitcated with him directly and he agreed on the Tele date. Still do not understand his tone with BD, or lack thereof. He was cordial with me.

I am just glad someone did not get sucked in. In my gut I do not thing this was intentional, but who knows. BD, thanks a ton for keeping an eye out. I hate to see people disappointed when they find out they do not own a Picasso.

Steve

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Post subject: Re: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 12:46 pm
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I confess that I am not up on the current values of Telecaster basses, but I can assure you that there is not much physical difference between a 1968 and a 1970 Telecaster bass.

You are buying the same instrument even though it is not the FIRST year of the reissue!

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Post subject: Re: SPOT THE DIFFERENCES!
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:17 pm
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Very true, but, as a collector, you will pay a premium for a first year. Consider the 51 and 52 Precision. There really isn't a difference. There is a different cap, but it is basically the same instrument. I have both in my collection,and I have been offered three times what I paid for my 52, for my 51, which is NFS. They were built less than four months apart (Nov/Dec and March/March).

I guess my point is, if you pay up for a 68 Tele and it turns out to be a 70, value wise, you took a hit. Sound and performance, not so much, but I certainly would not be happy. It is about a $1500 difference, street value.

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