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Post subject: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:11 pm
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Hi all. So I came across a guitar in a local shop that is supposedly a custom shop 60's telecaster built in 2000. I don't know much about them, but I'm pretty suspicious since there's no markings anywhere on the guitar to indicate it's custom shop. There is however a certificate of authenticity, and I was able to get the guy at the store to take the neck off to see what markings were underneath. I've attached pics to this post. What do you guys think? There's no actual serial number, as can be seen from the certificate. Again, I'm skeptical but if it's legit I can probably get it for a decent price. Thoughts?

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:16 pm
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I find the guitar a little suspect. The neck plate is wrong. Also, no serial numbers? Usually these guitars have some sort of serial number and if they are "5 or 6," that will also be on the guitar. I would do a lot of investigation before purchasing this instrument.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 5:47 pm
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The guitar might be legit and the certificate might be legit, but that doesn't necessarily mean they go together. The neck is dated several months after the certificate, which is a warning sign, if nothing else. More often it's the other way around.

The serial number should be on the bridge plate.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:07 am
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I just remembered something else. There should be a Fender Custom Shop logo on the back of the headstock.

http://fr.audiofanzine.com/guitare-tc/f ... 24866.html

I'm troubled by the lack of serial number anywhere on this guitar. Also, I'm not sure if the Custom Shop does "era" guitars. What I mean to say is that when they design a guitar, the Custom Shop will design a specific year. something like, "1950s" or "1960s" is more of an non-american made model, like MIJ or MIM.

At best, this is an American made Telecaster, and at worst an aftermarket copy. Whatever the case, I'm pretty certain it is not a Fender Custom Shop guitar.

The neck plate is stamped with the American made stamp. This is not proof, as this can be purchased aftermarket.
There may be other clues, such as the case and case candy, if any.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:19 am
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For year 2000, Custom Shop should have all the building documents, so maybe this time contacting Fender is the solution. This page, up right > Support > down left > Customer relations.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:48 am
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Thanks for the replies. I've reached out to Fender and sent along the pics, so we'll see what sort of response I get. Here are some pics of the case though:

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:55 am
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I'll also note that the COA does have raised lettering on the Fender logo up top and the custom shop logo at the bottom - which I feel like would be hard to fake. Of course (as was mentioned) the COA could be legit while the guitar might not be.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:35 pm
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I'm sorry that you are having to go through this. It's one of my pet peeves in the guitar world.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:35 pm
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I'm def not the world's expert on Telecaster guitar's... but things just don't seem to match up at right with this Tele.
Isn't that a date in the neck pocket?...
looks like "JUL 18 2000" (July 18th, 2000 perhaps?)

You have a COA dated "6/26/00"
A neck dated "6-29-00"
and... a date stamped in the pocket "JUL 18 2000" if that indeed is a date stamp...
Can't say for sure but.... something seems very wrong :?

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 3:37 am
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I seriously doubt the validity. Doesn't look Custom Shop, nor does it have the usual Custom Shop markings. Personally, I would stay away!


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:04 am
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I reached out to Fender, they say the COA looks legitimate, but the neck is not FCS so if the guitar is FCS then it has been modified. They didn't mention anything about the body, so I suppose that aspect is inconclusive. I spoke with someone after calling the 800 number who said the computer records he had only go back to around 2003, and that with some guitars it can be difficult to authenticate if it was part of a limited run - also that he himself couldn't authenticate it. He did also say that if there is a valid COA it's a good sign, but the neck not being FCS obviously raises questions. If the body is FCS or American made it still might be worth purchasing if the price is right, but it appears that this guitar isn't what it seems at first glance.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 5:28 pm
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Hi there,
Its hard to be conclusive without physically having the guitar, but just my 2 cents,
the body markings and the neck markings look legitimately Fender, but appear to me as legitimately "production" not Custom Shop. Also....no Custom Logo on the back is kind of a "Tell". On a Tele, it should have the serial either on the bridge plate or on the back of the headstock under the Custom Shop logo.
Serial number tracking is a little more "hit or miss" on Custom stuff especially on the 5 of something or something of something....but there are possibilities. Generally, we can track most things---especially production things back to about 1993.

The Certificate looks legit in the picture...I see Mike Eldreds Signature......but yes, there are some questionable things on this guitar.
Also......moving this to Custom Forum though it Tele forum aint far off.....you might get some different replies as well.
Cheers,
rob

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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:26 pm
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I just got a chance to look at the photos - this could possibly be an AVRI '62 Tele Custom - if I'm remembering correctly candy apple red was a stock color in 1999-2000. They would have had the serial number on an otherwise blank neck plate (a "Vxxxxx" number). I'm wondering if someone got that CS certificate and just replaced the neck plate with that "Fender Corona California" plate thereby removing the original serial number.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:04 am
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John C wrote:
I just got a chance to look at the photos - this could possibly be an AVRI '62 Tele Custom - if I'm remembering correctly candy apple red was a stock color in 1999-2000. They would have had the serial number on an otherwise blank neck plate (a "Vxxxxx" number). I'm wondering if someone got that CS certificate and just replaced the neck plate with that "Fender Corona California" plate thereby removing the original serial number.


+1 This sounds like a reasonable explaination.


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Post subject: Re: Custom Shop Tele - legit or not?
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 7:25 am
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Hmm that makes sense, and it's still a nice guitar even if it isn't custom shop. The replies have been super helpful, thanks to all who took the time to take a look.


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