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Post subject: What is the model name of my Telecaster? **UPDATED!!**
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:13 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
I have a 199? hecho-en-Mexico Telecaster that I love…

White blonde (almost “Mary Kaye”-like) finish that moves from vaguely see-through in the center to completely opaque on the edges (very subtle), with chrome hardware and a glossy black pickguard. Old-style Fender logo, string-through body. It feels/looks like ash, and it’s almost as heavy as an older Les Paul (but not quite).

When it was in its original configuration, it looked like a regular late 50’s-style Telecaster, except for the following:

The bridge plate is the old original style that would accept a Telecaster “Ashtray” bridge cover (like Albert Collins), except it has 6 saddles instead of only three.

It had a coil-tapped humbucker in the neck position, but it wasn’t the usual Fender “Full Range” humbucker.

It had a five-way switch (to accommodate the coil tap + various pickup combinations)

It was almost like Fender was trying to make an affordable version of Keef’s Micawber axe or Albert Collins’ Tele. I know these were production/factory features, because I’ve seen four different MIM guitars with the same switching setup/pickup/unique bridge, and I had almost bought a black-finished version of this guitar, but by the time I had the money it was gone. I bought this one in 2002 at Competition Music in Fort Worth.

I modified several things on the guitar (none of which I regret). I’m not much of a humbucker guy, and I wasn’t using the neck position very much, so I originally turned the guitar into an Esquire (removed neck pickup, replaced the pickguard with a blank one/no cutout, and added a three-way switch/wiring) and played it like that for a couple of years. Later, I put a P90 in the neck position, added 4-way Tele switching and a Fender “No-Load” tone pot (love those!) and had a neckplate engraved with my band’s Screamin’ Armadillos logo.

My questions are this:
What was this model called?

How long was it made?

How many were made?

I think it was made in 1995, but can someone confirm that for me?


Pics below (in its current state):

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Thanks in advance!

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Last edited by Screamin' Armadillo on Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster?
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:21 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 10:11 am
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Location: Ontario
Send a Email to Fender Customer Support.

Sincerely

Telemaster


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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster?
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:32 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
After reading another post, I found the link for the guitar's age (per the serial number).

It was made in 1995 or 1996.

I still don't have the answers to my other questions...where do I contact Fender product support?

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Good Vibes To Y'all!

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Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster?
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:36 pm
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Top of this page, hit the support tab then the contact us tab. Nice Tele.

Cheers,
John.E


Last edited by John.E on Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster?
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:37 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Screamin' Armadillo wrote:
After reading another post, I found the link for the guitar's age (per the serial number).

It was made in 1995 or 1996.

I still don't have the answers to my other questions...where do I contact Fender product support?

At the top of this page under support click contact us.


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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster?
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:44 pm
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
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Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
John.E wrote:
Top of this page, hit the support tab then the contact us tab. Nice Tele.

Cheers,
John.E


Thank you--for the info and for complimenting my Telecaster.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster?
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:01 pm
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Rock Star
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Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
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Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
I got an answer from Jeff at Fender Customer Support.

The guitar is called a Tele Special. The color is called Vintage White.

I was always told I was "special", and now my guitar is, too! :lol: (But I think people are making fun of me when they say that... :? )

One of the things I found interesting was the body--it's made of poplar, with an ash veneer. I don't know anything about poplar in guitars...hmm, more research! It is a funky/cool-sounding guitar, though, and I'm very happy to have it.

What's doubly cool is the fact he traced down to the date when my guitar was made--I like that!

Kudos to Jeff and everyone who helped me with this!

Thanks and Good Vibes To Y'all!!

PS--Here's the original specs (I already detailed the pickup/switching changes I have made)

Date: 9/20/1995

Model Name: Tele® Special

Model Number: 013-5502-(Color#)

Series: Special/Deluxe Series

Body: Poplar with an Ash Veneer Top

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard: Maple (9.5” Raduis/241 mm)

No. of Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo

Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)

Width @ Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)

Hardware: Chrome

Machine Heads: Vintage Style

Bridge: Vintage Style

Pickguard: 3-Ply Black

Pickups: Special Design Humbucking Pickup (Neck),

Special Tele (Bridge)

Pickup Switching: Special 5 Position Blade

Positions:

1. Neck Humbucking Pickup

2. Tapped Neck Humbucking Pickup (Front Coil)

3. Bridge and Neck Pickups

4. Bridge and Tapped Neck Humbucking Pickup

5. Bridge Pickup

Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone

Colors:

(306) Black,

(307) (Vintage White),

(328) Crimson Burst,

(332) Brown Sunburst,

(Polyester Finish)

Strings: Fender Super 250L’s (.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel pn#073-0250-003

Unique Features:

Source: Mexico

Accessories: None

U.S. MSRP: $559.99

NOTICE: Prices and Specifications Subject to Change Without Notice

INTRODUCED: 1994

DISCONTINUED: 1/1997

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Last edited by Screamin' Armadillo on Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster? **UPDATED!!**
Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 9:27 pm
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Jeff is also the one who got me the specs on my CS Tele, which I had been searching for. Good researcher, that guy!

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Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
Marshall: 1971 SuperLead 100>1997 1960-TV, bunch of pedals
and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica


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Post subject: Re: What is the model name of my Telecaster? **UPDATED!!**
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 8:27 am
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I have the same guitar in sunburst. Btw, I think that the ash veneer is only on the bursts (which were priced slightly more than the solid colors); there's no reason to put a veneer on a solid color. Poplar can have greenish streak in the grain which makes it generally unsuitable (unless you are handpicking body wood) for grain-visible finishes, so that's the reason they used an ash veneer.

Image

Congrats on your guitar.


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