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Post subject: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpocket
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 6:18 am
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Ok here is my well checkered butterscotch Telecaster body. I dont know alot about old Telecasters but im digging the look and it came with a TUB of parts, tunner, tons of coils, basically enough parts to build 40-50 guitars just i only got 2 body and 2 strat necks not a tele neck..... but for $10.00 for everything at a garage sale i wasnt complaining!! My question is what do i have really? What do the neck marking mean and what neck would be the proper one to use. I got in the tub a Bigsby tele tremolo also but it looks like id have to drill holes to use it...should i? can you tell me year or make from the markings and what does each mean. Think the finish looks original as its SOOOO checked in the finish?

Any help advise or comments id appreciate. thanks


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:31 am
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First, and this is 100 % sure: it's not a Stratocaster. :lol: (Sorry, it's Saturday night so I just couldn't leave that out...)

But seriously...
It has a general feel of a Japan made body.
That A in a circle could even be on a Fender/Squier, but that's no guarantee.
The paint stick holes don't seem fit a real TL-52 body - but with the older Japan models, all kinds of exceptions are possible.
The "EX" does not fit the "EXTRAD" models, so you did not strike gold.
And I'd say that kind of paint cracks belong with old polyester, so many of the most coveted nitro bodies are out of the question.

My conclusion would thus be 'unconfirmed'. But with that kind of mojo, a right kind of buyer would willingly trade it for a Grant or even a Washington - pentupling or decupling your original invest. More, if you're lucky.


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:57 am
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Yep, for $10 for two bodies and a box of parts, I'd probably buy a genuine Fender neck with a vintage finish and build it out.
Generally, assembling a Partscaster from Fender parts will end up costing you twice what you could buy a new one for, but it sounds like you have everything but the neck, and the Classic Series MiM is only $250
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts/nec ... ks&start=1

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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 8:10 am
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yea i didnt think i found a gem, im rerally trying to find what the "proper" neck to use on this body would be. It takes a 5 hole pickguard and i do have the majority of parts so i wanna build it and enjoy it not flip it. I love the color and cracking in the finish. im not a expert by any means on Fenders but from what i read the 5 hole pickguard is a early design so think that says 52 in the neck pocket? should i go with a yellow looking neck or a normal color. i still want it to look like it came from fender when im done. thanks for all the help and yes i know its not a strat...i didnt notice i put it under strats. if a Mod can move this to telecasters page please do. thanks


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 8:15 am
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[quote=That A in a circle could even be on a Fender/Squier, but that's no guarantee.
The paint stick holes don't seem fit a real TL-52 body - but with the older Japan models, all kinds of exceptions are possible. [/quote]

what does that mean exactly....the paint holes dont seem fit a real ts-52 body? also what are all those stampings in the neck pocket mean? like the a in a circle


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 11:43 am
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On the paint stick holes: the legit Fender TL-52's I've seen have two holes in the neck pocket; they were used like the US models to attach a stick which held the body in position while it was painted. On yours, the holes are missing and the paint residue in the neck pocket is also not typical for a legit Fender TL-52.

I don't think anybody has been able to decode the red stamp marks in older Japanese guitars. The most common and also most likely explanation is, they are made by factory workers to mark different stages at production - as in "CircleA" shaped the body, "CircleY" sanded it, "K" painted it, etc.

Now, I don't think your body is a Fender (or a Squier), but that's not degrading it in any way. The same Japanese factories (and same workers in them) who made Fenders and Squiers also made very good guitars for other brands - Tokai & Teisco migth be the best known brands, but there were dozens.

On building that body to a complete guitar, the options are limitless and everyone has their own preferences.
I'd go rat-rod style, since a) that natural relic can't be imitated, and b) stripping that old paint and refinishing it would be a PIA. And (still IMHO), that would lead to using old, worn parts throughout the build - keeping of course functionality and playability as a part of the choosing process.
Since the origins can't be confirmed one way or another, I'd not hesitate with the Bigsby install - if you like them.

And it would be nice to see the process & outcome, so keep on posting.


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 12:44 pm
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CB91710 wrote:
Yep, for $10 for two bodies and a box of parts, I'd probably buy a genuine Fender neck with a vintage finish and build it out.
Generally, assembling a Partscaster from Fender parts will end up costing you twice what you could buy a new one for, but it sounds like you have everything but the neck, and the Classic Series MiM is only $250
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts/nec ... ks&start=1


Just noticed the link to the neck....i like that one. Do you think that would be the "proper" one for this body?


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 2:42 pm
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robjerklin wrote:
Just noticed the link to the neck....i like that one. Do you think that would be the "proper" one for this body?

With the 5-hole pickguard, that neck would be as close to "accurate" as you can get on a budget. That neck is from the MiM "50's"
That one has the nice butterscotch "aged" finish... you could save $50 and get the "new" looking neck.
OTOH, as jmattis said, an alternative would be to go "rat rod" which is to use what you have and buy as little as possible. The Strat neck will fit up to the Tele body (Tele neck is squared off and won't fit the curved heel on the Strat neck).

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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 5:36 am
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CB91710 wrote:
robjerklin wrote:
Just noticed the link to the neck....i like that one. Do you think that would be the "proper" one for this body?

With the 5-hole pickguard, that neck would be as close to "accurate" as you can get on a budget. That neck is from the MiM "50's"
That one has the nice butterscotch "aged" finish... you could save $50 and get the "new" looking neck.
OTOH, as jmattis said, an alternative would be to go "rat rod" which is to use what you have and buy as little as possible. The Strat neck will fit up to the Tele body (Tele neck is squared off and won't fit the curved heel on the Strat neck).


No i dont mind spending the $$ for the proper looking neck. I mean i have nothing in it really and could probably sell alot of the parts to help pay for it. I have so many pickups ill never use them....just gotta figure out what pickup is what (is there a link on how to test them to see what i have?) The bigsby i have for the telecaster...would it hurt any value really if i installed it. I do believe id have to drill 2 holes to install it unless they have a plate to mount it to that bolts into the factory holes in the guitar. really appreciate the help with this one. Also any clue to the markings in the neck pocket? and is the writing in a sharpie looking marker normal for a fender/squier?


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 7:27 am
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jmattis wrote:
On the paint stick holes: the legit Fender TL-52's I've seen have two holes in the neck pocket; they were used like the US models to attach a stick which held the body in position while it was painted. On yours, the holes are missing and the paint residue in the neck pocket is also not typical for a legit Fender TL-52.

I don't think anybody has been able to decode the red stamp marks in older Japanese guitars. The most common and also most likely explanation is, they are made by factory workers to mark different stages at production - as in "CircleA" shaped the body, "CircleY" sanded it, "K" painted it, etc.

Now, I don't think your body is a Fender (or a Squier), but that's not degrading it in any way. The same Japanese factories (and same workers in them) who made Fenders and Squiers also made very good guitars for other brands - Tokai & Teisco migth be the best known brands, but there were dozens.

On building that body to a complete guitar, the options are limitless and everyone has their own preferences.
I'd go rat-rod style, since a) that natural relic can't be imitated, and b) stripping that old paint and refinishing it would be a PIA. And (still IMHO), that would lead to using old, worn parts throughout the build - keeping of course functionality and playability as a part of the choosing process.
Since the origins can't be confirmed one way or another, I'd not hesitate with the Bigsby install - if you like them.

And it would be nice to see the process & outcome, so keep on posting.



Really appreciate you taking the time to explain alot of that to me. Other than the neck i have everything to build it so the cost factor wont be bad and i might end up with a really nice sounding guitar to enjoy...my intentions are not to build and sell it but as we all know in life sometimes we have to let things go. i will add photos and work as i start the build. On a side note the main reason i wanna build this one is i simply love the way the lacquer had cracked over the years, so refinishing it is not a option for me. So now to find a nice neck at a good price. Thanks again.


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 11:08 am
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robjerklin, very cool, making my pop corn now. Can't wait to watch the build :)
Good luck
mud


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 6:23 pm
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robjerklin wrote:
(is there a link on how to test them to see what i have?)

Not really. You can measure the DC ohms, higher resistance means higher output, but without identifying markings, there's no way to tell what they will sound like. Can maybe pin down a rough vintage of manufacture, but even that can be tough because many modern pickups are build "like they used to be", and weathering and "mojo" can make a 10 year old pickup look 50.
Quote:
The bigsby i have for the telecaster...would it hurt any value really if i installed it.

Honestly, no. You have something with a poor condition poly finish, with no markings that confirm any kind of vintage value. It may or may not even be a Fender body... no way to know. Even if it is a 60s or late 50s body, any real value was lost in the poly refinish. If it's a 70s body that came with a poly finish... then it is in no condition to hold any value.
Slap the Bigsby on it and enjoy it... you can't be anywhere NEARLY as bad as Neil Young slapping a Bigsby on a '59 GoldTop and painting it black ;)

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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:37 am
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An outrageously cool looking body, no matter where it came from.

I am going to go against the crowd here and say don't spoil it. It is obviously of some vintage and just dripping Mojo. It may or may not be authentic but it is authentically old and, no matter what you do, you cant make old...but you can ruin it.

It might not be worth big money but still respect its heritage. At least make it up with a conventional bridge first and see what you think. Put the Bigsby on something new, at least that can be replaced.

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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:51 am
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John Sims wrote:
I am going to go against the crowd here and say don't spoil it. It is obviously of some vintage and just dripping Mojo.

Well, I wouldn't call a Bigsby install spoiling (RE: Jack White's blue Tele), especially since the origins of the body are unclear, but you do give a new perspective to the 'what to do' department of the topic.

But the basic difference, in my understanding, seems to be the definition of 'vintage'. To me, all old things are not vintage, no matter how original they are. (Applies to myself, too; old but not vintage..)


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Post subject: Re: What Telecaster body do I have & markings Mean in neckpo
Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 6:32 am
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jmattis wrote:
John Sims wrote:
I am going to go against the crowd here and say don't spoil it. It is obviously of some vintage and just dripping Mojo.


.....But the basic difference, in my understanding, seems to be the definition of 'vintage'. To me, all old things are not vintage, no matter how original they are. (Applies to myself, too; old but not vintage..)


Indeed so. I was using vintage as an adjective, as basically another word for old. I agree however that Vintage (perhaps as a noun but not necessarily) could also suggest some greater standing as being Classic or of significance.

So you can be vintage as well if you want. Just "old" pretty much qualifies. :wink: A vintage car is just old, it doesn't necessarily have to have been any better than any other car of its time.

On the other hand a vintage wine doesn't have to be particularly old just have come from an especially good crop.

So just of some vintage ( i.e. old), not vintage (Classic). :D

I would still respect it for what it is though and not add extraneous additional holes.

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