Take 01GT eibach's advice at heart if you're serious.

Peter

Hahaha! Or Orvilleowner sometimes inserts a piece of paper beneath the strings with "hello Ceri" written on it. (Which is hardly necessary: I wouldn't doubt a word he says on anything.)

Cheers - C

That's even easier! As they used to say no pic=no guitar.
I may be eating my words but it won't be the first time and will be glad to do it!

Personaly i'd saw the top horn off at an angle so it was nearly explorer shaped. I'd route all of the middle out of the pickups to install a motherbucker and bolt a bigsby trem connecting to a tele bridge on it. I'd also do away the recessed jack nonsense, I'd saw a V into the body where is like a bc rich. Cut some saw teeth into headstock, paint it datona orange and it would be finished.

Pete, I'll give you $500, a steak dinner and a couple of old used guitar strings for it. As long as its got all the original case candy.

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No no and no

Hop, there's few more good natured than you, and it makes the world a better place. I suspect many here would agree with that.

Cheers - C

I just don't want to project negativity, it's not my nature and there seems to be plenty of that around anyway! Sometimes I have to catch myself though.....

Hahaha - now see, this is how auctions get started (and we're not meant to do that on the Forum).

OK, I'll see you the $500, the steak dinner, two (very) used guitars - and I'll throw in a signed copy of the new Bill Bailey DVD for which I had to stand in line ten minutes. But I'm going to need the original receipt and I want the case as well as the candy.

Howzat?

Cheers - C

Yes, it's for real, and your advice is the only thing I'd ever do!

For those who don't know me very well, I'm a retired guitar tech and former Fender dealer. I'm a bit tongue in cheek sometimes, and shoot from the hip a lot. Maybe a bit too much sometimes, but it's a waste of time not to, isn't it? I'm having a lot of fun here, guys, and thanks for having me!

At my age, and with my background, owning several of these vintage guitars and amps is not very amazing to me. I think it's likely normal for that to happen, but I'm still grateful for things. God is good!

All of you have a wonderful New Year, and to all the young players out there...invest in great instruments! I paid for some of the vintage equipment I have by fixing, adjusting and modding really second and third rate stuff. Can I share something with you all? A pristine mid 60's blackfaced Fender amp can be purchased, even today, with about 3 weeks worth of work on guitars and basses. That's on the side, free and clear, and not working very hard. And here's another thing. That amp will appreciate better than mutual funds, and give you amazing tone as well!

Spend the money, buy right and stay away from guys like me modding your guitars for you! It's good for me, not so good for you That's great financial advice, in case someone's listening

Good advice Pete55 Thanks and keep shooting from the hip man!

I cant beat the bill bailey dvd. .

Pete,
investing in vintage gear has been something i've considered for some time. My God does that 57 Mike posted a link to look a good investment. Still i'm beset by problems, namely validating and storing such a instrument. Aswell as maintainance (which it would periodicaly need despite not being played).
Gotta say, at the moment their a more secure than banks or stocks and offer better potential for intrest. Providing the vintage market continues to gain popularity. Like all markets it could bottom out at any moment.

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No no and no

Thank you Mr. Hopkins. As a professional, I'm sure you are one of the people who understands these things better than most. I will also be totally candid in saying that never, ever did a professional guitar player ever question my integrity or suggestions. Most of my arguments and grief came from "wannabe's" and folks who would not admit they'd made mistakes. From those types I took money, and more of it, more cheerfully than any other category. From what I read here sometimes, I believe it's still happening.

The average Fender dealer, if he has a certified shop and tech working alongside the dealership, will normally make MORE $$ long term on a Mexican, Korean, etc. guitar than he would on a Custom Shop sale of any description, providing he is an accredited Fender Custom Shop dealer. The "good deal" to the customer remains always on good instruments.

Thank you as well Ninja! Buying vintage isn't possible for everyone, nor might it be practical to some. Buying properly though is something everyone can do, and I certainly try to encourage that part of it.

You are right, my friend. Maybe the bottom will drop out of the vintage market as well, depending perhaps on economic conditions. Right now, even 50's and early 60's Strats and Tele's are slowing noticably in their climb. What's coming on strong right now are early to mid 60's Fender, Vox and Marshall amps as well as Gibson Les Paul Gold Tops which until recently were passed over in favor of the flame tops. All of this is fun to talk about, expensive to buy, and gloriously rewarding to play, isn't it?

Pete55, that last statement has the ring of truth to it but you will probably get some grief from some of the proud owners of those guitars! (mexican,korean,etc.)

Send a pic pleas

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Blues Ya?

Yea, I know!

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy once was booed for making a statement during a comedy routine, and he quickly replied, " well...booing me don't make it any less so!"

You can have good offshore and bad offshore. A Lexus car is a good thing, a Kia Rio..not so much. Japanese made Fender guitars remain one of my all time favorites to play and work on. They are usually above and beyond in detail, craftsmanship and finish. They are also highly consistent.

Mexican, Indonesian and other far east and Korean made Fenders are not.

Best bet, long before buying the Mexican models would be to purchase the MIJ's or CIJ's out of Japan. Good value, decent resale always, and easy to work on as well as all the quality you could ask for considering the $$ spent.

You're right Mr Hopkins...someone is bound to come up with " Yeah, but mine...but mine, but mine..." I couldn't care less about that sort of thing. If 10 Mexican Strats and Teles come across the bench, 9 out of 10 will need a good deal of work to get them playable under my terms or yours. That's not satisfactory at all, if I'm that customer. It's quite satisfactory to the shop and the dealer network. Look at the economics here, folks. How many posts have been written concerning this mod, and that fix, and these PU's, and this bridge upgrade and why does my neck buzz, and how do I fix this and that...? It's staggering how many of those posts there are here, and it all costs money.

Good instruments cost money. Good amps cost money, doesn't matter if they're vintage or boutique. Good pianos are expensive. A 9' Steinway Grand is over $100G brand new. A decent Selmer saxophone made with good spring brass costs over 3G. A professional grade trumpet like a Fred Schilke made horn is what ? Well over 2 or 3 grand? But here's the value: it can travel, the valves don't bleed, it tunes easily, it sheds spit properly, and has fabulous tone!

And we brag about saving some dollars because we can't recognize what fine instruments really cost to make? I struggle with that part. We can't all afford pro grade immediately, I'll grant that. But many times I feel there's absolutely no respect for nicer instruments, especially guitars and bases.

Sometimes the same guy who just bought a brand new truck for 40G or a nice Mercedes for 70G is yipping about the bargain on a $500 MIM Strat. That's the part that's scary! It lets you know immediately what guitars really mean to them, and it's a bit sad