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Post subject: James Burton Telecaster
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:49 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:57 am
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A while back I mentioned that I had purchased a new James Burton Upgrade Telecaster in Olympic Pearl. You can find a picture at the James Burton website if you want to see what it looks like.

I'm getting more comfortable with the guitar. Today I lowered the action again and it is now lightning fast at every fret on every string. Any lower and it starts to buzz somewhere. I tend to play lightly, so this is where I want it.

I finally ran the serial number and it looks like the neck was manufactured in 1994/5. It's an N4 series number. My guess is that Fender made a large run of these maple necks and has been working through them ever since. I don't know if they were all JB signature necks or if they added his signature later. I'll bet they were JB from the start.

I figure if it has been sitting out in Corona for thirteen years it's a stable neck. And I guess it had better be, because the truss rod is only accessible at the heel. So if I ever have to adjust the truss rod I'll have to remove the neck. What a pain. But this is one heavy neck. It's not slim at all. I don't think it's going anywhere soon.

The James Burton models have changed over the years. But all of the changes have been in the body. Different pickups, finishes, S-1 switch, etc. Apparently the necks have stayed the same.

Anyway, that's the only explanation I can think of for the serial number.

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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:03 am
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Hey Soggycrow,
I own one of the older style JB Tele's black/gold paisley. I ordered it in Dec 04, and received it in February 05. The serial # begins N494XXX.
I emailed Fender out of curiosity and received a call from a sales rep.
He told me that the serial #'s were just chosen at random. He suggested that I unbolt the neck, and I found DEC 2004 stamped on the bottom.
Hope this helps. This serial # kinda bugs me too.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:42 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Orphan wrote:
Hey Soggycrow,
I own one of the older style JB Tele's black/gold paisley. I ordered it in Dec 04, and received it in February 05. The serial # begins N494XXX.
I emailed Fender out of curiosity and received a call from a sales rep.
He told me that the serial #'s were just chosen at random. He suggested that I unbolt the neck, and I found DEC 2004 stamped on the bottom.
Hope this helps. This serial # kinda bugs me too.



You can't believe anything anymore!

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James Burton Upgrade Telecaster
Hot Rodded Am Fat Strat Texas Special (now featuring Kinman Traditional II pickups)
Fender Blues Jr.
SWR California Blonde
Pedals Pedals Pedals


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Profile
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