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Post subject: Need help IDing this Tele
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:04 am
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I haven't played a Fender in years, but I recently came into a Telecaster that's in pretty rough shape. The body and neck seem OK, but the electronics and bridge are corroded and rusted and aren't worth repairing. Overall it needed a good cleaning and has a lot of surface scratches on the body and five "wear spots" on the fretboard. The frets are OK, but need cleaning. Overall, it's been played and drug around without a whole lot of TLC over the years.

I'm replacing the bridge pickup and the bridge and will probably wind up replacing the pots as well. I've cleaned the pots, but will have to wait until I can get it all back together before I'll know for certain about them. The jack was so corroded it wouldn't work, so I replaced it.

What I need help with is identifying when and where this Tele was made. According to the Fender Support site, it could either be an American model made in 1990 or an MIJ made between 1984 and 1987. The serial number is: E965934 and appears on the headstock right below the Fender logo.

I'm not up on my Fender history, so I'd appreciate any help. Thanks! :)


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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:28 pm
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Location: The Netherlands
If it's US made '89/90 would be the year it's made, but there should be a
sticker ''made in USA'' on the headstock.


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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:41 am
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From what I can tell on the support site, it's either an American made 89-90 or a Japan 84-87. The headstock has "Fender Telecaster" and the serial number beneath it. I don't know where the "Made in USA" or "Made in Japan" would be on the headstock, but there's a slight indention beneath the word "Telecaster". Someone may have scraped the decal off, so it'd be hard to tell where it's made.

I'm not too concerned, as I got a new bridge and bridge pickup on it as well as a new jack. I tried my hand at setting it up, and it's not perfect, but the old girl plays pretty darn good.

It's taking a little getting used to, as the neck is wider and the scale seems to be a little longer than my other guitar. I'm also not a big fan of maple necks, but all that aside, it's a nice old guitar. Even though it's a big name (Fender), it's not one that's too pristine to risk banging around. This baby's meant for playing!

As I said in my earlier post, I haven't owned a Fender in years, but it's good to be back in family. When I was in high school and college, my brother and I owned an original Telecaster Deluxe (brown with 2 humbuckers and a Strat neck) and a Coronado II that was a metallic green. I'm still kicking myself for letting those 2 go. As the old saying goes, "hindsight is 20/20", boy is that ever true...

Anyway, thanks for the help! :D


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Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:35 pm
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''Made in USA'' should be under the word ''Telecaster'' but since there's
nothing it could be a Japanese Fender.
If you like the guitar who cares where it's made.

Peter


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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 3:39 pm
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I have an American made Tele I bought back in the early 90's and I'm trying to get more info on it. How can I determine if it's an "American Standard" or not and what type of wood the body is made of? It's blonde with a maple neck (if that makes any difference).

It has the serial number on the peg head decal and it does say "Made in the USA." The serial starts with "N 9XXXXX", and I know I purchased it in the early 90's.

I would appreciate any info anyone might have on the guitar. I have had several people tell me it's an original "American Standard", but I'm not convinced.


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