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Post subject: Late 60's Tele restore project...need some expert opinions!
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:39 am
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I recently came across a late 60's LEFTY Tele that I'm debating picking up(as a lefty it's tough to find older leftys to play...let alone a decent deal)...but I wanted to ask some questions before diving in, as it has some issues that would need to be addressed...any help is appreciated!

1. The current owner is a lefty, but he plays with the guitar strung righty, so the nut has been reveresed with a non original brass nut to accomodate him stringing it upside down. So I would want to replace that with a nut to string for a true lefty.

How much would that cost to have a skilled pro do that? And any advice on keeping it as original to the time period as possible?

2. The tone pot appears to not be working. What can be done about this? Can it be tinkered with and salvaged without having to replace the pot? And if I do have to replace it, how hard is it to find a original late 60's pot?...and how much $$$?

3. The pickguard is non original and it has been refretted...so with exception to the flipped nut, pickguard and refret, it's all original. It's definitely not a closet classic, as it's been played over the years and played hard...which gives it that nice relic/vintage look some people like and some don't....oh, and the blade selector tip isn't original.

What do you guys think?...would it be tough to clean this baby up a little, get everything working smooth and keeping it as close to time period original as possible?

Worth the trouble?...or a money pit not worth it?

I'm too stupid to figure out how to upload a pic or two, so if you want to see some, please let me know how the hell to do that and I will...


Thanks,


Ryan


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Post subject: Re: Late 60's Tele restore project...need some expert opinio
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:40 am
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rian4224 wrote:
...so the nut has been reveresed with a non original brass nut to accomodate him stringing it upside down. So I would want to replace that with a nut to string for a true lefty.

How much would that cost to have a skilled pro do that? And any advice on keeping it as original to the time period as possible?


Personally, I'd go with a bone nut made by the BEST pro guitar tech you can find - not some kid at Guitar Center. I paid US$60 for one a couple of years ago but prices vary.

Quote:
The tone pot appears to not be working. What can be done about this? Can it be tinkered with and salvaged without having to replace the pot? And if I do have to replace it, how hard is it to find a original late 60's pot?...and how much $$$?


Pots have date codes on the back so if you're dead set on keeping it original, you'll probably have to go to eBay. No idea of what they cost but you know they'll be more expensive than buying a new CTS pot.

However, if the tone pot isn't working, it's possible you have a loose wire or a cold solder joint and don't need a new pot.

Quote:
What do you guys think?...would it be tough to clean this baby up a little, get everything working smooth and keeping it as close to time period original as possible?

Worth the trouble?...or a money pit not worth it?


Do you want to play this Tele or stash it under your bed as an investment? If you want to play it, I say go for it. Despite it being easy for me to spend your money, you really aren't looking at much money unless you in fact need a new pot and you insist on a '67 pot. Personally, for a "player" guitar, and IF in fact the pot is bad, I'd just pull the old pot and keep it and put in a brand new pot - or better yet, remove the entire control assembly intact, save it, and install a new one with fresh pots and a new switch.

But that's just me. I'm not a collector nor do I claim to be knowledgable about vintage prices and conditions - just throwing out some ideas here.

Quote:
I'm too stupid to figure out how to upload a pic or two, so if you want to see some, please let me know how the hell to do that and I will...


Sign up for a free account at www.photobucket.com or other free image hosting site. Upload your pics. If you hover your mouse over a loaded pic there, a little pop-up window will appear and you can copy the [img] address and then paste that into your thread to post a pic here.

Alternatively, you can right-click on the picture, select Properties, and copy the Address (URL) of the picture. Then paste that in your post in between [img]and[/img].


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:14 pm
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Thanks for the info...very good to hear.

I am looking at this guitar for playing purposes...I just like "vintage" guitars. The idea of a guitar with some history behind it, the time period when it was made, sometimes the look, it having a bit of uniqueness (especially a lefty)...just makes it more interesting and fun for me, which leads to me wanting to pick up a guitar and play more...and that's a good thing!

...and thanks for pic posting tips...here you go...feel free to let me know what you think about the condition...like I said, this ain't it's first rodeo...

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_2.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_6.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_1.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_4.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_3.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_8.jpg
http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_5.jpg



Ryan[/img]


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:49 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Hopefully you'll get some other opinions. Don't go on my advice alone - I'm just some guy on the internet. :D

Links are great. Just so you know, try taking one link at a time and paste just that one link between [img]and[/img].

By doing that, this:

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy33 ... 4/th_2.jpg

Becomes this:

Image


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:26 pm
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I only have one thing to say. "YOU AIN'T BOUGHT IT YET" It looks pretty sweet and the problems you listed are only minor. Unless you want it for as an investment only I'd change out both pots and switch and have a good nut installed. Stewart-Macdonald may even have a pre-cut nut that you could install. or various other suppliers. If the price is right jump on it. You might downplay the issues for better price if you can hide your Big Grin. :D


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:31 pm
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ha...no, I haven't pulled the trigger yet, as I move very slowly...sometimes too slow! But I'm gonna get it if I can afford it.

Speaking of that...any opinions on what the top is you guys would consider paying for a guitar like this?

I would like some more opinions to see what the consensus is on what a good price is.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:37 pm
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I understand moving slow as I usually miss most good deals that come along (just missed a sunburst standard tele with maple neck and noiseless pickups for $275 or OBO cuz I kicked the tires to long and the guy took the 1st offer) Lefty's are few and far between especially a vintage one but if the guy is in dire need like the one I missed I would make an offer in that range at least get the battering going and if it goes out of your budget it wasn't meant to be. Expect to put a $100-$125 into it maybe a little more. You could call a tech in the area for a price on the nut. If you can solder then the pots and switch are parts only. Make sure to make the seller aware of those costs if he is asking a higher price. Good Luck

I'm sure you'll love the guitar if you get it if there are no hidden issues.


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