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Post subject: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96? cal
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:29 pm
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I purchased this absolutely stunning guitar and all i was told is that it was a 95-96 california corona model with Tremking original made in USA. Recently ive been getting emails saying that its "fake" because of certain characteristics, the fact that a) the humbucker at the neck and the fact it actually doesnt say made in usa anywhere on it. Ive used a few tools and the serial N532861 tells me its original. Id really like more information on this unit as i am beyond curious.

I'f anyone can please help me identify this or know of any knowledgeable tele gurus please help me out, but any input would be amazing Ill include a link to photobucket and some pics!

Thanks everyone!!

http://www.photobucket.com/DONERN532861

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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:20 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Here's the problems I see:

1. The trim around the truss rod access hole appears to be plastic which is characteristic of Mexican made guitars.

2. It appears that something has been scraped off from the serial number on the back of the headstock. Based on the appearance of the truss rod hole trim, I would guess that an "M" has been scraped off of the serial number and "Made In Mexico" has been scraped off entirely.

You would need to take a look at the neck heel and under the pickguard for more detailed information.

Still looks like a nice guitar.

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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:27 pm
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Im Confused as well, when i use an online Telecaster Serial decoder it says American 95-96 model. And when i went on fender knowledge base the serial dates it back to 1995-1996 production, i was hoping it wasnt mexican as i paid top dollar...


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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:35 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
N5XXXXX is 95-96 USA made.

MN5XXXXX is 95-96 Mexican made.

What is the trim around the truss rod access hole made of? The difference between wood and plastic is pretty obvious.

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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:45 pm
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Looks like a modified MIM Tele Special.
Does it have a 5-way switch?
Do you have a pic of the back of the body?

Front finish is this enough to see the grain but faded in around the edge so you can't see the edge of the veneer or the grain on the back.

I have the same color '95 Tele Special.

specs:

"Telecaster Special"
...Predecessor of "Tex-Mex".

Years: 1993 - 1997?

US Parts/
Made in Mexico.


Features:
21 Frets (0.039" x 0.099").
9.5" radius.
"U" Shape neck.
Tinted maple neck w/ "skunk stripe".
Medium jumbo frets.
Vintage style tuners (Kluson)
Poplar, alder, or basswood body w/ ash veneer (top)
Translucent front finish.
Opaque sides/back finish.
5-Way switch.
1 Volume knurled knob.
1 Tone knurled knob.
TBX "Treble-Bass Expander" tone control.
1 Split Humbucker pickup (neck).
1 Single coil pickup (bridge).
6-Saddle vintage bridge.
String through body.


5-Way Switch capabilities:
1) Full Humbucker
2) Split Humbuker
3) Full Humbucker & Bridge
4) Split Humbucker and Bridge (sort of the traditional Tele middle position)
5) Bridge

Available colors:
Butterscotch blonde?
White blonde?
Sunburst (Two tone or Three tone)?
Crimson red?


Last edited by ItsForrest on Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:47 pm
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The decal placement and vintage tuners look right.

Link to a forum with more info about the Tele Special:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/guitar-owner ... -club.html


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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:02 pm
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So youd be considering this to be a mexican unit? the seller told me this is american and assures me it is, he explained that the marks around serial were from a capo, which seems consistent, but i wouldn't have paid as much for a mex.. est price for one of these or a forsure way to confirm usa or mex?


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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:16 pm
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Professional Musician
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Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
Doner8749 wrote:
Im Confused as well, when i use an online Telecaster Serial decoder it says American 95-96 model. And when i went on fender knowledge base the serial dates it back to 1995-1996 production, i was hoping it wasnt mexican as i paid top dollar...


Sorry this happened to you; this is why you can't go by those on-line dater sites or serial number decoding sites alone. People have gotten very good at faking serial number.

Doner8749 wrote:
So youd be considering this to be a mexican unit? the seller told me this is american and assures me it is, he explained that the marks around serial were from a capo, which seems consistent, but i wouldn't have paid as much for a mex.. est price for one of these or a forsure way to confirm usa or mex?


The seller is lying to you. The best way to verify the guitar is to email Fender's Consumer Relations department at consumerrelations@fender.com. They have a database where they can match up serial numbers to specific guitars. I would send them the link to this thread so they can see your photos and I would have them look it up as both "N532861 and "MN532861" to see what they come up with.

I agree with ItsForrest - looks like a modded MIM Tele Special to me as well and would bet the mortage that the "MN532861" serial number will turn up a blond MIM Tele Special with a maple fingerboard and the "N532861" either won't turn up at all or would turn up being some different guitar.

You can see from the scraping on the back of the headstock that someone has messed with the decal as bluesky636 says - removing the "M" and the "Made in Mexico". A capo would have scratched off the entire serial number, not those specific areas.


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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:22 pm
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For comparison, here are a couple pics of the original neck off my '95 MIM Special. Placement and style of decal and the placement of the s/n and "made in Mexico" decal are rather telling.
I've moved the tuners to a replacement neck.

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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:23 pm
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Rock Star
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Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:37 pm
Posts: 8708
Location: Natural Bridge, Virginia
Doner8749 wrote:
So youd be considering this to be a mexican unit? the seller told me this is american and assures me it is, he explained that the marks around serial were from a capo, which seems consistent, but i wouldn't have paid as much for a mex.. est price for one of these or a forsure way to confirm usa or mex?


Sure looks that way. Sorry.

Like John C said: Send Fender the two serial numbers. See what they say. Based on all the evidence presented so far, you got scammed. If the seller is local I would suggest taking it back and demand your money back. You could also take him to small claims court.

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Last edited by bluesky636 on Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Need Help Identifying This Mystery Tele! GORGEOUS 95-96?
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:26 pm
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Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:13 pm
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I found an older post on these forums of interest. It contains pictures, take note of the picture of the back of the headstock and compare to the scratched areas on yours.

I'll post a link to the older post below the pictures.

Image

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https://www.fender.com/community/forums ... =2&t=48707


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