It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:45 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 2:46 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2014 1:30 pm
Posts: 1
Hi guys
I recently bought a guitar and it looks like custom made Telecaster. Case is Fender. Serial number S815476 tells that it is from the years 1977-1978. I hope that the guitar is not fake.
Here are some pics of it: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jari_m/sets/


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2014 5:15 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:45 pm
Posts: 2770
Location: Kansas
It looks like a custom parts guitar to me.

The neck does look like a legit Fender neck from a Tele Custom. If it is real (which it looks like to me) it could be from anytime between 1978 and 1981 - those S8xxxxx serial numbers were used on all Tele models from 1978 until the Tele Custom model was discontinued some time in 1981.

The body - well, that I'm not sure what it is. ESP had a model that looked like that (they called it a "Hybrid II"), but the ESPs had a beveled neck plate. I'm thinking it's a custom body from Warmoth or some similar parts supplier in the style of the ESP body.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 3:04 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
The pic I would have liked to see isn't on the menu (the neck pocket of the body), but chances are it's been painted, too. [Just thinking the body may be legit, but modded/mutilated (choose one :wink: ) beyond recognition.]

Anyway, on this guitar it IMHO really doesn't matter if all parts are original Fender or not. It's been modded with such intensity that the value depends on what a possible buyer is willing to pay. Whoever made this apparently wanted to create something unique, chose quality parts and put some effort in the job. The end result, I'm sure, will divide opinions.

If you get the story behind that guitar from the creator, I'm sure we'd like to read it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 4:26 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
To conferm the actual date of the guitar, take the neck off the guitar and look for a set of stamped numbers. Throughout the '70s, Fender used this stamped code on all their guitars. It's usually green or dark red ink.

Go to this website to learn how to read these numbers.

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html

Here's another site.

http://www.ggjaguar.com/neckcode.htm

I do this with all of my '70s era Strat. For instance, my Strat with a "S9" serial number (meaning 1979), actually turned out to be make in the last week in of February 1980.

Serial numbers can be off, especially if the guitar was built near the end, or at the beginning, of a particular year.

Another example of this is a 2004 50th Anniversary American Series Strat I owned. The seriel number was from 2003, but I bought the guitar brand new in April 2004; the only year these guitars were built and sold.

This code system will give the actual date the neck was made.

As to the body, I'd say that it is an aftermarket or Fender body someone modied.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 10:23 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
As far as I know, the only Fender Telecaster body with that shape (two bouts) is the TC-90, but that's a semi-hollow with a set-neck. The body is fake as Milli Vanilli's singing.

I'm not sure the neck is real either. The bullet sticks out more than what's normal, especially for an older guitar. And the Fender logo on '78 headstocks also appears to be in a bolder font than yours:

Image

It might be real, but unless you plan on breaking up the guitar and sell it as parts, it's probably not worth it to get the neck appraised. As it is, I'd put the value of this partscaster at half the price of the parts combined; more only if someone really likes it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:42 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
I gave that body the benefit of the doubt just because I think it left the factory (not necessarily Fender factory...) with only one bout.
The neck complies with e.g. this 1977 Tele Custom


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 10:32 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
The body has strong Mosrite influences.

Image

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 3:21 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Turn it 90 degrees.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 5:05 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25350
Location: Witness Protection Program
How does it sound and feel?

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 10:20 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2010 4:55 pm
Posts: 723
Arth! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

_________________
My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:29 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:23 pm
Posts: 311
Location: Marin County
Have you contacted Fender to see what they say?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:40 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25350
Location: Witness Protection Program
chromeface wrote:
The body has strong Mosrite influences.

Image

Image


Yeah, now that you mentioned it.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Tele or not Tele?
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:59 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
The OP signed to the forum and the day of his last visit was Sat Aug 23, 2014...
I believe we can let this topic gradually fade to oblivion.

Pitty, though - would have been nice to hear the story behind that guitar. Usually I know at first glance if I like or hate a modded guitar, on this one I'm not at all sure... :wink:


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: