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Post subject: 1967 Counterfeit Telecaster???
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 10:38 pm
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Howdy, I'm brand new to this Forum. Thank you for having me.

I have always been taught that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. A couple hours ago I looked at a "1967 Fender Telecaster" (allegedly), SN # 206750. I do not have a smartphone so unfortunately I have no pictures to share. I may go back tomorrow during daylight to take some snaps.

I am assuming this is a fake or vintage forgery and that I am being scammed. Below is a link to a pic on Ebay of one that looks physically identical to the one I saw:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-FENDER-USA ... 462e6fd9c9

The guitar had a blond neck and a blond, unfinished body. It appeared that someone had stripped away the original paint (white or beinge) leaving behind the bare wood beneath.

I am looking at this not as an instrument I would keep, but to buy and resell.

Would a good Fender luthier be able to go through this guitar and authenticate it?

I appreciate your response. Some guy in another forum just jumped down my throat for even asking these questions. I'm an acoustic guy, but this really does look to good to be true.

Thank You Very Much


Last edited by charmedlife417@gmail.com on Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: 1967 Counterfeit Telecaster???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 12:50 am
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Come back with lots of decent photos - there's a wealth of knowledge here, and chances are somebody will pick up on the finer details.

Before I forget, welcome to the forum :)

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Chris


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Post subject: Re: 1967 Counterfeit Telecaster???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:42 am
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Stratmangler, thanks so much for the warm welcome. The owner did say they were open to me coming over and snapping some shots, which I can probably do over the weekend. Even so, though, I know a lot of these guitars get modified through the years, and I would really prefer an expert to go through the innards of the guitar to authenticate how much is original , etc., which will help me determine the purchase price. I am buying it as an investment to acquire and resell, not as a player to keep in my barn.

Question: Since you mentioned there is a lot of expertise in here -- and I believe it-- : Does anyone know of a top luthier here in Los Angeles who could go through this guitar briefly -- even if I had to pay them a small fee -- to determine it's authenticity. Such a referral would be great.

Barring that, are there a series of steps I could follow to get inside the guitar and verify its age and vintage, etc? I recently bought and resold a 1969 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop (is it sacrilege to mention the "G" word in here?), and there were ways to date it, such as the dates on the potentiometers, three-piece neck and body, etc.

Anyway, I'm babbling here. Thank you! I'll get those picks to you as soon as I can.


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Post subject: Re: 1967 Counterfeit Telecaster???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 2:57 am
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On the response you've been getting, etc:

Usually the forum members (here and elsewhere) are willing to help.
The difference to your case is, you want to "buy and resell", which is prone to raise some eyebrows, although it's good that you are honest about this. But basically, you're asking the forumists to do what you, as an "entrepreneur" (in this case), should do.

{Myself, I get a little shiver from 'a top luthier in LA' who might even be paid 'a small fee' for authentication... Sure doesn't sound like you respect their skills very high. Like, "Here's a peanut for authenticating that 58 Strat" :lol: }

Now, making money on vintage instruments is always a gamble. If you plan to do it on a regular basis, start studying the what, when, how, who, why etc. of the guitars.

Disclaimer: The above should be taken as a personal opinion which doesn't represent the whole forum. And I'm not trying to insult anyone.


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Post subject: Re: 1967 Counterfeit Telecaster???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 3:37 am
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jmattis wrote:
On the response you've been getting, etc:

Usually the forum members (here and elsewhere) are willing to help.
The difference to your case is, you want to "buy and resell", which is prone to raise some eyebrows, although it's good that you are honest about this. But basically, you're asking the forumists to do what you, as an "entrepreneur" (in this case), should do.

{Myself, I get a little shiver from 'a top luthier in LA' who might even be paid 'a small fee' for authentication... Sure doesn't sound like you respect their skills very high. Like, "Here's a peanut for authenticating that 58 Strat" :lol: }

Now, making money on vintage instruments is always a gamble. If you plan to do it on a regular basis, start studying the what, when, how, who, why etc. of the guitars.

Disclaimer: The above should be taken as a personal opinion which doesn't represent the whole forum. And I'm not trying to insult anyone.


JMattis, I appreciate your honesty as well. Actually, I'm a player (for 40 years) but only acoustic, not electric. I'm a full-time college professor and I deal a little vintage on the side, that's all. So far this year I've bought and resold a 1969 Brazilian Martin D-35, a 1920 Gibson A mandolin, and just this week I sold a 1969 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. I have yet to lose money on any transaction because I am very cautious and move quite slowly (as I am here with the Tele), educating myself as I go; I would rather have one get away than make a bad buy.

Forgive me, but you misunderstand my comment about paying a luthier for their evaluation. Actually, I meant exactly the opposite: I value their expertise and opinion so highly that I don't want a "freebie" -- I want to pay them for their time and knowledge. I don't like to skimp on such things, and I believe everyone deserves to be paid.

On the Goldtop: I paid Gruhn Guitars (George himself, actually) to do a professional appraisal on the instrument. I also paid my main luthier, David Neely -- one of the best Gibson guys in the country -- a good sum to go through the guitar, clean up the neck, etc. I'm not a cheapskate. I value these people more than you can imagine.

David is very very good, one of the best in town, and I may very well go to him on this, but his background is much stronger in Gibson than Fender, thus my question. But in 35 years he's seen just about everything from every maker, so no big difference there. David would probably go through the guitar for free for me, even if I offered to pay (and I will), cuz he's a very cool cat, but also because he knows I'll bring it right back to him for a paid setup, PLUS I'm bringing in my HD-28 to him soon for some major repair work. It all works out in the wash, and I'm a very generous guy to do business with.

I mean no slighting of anyone in this Forum, and I very much appreciate the expertise in here. I share a great joy and enthusiasm for anything having to do with guitars. I also want to pay the Tele owner a fair market price in the transaction, with the understanding that I have to then do the things he doesn't want to deal with to remarket the product
-- shoot the photos, write the copy, take phone calls, field insulting lowball offers, etc. It takes a great time of time and patience -- and money. So far -- knock on wood -- I've been able to sell everything locally through Craigslist, thus no fees or shipping.

This year it's mainly just a tax write-off and funding my growing stable of guitars -- I just ordered a Yamaha and Eastman acoustic this week.

Thank you again for your frankness. I hope I've clarified a few issues.

I will do my best to get some pics to you soon.

Thank You!


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Post subject: Re: 1967 Counterfeit Telecaster???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:39 am
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charmedlife417@gmail.com wrote:
Howdy, I'm brand new to this Forum. Thank you for having me.

I have always been taught that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. h



If is true , the guitar will be sold before you go for photos :(


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Post subject: Re: 1967 Counterfeit Telecaster???
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:52 am
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stratele52 wrote:
charmedlife417@gmail.com wrote:
Howdy, I'm brand new to this Forum. Thank you for having me.

I have always been taught that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. h



If is true , the guitar will be sold before you go for photos :(


Yep, I suspect you're right. I have to take that chance. I saw it late last night with little cash on me.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for your honesty.


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