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Post subject: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 11:08 pm
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I recently acquired a 1967 Telecaster. I'm now leaning away from restoration and planning on keeping it -- or maybe eventually reselling it -- in the "as is" condition I received it. I had a specific question about cleaning the fretboard.

I hope I didn't blow it, but I usually work on acoustics (which have dark ebony or rosewood fingerboards) so I was doing the same thing on the Tele -- cleaning the fretboard with very very light steel wool and a gentle cleaning solution -- when I noticed I was apparently removing the vintage finish from the fretboard at the same , so I stopped immediately.

Did I screw it up? You can give it to me straight. One learns by making mistakes. I thought it would be more attractive to a potential buyer if I removed all the dark blotches from the fretboard, but it now appears I also removed the finish(!). (Most vintage acoustics I've worked on have unfinished fretboards.) In doing this, I appear to have taken away some of the mojo from the instrument.

I appreciate your honesty and insight on this issue. You can suggest whipping me with a cat-of-ninetails or with a stupid stick if you want -- I probably deserve it. Oh well -- live and learn.

Here's a link to a Photobucket album with more than 40 pictures of the guitar:

[url][http://s28.photobucket.com/user/educatedguess417/library/1967%20Fender%20Telecaster?sort=3&page=1/url]

Notice the pics below and where I stopped cleaning after the third fret. Appreciate your comments:

Image

Image

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c227/ ... 482c60.jpg

Image

Image

[IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c227/educatedguess417/1967%20Fender%20Telecaster/NECKTELECU1_zps1488916b.jpg[/I


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 2:15 am
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Learning restauration on 67 guitar.

+1000

Best is to ask how before :(


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:08 am
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I quote myself from the previous topic:
jmattis wrote:
BTW, whoever is going to restore this Tele is facing a difficult job. The age and mileage should still show, but one shouldn't need a tetanus shot after every gig...

The first thing here is (would have been...) to sit back before touching the guitar at all, and decide what you really want to do - keep it as vintage as can be ("closet collecting"), or make it a playable instrument for use.
On the first option, you just about blew it - although playing a few days, only open chords and with dirty hands will bring that dirt back.

But from the previous posts I understand you want option two; you bought the guitar "cheap" (was that $2500 estimate at all close?) and plan to sell it for about double that price.
So: you clean & restore the guitar in all parts that affect playing (nut, frets, bridge, trem, pickups, wiring...), but touch the woodwork and the finish as little as possible.
Keep all possible parts original - and if you absolutely must replace something, get period correct exact spare parts (plus keep the originals with the guitar).
Maybe buy a cheapo and practise with it first, or you may end up with a Tele67 worth less than what you paid for it.

Oh, just one thing: don't use steel wool - it may leave small particles that rust under the fret edges, or get stuck in the pickups. Zippo fluid and a toothbrush is my suggestion.


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:18 am
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Step away from the steel wool!


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:38 am
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jmattis wrote:
I quote myself from the previous topic:
jmattis wrote:
BTW, whoever is going to restore this Tele is facing a difficult job. The age and mileage should still show, but one shouldn't need a tetanus shot after every gig...

The first thing here is (would have been...) to sit back before touching the guitar at all, and decide what you really want to do - keep it as vintage as can be ("closet collecting"), or make it a playable instrument for use.
On the first option, you just about blew it - although playing a few days, only open chords and with dirty hands will bring that dirt back.

But from the previous posts I understand you want option two; you bought the guitar "cheap" (was that $2500 estimate at all close?) and plan to sell it for about double that price.
So: you clean & restore the guitar in all parts that affect playing (nut, frets, bridge, trem, pickups, wiring...), but touch the woodwork and the finish as little as possible.
Keep all possible parts original - and if you absolutely must replace something, get period correct exact spare parts (plus keep the originals with the guitar).
Maybe buy a cheapo and practise with it first, or you may end up with a Tele67 worth less than what you paid for it.

Oh, just one thing: don't use steel wool - it may leave small particles that rust under the fret edges, or get stuck in the pickups. Zippo fluid and a toothbrush is my suggestion.


Great, thanks, yep, learned my lesson about steel wool. Okay on acoustics, not electric.

As for the value, the consensus on this one is a bit all over the place, but the low range seems to be in the area of $2500-3000.


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:53 am
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I don't think I would want to use steel wool on an acoustic either, other than on the fret wire.


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:31 pm
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Oh my ....
(heavy sigh...)
That is unfortunate.

For an unfinished board like ebony or rosewood I usually take a toothbrush to it as I am oiling it. That lifts the gunk, especially the dark matter that accumulates along the edges of the frets. The gunk then wipes away.
For a finished maple board I usually just use a little guitar polish and a toothbrush and then wipe.

At this point I am unsure what I would do if I were in that situation. I really don't know.
I know I couldn't leave it the way it is .... but how to proceed?
Prolly your best bet would be to seek the help of a professional before taking any further action.
There is money on the line here.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:24 am
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I am with BMW-KTM on this one, seek professional help
mud


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 7:43 am
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At this point, the finish has been removed up to the third fret anyhow, so there's no going back.
Given that condition, I would finish removing all the old fretboard finish (but not with steel wool!), and re-lacquer the fretboard, making it a good player's guitar. Or better yet, have a luthier do it combined with a re-fret. There are some serious grooves in some places, making the guitar difficult if not downright impossible for bending.


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Post subject: Re: Cleaning '67 Tele Neck: Did I Blow It?
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 9:48 am
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I would just leave it alone and play it for hrs and hrs and hrs and ......must be pretty awesome to have a tele like that....so jealous.. :mrgreen:


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