Telecaster age verification.

[electriceye]

Hi,
I know if you take the neck off you should be able to see the year of manufacture, but judging by the neck, hardwear and neck decal pat number it could be an early 60's example. It has a rosewood finger board, and the neck is a thick but comfortable "D' shape . The fret board visibly has a radius but t action is fantastic, no fret issues and stays in tune with the classic saddles that take 2 strings. I know the body has been beautifully made years ago, any ideas how old this lovely Tele is,?

 

[Eric_G]

Hi,
I know if you take the neck off you should be able to see the year of manufacture, but judging by the neck, hardwear and neck decal pat number it could be an early 60's example. It has a rosewood finger board, and the neck is a thick but comfortable "D' shape . The fret board visibly has a radius but t action is fantastic, no fret issues and stays in tune with the classic saddles that take 2 strings. I know the body has been beautifully made years ago, any ideas how old this lovely Tele is,?

What's the story behind the guitar ?

It will be difficult for experts here to help you date it. Not enough pictures...

It isn't hard to find 60's style sticker that are close to the real deal and build what could appears to be a legit 60's tele. So I suspect people will be careful before confirming anything.

Is there a serial number on the neck plate ? What is it ?

Ideally, picture of the body routing, electronics, neck pocket and neck heal would help a lot.

 

[electriceye]

Hi, firstly thank you for the prompt reply. I know it is over 15 years old as that's when I got it, gig with it occasionally but less so when I thought I could have an old one here albeit perhaps NOT original body, but if not it was beautifully done. I didn't want to take the neck off as it plays so well I didn't want to disturb it but I guess I will have to bite the bullet. And take the neck off. There is no serial number on the neck plate, but one can see by the wear ( not by me) the neck has some age , so at least I know it has original decal. I will take neck off tomorrow and post pics,
Cheers

 

[Nadnitram]

Cool guitar regardless of origin. Welcome to ST.

 

[Eric_G]

Hi, firstly thank you for the prompt reply. I know it is over 15 years old as that's when I got it, gig with it occasionally but less so when I thought I could have an old one here albeit perhaps NOT original body, but if not it was beautifully done. I didn't want to take the neck off as it plays so well I didn't want to disturb it but I guess I will have to bite the bullet. And take the neck off. There is no serial number on the neck plate, but one can see by the wear ( not by me) the neck has some age , so at least I know it has original decal. I will take neck off tomorrow and post pics,
Cheers

It is a beautiful instrument...

Regardless of dates, origin, part caster or genuine intact vintage... if it plays beautifully, it's all that counts... to me anyway...

Now if you want to confirm what you really have and if it's of high resale value, you'll need to get all those pics mentioned above...

 

[El Gobernador]

Take off the control plate. The pots have date codes. Decal is correct for a 64. It's been stripped and refinished, and the pickguard isn't original.

Pop the neck off. It won't hurt anything.

 

[StratoMutt]

to S-T!

I'm not much of a Tele fan. I do quite like the look of yours.

 

[stratman323]

I would have assumed a 1980s Japanese Tele from that body wood. It's easy to change the decal to add patent numbers. But hopefully I'm wrong & well see a 1960s neck date when you pop the neck off & take some pics.

 

[ETucc]

I would have assumed a 1980s Japanese Tele from that body wood. It's easy to change the decal to add patent numbers. But hopefully I'm wrong & well see a 1960s neck date when you pop the neck off & take some pics.

Definitely stripped/refinished.

 

[electriceye]

Thank you for all the positives. Here are some more pics.
Cheers everyone, I know it's not original body. See attached.

 

[El Gobernador]

I am dubious as to whether this is real. Veneer is right for 63 and onward...

Should have a stamp...not hand date.

What are the codes on the pots? Can't really see the numbers other than 220k.

 

[electriceye]

Its obviously NOT a MIJ copy, what value would you put on it? The bridge plate has Fender Pat No which I can't make out and it has an old looking single ply scratch plate. It is a beauty to play but def Fender NOT MIJ copy ( nothing wrong with many of those). I will send a pic of the machine heads and neck where you can see truss rod adjuster. I know after a certain year they stamped years on hence my thoughts it is an original early '60's neck. Cheers for everyone's input. Pics to follow.

 

[electriceye]

Pics as promised. I tell you, I was nervous removing the neck ( not normally but thinking it could be an old girl with such a fantastic action, I took care). Man, the body neck socket is tight as a glove, but is back as was. Thanks for any further thoughts on value.

 

[archetype]

Looks like plastic insulated pickup wires going to the switch, so the pickups are unlikely to be original. I don't recall seeing a Fender truss rod nut with a hole in the center.

 

[electriceye]

I just looked on YouTube How to adjust Vintage style Telecaster truss Rod and it shows the adjuster as my pic, not on headstock?

 

[electriceye]

PS..I do appreciate everyone's comments. I have to say, for a natural finish, the wood grain is stunning, 1 piece..

 

[electriceye]

PPS..I will have a good look at numbers on pots and post those. I read the other day in a friends Telecaster book, that in the late 50's/ early 60's Leo Fender started using rosewood fret board as he wasn't happy with wear that developed on the maple neck? Also, apparently experimented with natural finish/ different bodies however, I don't believe the body to be original, but I am convinced the neck and hardware is original? Ok, the wiring might be different, again I will look closely at that. Once more,, my thanks to all that have responded.

 

[electriceye]

Out of interest a very good old friend who was in a name band ( that's irrelevant) has a genuine and valuable 61 Tele and confirmed the truss Rod adjustment is exactly the same as this neck, you can just see the top of the adjuster at the body end of the neck. So any ideas what value this might be? He suggested just selling the neck but the body has such a beautiful wood grain and plays so nicely that would be a sacrilege to me!!

 

[El Gobernador]

valuable 61 Tele

Which would have a slab board.

 

[Caddy]

He is referring to the hole in the middle of the truss rod adjustment. Normally they have just the slots, but not the hole in the center