I've seen it all now On Ebay

Here is a 9 lb mid 70's Tele with a homemade b bender made with a motorcycle hand brake and cable......huh....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fender-Telecaster-Custom-B-Bender-guitar-Clarence-White-/110811801355?pt=Guitar&hash=item19cce5e70b

If that junk sells for $500+, I'm building 2 tomorrow.

I don't know if it works well or not, but frankly it looks like a brilliant solution.

agreed, i applaud the ingenuity... pretty cool indeed

Genius!

Surely the resistance of the cable's pull around the guitar's body would prevent a perfect B to C# pitch change.

EDIT - Never mind - a brake cable. I got it now. Still have doubts if it would work, though.

Maybe it could be better realized, using higher quality components, but easy to install + highly reversible = win!

I think it looks awesome... If it works that's a bargain price too.

One thing is certain... the buyer will be able to stop in time :-)

dropping the clutch on a guitar ... and burning pick plastic into a few licks....yeh!

what a marvel of engineering.... I wonder what sort of bike the lever is off?...

and it will sell the bid is at 520.00$ ...llooll

Why not? It's a U.S. made Tele.....the bender looks well thought out....some people can't afford to have a real bender installed. I think this guy did a great job!

I think this is pretty cool! Great thinking.

It's pretty much reversible. There is no routing done, only some screwholes. I'd buy it if i had the dough.

I don't know if it works well or not, but frankly it looks like a brilliant solution.

agreed, i applaud the ingenuity... pretty cool indeed

Genius!

I think it looks awesome... If it works that's a bargain price too.

I think this is pretty cool! Great thinking.

It's pretty much reversible. There is no routing done, only some screwholes. I'd buy it if i had the dough.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Somebody used their noodle for something other than a hatrack.

Pure genius.

Not to mention it's a mid 70's tele custom. You could always buy it for cheap and rip out the bender setup, plug a few holes and have yourself a 70's tele for CHEAP!

Why not? It's a U.S. made Tele.....the bender looks well thought out....some people can't afford to have a real bender installed. I think this guy did a great job!

I agree. Heck, the 70's Tele alone is worth more than they're asking, right?

It looks like a Sanford & Son rig, but impressive engineering design!

I agree - the $1500 buy it now price isn't too bad for a 70's Tele Custom with a few holes drilled in it (which is what you'd have if you didn't want the bender).

You guys need to examine the detailed pic of the bridge.
There is an obvious route there.
Maybe I'm missing something.
Pure hack job IMO.
Maybe worth $300 if a hipshot would cover the carnage.

So what part of this guitar do you all like? It can't be the comfort factor of that thing sittin next to your body.

You could get way more than $500 by parting it out. That's an original WRHB.

I like it. A lot. I might try to snipe that if it breaks reserve. 4hrs to ponder...

OK thought about it for 8 mins, bid and broke reserve at $600.

You guys need to examine the detailed pic of the bridge.
There is an obvious route there.
Maybe I'm missing something.
Pure hack job IMO.
Maybe worth $300 if a hipshot would cover the carnage.

Doesn't look like a route to me - looks to be all surface mounted - certainly the way it's designed, I can't see any reason for a route.

For anyone that's interested, it's now $600 and has broken the reserve.

For anyone that's interested, it's now $600 and has broken the reserve.

Yup - that was me, I'm on it! Liking it more and more...

If that junk sells for $500+, I'm building 2 tomorrow.

It's just over $700 at this point. Post some pics of the ones you do :lol:.

Here ya go Greg.

It's just over $700 at this point. Post some pics of the ones you do :lol:.

Wow, sold for $708.80 + 40 shipping!

I had the #2 bid on it. I loved it at $600. Well bought at $700. Worst case, buyer makes money selling just the neck pup, neck, and case. If the system worked I could have tidied it up nicely, and having B-bender actuated by a M/C lever is right up my alley. Especially on a '70's CustomT.

Hey Hobbes - build me one like that on a 70's Tele Custom with a WRHB in the bridge and an original case and I'll shoot you the $500. Hell, I'm feeling generous. $600!

I had the #2 bid on it. I loved it at $600. Well bought at $700. Worst case, buyer makes money selling just the neck pup, neck, and case. If the system worked I could have tidied it up nicely, and having B-bender actuated by a M/C lever is right up my alley. Especially on a '70's CustomT.

Hey Hobbes - build me one like that on a 70's Tele Custom with a WRHB in the bridge and an original case and I'll shoot you the $500. Hell, I'm feeling generous. $600!

I personally wouldn't hack a fine instrument like that.
And there is a route behind the bridge for those who think there is not.
Enlarge the pics and you'll see.
If I'm wrong I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

I personally wouldn't hack a fine instrument like that.
And there is a route behind the bridge for those who think there is not.
Enlarge the pics and you'll see.
If I'm wrong I'm wrong but I don't think I am.

There is absolutely a route behind the bridge.

Just so it doesn't get lost, here's a couple photos...

Not concerned about route/no route. Plug, level, paint. I wouldn't do it to a stock one either, but since it was done, and done 20 years ago when this was a worthless git...

If it worked though it would be one hell of a cool machine! I might pick up an Affinity just to mess around with the idea.

So... would you need TWO of these to do DOUBLE STOPS?

Its got a folk art/prototype appeal to it. Its interesting to me but, I'm easily amused.

there was a guy living here from upstate New York by the name of Steve Oshier. Ol' Steve had a black Japanese Squire Tele with a Fender decal on it which had pretty much the same bender only his was made with a bicycle front brake lever and cable. Steve played pretty hard and his bender held tune very well. I looked his over once and made one myself.

What I did was cut the cable off so it didn't have to go around the back of the guitar and used some steel guitar parts. I cut a piece of a cross rod and drilled a hole through the body of the Tele and put a well lubricated sleeve through the hole. The piece of cross shaft rod that went through the body was from an old ShoBud steel and I left just enough on the back and front of the guitar to attach a couple of those old two position bellcranks. On the back of the guitar the wire inside of the cable went into the round brass piece that the pulling rod on the steel would normally go through and it was secured with the small allen screw. On the front I put another bell crank and just slipped the string through the brass piece and left the allen screw out. I had an adjustable stop that went on the back and the rear bellcrank stopped on that. I wish I'm made some pictures of it but I didn't. I showed it to Hatchet Jack who's on this forum. As I remember, I didn't have it on the guitar but a couple of months as it worked fine but I liked my HipShot better because it had a G bender also. I probably still have most of the parts around here somewhere so maybe if I can find 'em all I might attempt building one of these again. I remember that it really didn't take very long to do it.

Steve Oshier had moved away but came back a few years ago for a visit and was playing a Tele with the Parsons/Green bender. He told me he's sold the cable bender guitar though..............JH in Va.

Not concerned about route/no route. Plug, level, paint. I wouldn't do it to a stock one either, but since it was done, and done 20 years ago when this was a worthless git...

If it worked though it would be one hell of a cool machine!

Yeah, it definitely has a funky cool vibe to it.

Here ya go Greg.

That is a nice bender there Hobbster. But I meant the ones you do like that one if it sells for $500. :mrgreen: Just having fun with you.

I would like to try one just for kicks and giggles. Truth be known, mine is the only one I've ever even played.

WOW, I started this thread to show what POS this was, had no idea ya'll would like this thing, even if you took the bender, excuse me, the brake lever, off, it still a 70's , heavy, black, 6 saddle, Fender that I wouldn't use to paddle my boat, , Hobbster, preach on!!!!!......lol

That is a nice bender there Hobbster. But I meant the ones you do like that one if it sells for $500. :mrgreen: Just having fun with you.

I would like to try one just for kicks and giggles. Truth be known, mine is the only one I've ever even played.
No offense taken here.
I experimenting with a G bender install using clutch cable even as we speak but nothing that nice lol.
I mean it's such a nice guitar and to carve it up, even if it was 20 years ago is just a shame.

WOW, I started this thread to show what POS this was, had no idea ya'll would like this thing, even if you took the bender, excuse me, the brake lever, off, it still a 70's , heavy, black, 6 saddle, Fender that I wouldn't use to paddle my boat, , Hobbster, preach on!!!!!......lol

Not disagreeing with ya or anything but have you seen what some of those heavy '70s boat paddles are bringing these days? They're not cheap, and most of them have been hacked up in some way unfortunately haha. I've seen some very nast "routes" for different pickups hiding under some pickguards haha.

I'm impressed. A lot of thought involved.

I thought it a good buy for just the guitar, even with the route, at the price.

20 Years ago this was a nothing special guitar. The bender was done then. I think it's a really great job, a little homely, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don't think it'a a POS, just a clever person's inexpensive response to a desire for a B Bender.

Winnie

Though the OP doesn't like the guitar there are those that do, and they ARE becoming more desirable.

As far as the bender goes, there have been several takes on the "brake cable" pull system before and this is one of the best I've ever seen. I'd make a real bellcrank, cover the lower end and the back so it'd be more comfortable to play, but mechanically it's not much different from Fender and Bigsby pedal steels, which are known as very reliable units.

Frankly, as one who has been playing benders since the 70's and has beta-tested several designs, this one is definitely in the upper ranks as far as function - and I can tell just looking at it.

Not disagreeing with ya or anything but have you seen what some of those heavy '70s boat paddles are bringing these days? They're not cheap, and most of them have been hacked up in some way unfortunately haha. I've seen some very nast "routes" for different pickups hiding under some pickguards haha.

Hey B, I have seen the pricing on this guitars, IMO, it is ridiculous, A guitar is only worth what someone is will to sell and pay for it, I have never played a good instrument from this era, as it is well known that Fender was not very good during the 70's. I'm sure that alot of people would want it, but there are better options now to put money into. Esp. something that doesn't have a zillion holes in it...lol.

Haha I agree 100%. I've seen a bunch of Fenders from the 70s that you can use the gap between the neck and the neck pocket to store extra picks too haha. Probably not something I would buy to play every day but a clean one (if you could find one) may still be a good investment piece.

Like all guitar from any era, there are good and bad ones. While I personally don't like 3-bolt necks it's not because they are unstable, it's because they aren't convenient for neck-swapping experiments.

The "tight neck pocket necessity" is an old wives tale. Even in the late 60's and 70's we worked on great-sounding 50's Teles and Strats that had neck pockets (and angles) all over the map. There were no CIC machines, no dozen-at-a-time neck cloners operating in the early days - it was all hand work and authentic 50's instrument *look* hand-made, especially those from the late 50's when production was ramping up and work was still done by hand. Most players have never taken apart a real '53 Tele, for example, and found 3/16" of neck shims. In fact, any time I see a supposedly-real 50's Tele or Strat and the fit of everything is perfect my "red flag of suspicion" goes up.

I have never played a good instrument from this era, as it is well known that Fender was not very good during the 70's.

How many '70s Fenders have you played?

I've got a killer Tele Custom (yes, with the much maligned 3 bolt neck) that everyone who plays, falls in love with. I've also got a '78 Musicmaster that I just couldn't leave in the shop.

Whilst I agree that there are a lot of bad ones (and I've played some of them) - Fender's quality control wasn't good - they aren't all rubbish by any means. Some of them just need a good setup but there are some I wouldn't think were worth the effort (like my friend's wine coloured Tele Custom that he got at the same time I got mine - and got rid of soon after).

I've played a couple of '50s and '60s Fenders that were rubbish.

since im new to this hobbie. what is the function of the bender. what is the logic behind it.

and why did they switch to a 3 bolt neck plate.. i was born in 74 and thought it be cool to own a guitar the year i was born.. however, the cost of such instruments is way to expensive for me.. ill never be able to get one.. so i say 700.00 for that guitar was a good buy thats for sure. at any rate if i had to guess about the three bolt neck plate.. some bean counter figured they save x on one less screw and the amount of metal in the plate it self. but if the neck pocket is tight id think 3 would be ok probably flex some if you were a heavy player ( heavy on the picking etc, and if you liked thick strings ) like SRV he probably would snap them necks. heh. it was strictly done to save money.
as they did a few reissues in the 70s and use the 4 bolt pattern..

thank you guys for educating a noob.. im sucking this stuff up and loving it.
chris.

Hi jipp,

Welcome to the club.

A b-bender was originally invented to emulate the sound of a pedal steel guitar and bends the b string up two semitones whn you activate it (the original had a mechanism activated by the strap button - you pulled down on the neck).

To give you one example - play the top 3 strings with the g fretted at the second fret, other two open. Now play an A chord (add the second fret on the b string). Now imagine, instead of playing them as 2 separate chords, the b string bending from the open to the c# note. That is one of the classic pedal steel riffs. There are lods of others and it can equally be used in lots of other styles of music.

Regarding the 3 bolt neck - not a money saving excercise but an attempt at an improvement which Leo Fender came up with while still working as a consultant to Fender after he sold it. The idea was that you could change the angle of the neck without taking off the neck or the strings. As well as the 3 bolts, there is a small hole that can be used to adjust a small bolt that changes the angle of the neck. The only way of changing the neck angle on a 4 bolt neck is to take it off and put thin shims of wood under it - a hit and miss process.

The design has its detractors and I'm not going to get into the arguments here but all I will say is that my particular Tele Custom is none the worse for the 3 bolt neck. Regular Telecasters, by the way, never got the 3 bolt neck so if you really hate it you only need steer clear of Strats and Tele Custom/Deluxe models.

Leo believed in the idea - hewent on to refine the 3 bolt neck design and continued to use it on Musicman and G&L. The problems with 3 bolt Fenders are more to do with sloppy workmanship and quality control than the design itself.

thank you so much for the very clear explanation. you rock man. i really enjoy this forum. everyone is so cool. before signing up i checked some of the other forums and lets just say it seem to me just my opinion if you did own x guitar that was popular to that forum you were not treated so well... but here ifi ts guitar related with in reason everyone is cool and willing to share there years of experience. i found a neck pocket of the adjustment you mention.. neat idea. leo may not been a player but he sure understood engineering and from what iv seen he def was all about the k.i.s.s method as my computer programming teach would call it.. keep it simple stupid.. once you try to get fancy things start to break and you spend hours trying to figure out you for got a semi colan the end of one of your code statements. once again.. i would of loved to shook mr. leo hand.. he sure changed the music biz. wonder if the old school guys wanted to hang him. laughs.. you know the type hat believed in the old ways with guilds and stuff..
chris.

I think the fact that we are still playing pretty much his original design with very few differences all these years later is proof that the k.i.s.s. method works pretty well.

How many '70s Fenders have you played?

I've got a killer Tele Custom (yes, with the much maligned 3 bolt neck) that everyone who plays, falls in love with. I've also got a '78 Musicmaster that I just couldn't leave in the shop.

Whilst I agree that there are a lot of bad ones (and I've played some of them) - Fender's quality control wasn't good - they aren't all rubbish by any means. Some of them just need a good setup but there are some I wouldn't think were worth the effort (like my friend's wine coloured Tele Custom that he got at the same time I got mine - and got rid of soon after).

I've played a couple of '50s and '60s Fenders that were rubbish.

Mr T, I would say dozens of 70's teles, strats, etc, as I have worked on these guitars for my customers for the last 15 years, I knew at some point in this thread that I would offend someone who owned one, and you are correct, there are some decent guitars out there, but the large majority are not.. BTW, I have played ONE 50's tele that wasn't good at all....:lol:

BTW, someone bought it at $708.00......Good for them....