Need help with cunetto pickguard screw holes

[harry the filter]

Anyone out there know anything about either Fender or Vince driving screw hole inserts into the wood beneath the pickguard in the first couple of years (1995-97) of the Nocaster relics? A dealer in NY has a 96 for sale. It's got the wrong pickguard screws-- not the phillips head. He said the screwholes are correct, though, because the machined screw hole inserts are there. He said all early Cunettos are that way, but that's the first time I've ever heard that.

Everything else looks right-- bridgeplate with "patent pending," COA w/ matching serial #, neckplate serial # R####, flamey/birdseye neck... I don't know about any of the neck stamps yet.

I have no reason to doubt that it is what he says it is at this point except for those inserts. If any of you erudite connoisseurs of that era of Fender lumber are out there, please let me know whatchoo think.

Thanks!

Harry

[Ron Garson]

Never heard of those before!

[jwells393]

It sounds like you haven't actually seen the inserts yourself. I would ask for close-up pictures. It doesn't sound right to me.

[harry the filter]

You're right-- I haven't seen the guitar in person, and it doesn't sound right to me either. They will probably continue to insist that it's correct for that year and that everyone they've ever seen from that period had those screw inserts and therefore not come off their price. Unless I hear from someone who can verify that, what's the point in haggling with them? There are plenty of other fish etcetera from both sides prospectives. Hello, Vince? You out there?

[soma5]

My '97 doesn't have screw inserts anywhere.

-soma5

[WrapAround]

I've got a '97 and have wood screws.

[Mark Davis]

[slack]

Originally Posted by harry the filter

Anyone out there know anything about either Fender or Vince driving screw hole inserts into the wood beneath the pickguard in the first couple of years (1995-97) of the Nocaster relics?

No, they were not made/assembled in this manner. They had Phillips head wood screws, though a smaller size than the flat head screws used on later Nocaster RIs.

[harry the filter]

Originally Posted by slack

No, they were not made/assembled in this manner. They had Phillips head wood screws, though a smaller size than the flat head screws used on later Nocaster RIs.

Right--I realize this. What the dealer is saying though, is that every Cunetto that he has seen from 95 to 97 has these little screw inserts driven into the body for the pickguard screws and insisted that All Cunettos from this period were made that way. I had never heard of such a thing, but instead of getting into an argument about it with the dude, I let it go and thought I'd see if anyone within the hallowed halls of TDPRI had heard such a story, because after all, where else on the planet would one find such a concentration of knowledge of Teleology?

I haven't given the name of the dealer (should I? As a warning to brother TDPRIers?) because I kinda figure anyone who is going to plunk down the bones for a Cunetto probably is going to know most of the story anyway. I know enough to ask the right questions, but admit to having gaps in my learning. That's why I'm here.

[jwells393]

I still think you should ask the dealer to e-mail you pictures of the inserts.

[MulliganChebichev]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

People have installed neck screw inserts to make it easier to remove the neck for transport but in all my years of seeing Fenders Ive never seen one from the Factory with any screw inserts anywhere.

Doesn't the Yngwie Malmsteen Strat have the neck inserts?

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by MulliganChebichev

Doesn't the Yngwie Malmsteen Strat have the neck inserts?

Yes that was added in 2007 to that model. But what I should have said is no Cunettos had any screw inserts which is the topic we are discussing.

SO I stand corrected. Thanks.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by harry the filter

Right--I realize this. What the dealer is saying though, is that every Cunetto that he has seen from 95 to 97 has these little screw inserts driven into the body for the pickguard screws and insisted that All Cunettos from this period were made that way. I had never heard of such a thing, but instead of getting into an argument about it with the dude, I let it go and thought I'd see if anyone within the hallowed halls of TDPRI had heard such a story, because after all, where else on the planet would one find such a concentration of knowledge of Teleology?

I haven't given the name of the dealer (should I? As a warning to brother TDPRIers?) because I kinda figure anyone who is going to plunk down the bones for a Cunetto probably is going to know most of the story anyway. I know enough to ask the right questions, but admit to having gaps in my learning. That's why I'm here.

Why not just have someone take a pic of under the pickguard of a Cunetto or one on Ebay and show the dealer he was wrong.

[slack]

Here you go...

1996 Fender Nocaster Relic (Cunetto). I own the guitar and took the pictures. I grant permission for downloading and distribution of these two pictures by anyone, as long as no modification other than cropping is done and no misrepresentation of guitar ownership is made.

Pic 1
Pic 2

[austintele]

I have a jan 96 and there are no screw inserts.

[Mark Davis]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Cunetto-e...dZp1638Q2em124

Here is one that sold on Ebay.

[harry the filter]

Originally Posted by jwells393

I still think you should ask the dealer to e-mail you pictures of the inserts.

I would, Jack, but since he says there are screw hole inserts, I'll take him at his word. Unless...

Do you mean that by looking at the pictures, I might be able to decide whether or not it's a reparable issue? Hadn't thought of that. Somehow remove those inserts and refill the holes and replace the screws with phillips head screws.
I wonder if that can be done convincingly and invisibly?

[jwells393]

Do you mean that by looking at the pictures, I might be able to decide whether or not it's a reparable issue?

Nope. I mean he may not know what he's seeing. Maybe he has bad eysight. Aren't you curious? If I were buying a pricey guitar and the seller told me it had threaded inserts for the pickguard screws I would definitely want to see them. For a pricey guitar you shouldn't feel hesitant to ask for additional closeup photographs.

[harry the filter]

Originally Posted by jwells393

Nope. I mean he may not know what he's seeing. Maybe he has bad eysight. Aren't you curious? If I were buying a pricey guitar and the seller told me it had threaded inserts for the pickguard screws I would definitely want to see them. For a pricey guitar you shouldn't feel hesitant to ask for additional closeup photographs.

Actually, there were two guys there at the store and both were telling me with all the confidence of the Oracle of Delphi that ALL cunettos from 95 to 97 had these inserts, including a cunetto strat they had in the store at present. Either they know something nobody else seems to be able to confirm, or they're serving up serveral cubic meters of baked wind to the rubes in the name of expanding margins. I'm leaning toward the latter, so I'm not going to try to talk them off their price for a potentially devalued collector's item when there are other better examples of the class out there.

[jwells393]

Harry ........... you're a potential buyer of an expensive guitar. They should be willing to send you any pictures you request for making your decision to purchase or not purchase. I would be asking for many pictures including closeup pictures of the inserts.

Vince Cunetto is a forum member ............. why not ask him?

[harry the filter]

Jack, I have no doubt they'd love to send me lots of pictures, but like I said, I'm moving on to the next one. Someone else can be burdened by screwholes. I mean the kind found on guitars, of course.

It would be interesting to hear what Vince has to say...

[Mark Davis]

There are alot of Fender dealers and Fender reps who give out wrong info all the time.

In fact they are some of the most misguided guitar people there are all they are interested in is selling a guitar like a dozen eggs.

I have found a few good dealers that really do know what they are talking about but I can count them all on 1 hand.

Hang around just about any guitar shop and you will hear the salesspeople and dealers tell the customers stuff that just isnt true.

[showman(tx)]

I have a 6/95 Cunetto and have had 2 others and I've never heard of threaded pickguard screws on any Cunetto era relic. But like others have said I'd want to see pics, if nothing else just to view the PITA factor of threaded pickguard screws

Also, I wouldn't write it off so fast. Even if the inserts are not original but they're cleanly done and look good, the price is right, and everything else seems legit (stamps, serial numbers, etc) then I may think about it with an approval period. The mod we're talking about is pretty minor (if done well) and isn't visible, so if the guitar speaks to you (which is what's most important right ) and you get a fair deal it may be worth it in the long run.

[Mark Davis]

Im just trying to figure out why anyone would need threaded inserts for pickguard screws???

The only place the threaded inserts makes any sense at all is on the neck.

If it was just a regular Nocaster or 52ri it wouldnt bother me at all but the Cunettos are collector items and anything done to one thats not original is going to devalue it somewhat to a collector.