1958 Telecaster Value???

[Stuco]

Congratulations. I'm looking forward to hearing more about this guitar as you discover it.

[braderrick]

Hmm I would ask about the tele but the truth is we may not hear from him for days. I know if I had just aquired a "new" vintage tele you probably wouldn't hear from me either. Anyway congrats man, glad you stumbled upon it, hopefully I can do something like that one day. When get a chance and can stop playing it for a few minutes let us know how you two are bonding.

[meenahga]

It's late and I'm very tired... been playin the tele for quite a while. Sounds incredible. I'm hooked. I'll post more tomorrow. Must sleep... G'nite.

[younkint]

Originally Posted by meenahga

Must sleep...

I'll bet he doesn't ...

[marantz1300]

Meenahga.You have impeccable taste in guitars. 6 bolts and teles .Superb.

[meenahga]

Originally Posted by marantz1300

Meenahga.You have impeccable taste in guitars. 6 bolts and teles .Superb.

Good to see you over here!

[braderrick]

'Up pretty early, you sure you slept? If I had a '58 Tele I'd sleep with it! Maybe on the couch mind you but I'd still sleep with it.

[meenahga]

(My desktop computer is having problems, so I can’t post pics tonight. Soon though!)

Well I got home from work and had a look "under the hood". I discovered some interesting things.
Neck is original, date is 10-58.
I believe everything to be 1958 except the potentiometers and switch and switch-tip, and screw holding the front strap pin, and pickguard.
Pickups are original, as are the bridge,jack,neckplate. The number of holes on the pickguard leads me to think it may be from a ‘59, or maybe late ‘58(kinda wishful thinking on the pickguard, but possible)
The body does have a maple top over one-piece ash, nicely aged binding on top only. Nice subtle curly maple grain thru the red transparent, very honey colored, finish. I could not find an obvious date under the bridge pickup as there is some finish covering the bottom of the cavity. After some thorough investigation of the cavities, I discovered some small nail holes; the sizes and locations are consistent with and indicative of a '58 - '64 tele, according to:
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

One nail hole in the neck cavity, and one in the wall of the control cavity! There were none in the maple top, as the other 2 must be hidden beneath the maple cap.
The neck route "notch" on the bass side, (also see: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html#specs ) indicates a 1950 to 1972 body. This along with the info the seller gave me, leads me to believe that the body is original 58 (probably was a blond because of the ash), and at some point (pre-72) early on, a maple top was added and the guitar was refinished in the transparent red, sorta honey-ish color it is now. I have no reason to doubt him.

The case although old, is non-original, made in Canada. Very road worn with lots of sticker's from it's travels.

The seller's name is Dick "Red" Sweeney. He got his nickname at an early age in grade school, due to his hair color. Red is 73 years old; he’ll be 74 next month. Born in Springfield Massachusetts, he began playing guitar when he got out of the service in his early 20’s. He began his love affair with Country Music and guitars. His first guitar was a Hohner. He later played a Kay. He has also played a Show Bud Steel guitar.
He lived in Austin Texas for about 4 years. While in Texas, he would frequent the Armadillo club, where he saw many artists and bands including Roy Buchanan, who would come to the Armadillo 2 or 3 times a year. Asleep At the Wheel was a weekend band at the time.
Red has played in many groups over the years, and has backed up many musicians and opened for the likes of Liz Anderson, Wanda Jackson, Dave Dudley (6 Days on the Road), and the legendary Roy Cuff. While on tour in Europe, Red would play 6 nights a week!
In 1972, Red went to Resurrection Guitars in Austin, and there were about 9 or 10 Telecasters hanging in line on a wall. Red had them set up a Fender Twin, and played the same Merle Haggard riff on each one, with the amp settings unchanged. Hands down, the red 1958 sounded the best of them all, and just felt right to him. Red had 3 kids at the time, so he put a down payment on the guitar and over the next 4 months, finished paying off the guitar. The guitar listed by Resurrection guitars as a 1958 Telecaster was $700.
Over the next 30 or so years, Red took the tele with him all over Texas, the southwest US, Europe, Canada, and the northeastern US. People who came to hear him sing and play called him the “Big Man with the Little Red Guitar” . Many enjoyed his singing accompanied by his signature sound, a 1958 Telecaster. Through out the years, Red has had the tele refretted a couple of times and the controls fixed (replaced).
A couple of times, Red ran on some hard luck and came real close to selling his Tele, but his wife Jean refused to let him do it! (What an awesome wife!) She knew how attached he was to his guitar and he was still playing gigs at the time.
Recently, Red and Jean decided to let “his baby” go. Red said he didn’t want to leave his wife with having to sell his guitar alone when he passed on.

Red told me all of this info last night, when I went to buy the guitar. Red gave me a cassette tape with him singing some country classics and a signed pic of the Red ‘58 Telecaster.
Red told me he will miss his guitar dearly, but it means so much to him and he is very grateful to know someone who loves to play and will play the tele, is getting it. He is a humble man, great musician, and friend. I told him that anytime he wants to play it or borrow it, to just give me a call. He is more than welcome.

[infiniteposse]

That's beautiful. Thanks for taking the time to write all of that out. Congrats on your new baby and well done all around on the transaction. Glad to know it'll keep on living a good life with you and not in a glass case somewhere.

Be well-

[Buckocaster51]

Sounds like ya done good kid!

[meenahga]

Tele:









continued...

[meenahga]

Neck Date:



Nail holes:





Bridge pick-up cavity, paint inside from refinish:



continued...

[meenahga]

Non original pots and switch/switch tip:



Case stickers:



Thanks to eveyone here at this forum. Very nice bunch of folks. Lots of great info. I am extremely happy and fortunate to be able to play an awesome guitar.
Red Sweeney says hello and enjoy your Telecasters!

Dick "Red" Sweeney:




Thanks again,
John

[Mountaintwanger]

I love this story! made my whole weekend!.....This is one of those once in a life time things that only happens too a few people in this world!....I will always remember this one........way to go!.......Now get out and buy some lottery tickets!.......lol........

[BroadMaster]

IMO, now that you have these pics you could send them to George Gruhn and get an idea of what you really have. Red only owned it after initial sale/ refin. It'd be nice to know what it's worth for your home owners/ renters insurance purposes.... Or join the weber telecaster board and ask 0le Fuzzy for his opine. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by meenahga

Neck Date:



Nail holes:





Bridge pick-up cavity, paint inside from refinish:



continued...

[meenahga]

Had a mis-spelling in previous posting. It was Roy Acuff Red opened for.

John

[Stuco]

Glad this tele has a happy new owner! I suppose the question now is: Do you plan to return it to it's orginal (or close) glory and have it refinshed etc. or keep it like it is now (it's very cool in it's present state also)?

[Mountaintwanger]

I wouldn't change a thing......JMO.......

[skunqesh]

Originally Posted by Mountaintwanger

I wouldn't change a thing......JMO.......

yeah, i wouldn't mess with it, but that's my 2cents.

It wouldn't add character, which in its current state it has in spades.

Loved reading/learning about Red and your quest. Awsome!

[JDRNoPro]

This was a fascinating thread. Congrats meenahga, and thanks for sharing the whole story and all the details about the guitar and Mr. Sweeney.

Red obviously loved it the way it is and I wouldn't mess with it either.

Jim

[meenahga]

The only things I'll ever change are the strings!

[Buckocaster51]

Got to love that green crud on the sides of frets visible on the neck heel shot.

That's neat stuff that can't get there anyway other by playing it!

Thanks again for sharing.

[Telemarkman]

Whatever the origin, that's a gorgeous looking Telecaster and you're right in keeping it as it is .

[marantz1300]

Originally Posted by Buckocaster51

Got to love that green crud on the sides of frets visible on the neck heel shot.

That's neat stuff that can't get there anyway other by playing it!

Thanks again for sharing.

Thats half a century of mojo!!

[PeteMac]

Just too beautiful for words ...

the guitar,

the story,

and your dealings with the guy.


Nice one man. Class.

[Rob Moody]

Pretty darn cool!!!!!!!! I would love a nice tele one day, but i'm content with my EBMM Albert Lee's for now. If the right tele came along.....

[Twangbanger]

Cool find.......
From my findings on my recent Xmas tele find......lots of players and such were modding their tele's back then. They wanted it to be "their" guitar.
Mine is a 59-60 top loader/through loader as well. With added binding and refinished in Sunburst. Was Daphne blue. My pin holes are similair to yours.....same in the neck pocket, one by the top pickquard screw and one on the outside control cavity screw. So our tele's were made about the same time. I don't the neck to it, too broke to afford it, so the vintage player/collector parted it out.

Cool Find!

[meenahga]

I believe I may have to sell my beloved tele. Unfortunate set of circumstances has arisen and I need to raise some money.

[Ollie!]

NOOOOOOO, please don't!!

I'm reading this whole thread for the first time now, really hope it's gonna be a thread with a happy end...

Ok I'm sure you'll do anything you can so that you won't have to sell it. Reading your comments it seems like it's the guitar of your dreams, so selling would be something you would regret forever. It needs to be in good hands, your hands!


Or else, at least sell it to a TDPRI member ;-)

[Hafner]

Yes to a TDPRI-member. But how to manage this ?
Private postings !

[TDPRI]

Not via postings. This is what the Classifieds are for. Besides, the OP will want to get full value out of this guitar not what he paid for it.

I suggest finding a vintage dealer to consign it for him or Ebay.

[Kahli]

Looks to me like a mid 60s tele custom body with a late 50s neck but I'm no expert. I don't believe the tele custom was available in the late 50s. I think '62 was the first year but that might not be incorrect. Just beware that this guitar may not be 100% original.

[meenahga]

Originally Posted by Kahli

Looks to me like a mid 60s tele custom body with a late 50s neck but I'm no expert. I don't believe the tele custom was available in the late 50s. I think '62 was the first year but that might not be incorrect. Just beware that this guitar may not be 100% original.

I am sure the guitar is not 100% original. As far as I know, the tele custom bodies had binding on both front and back.

[Westerly Sunn]

Originally Posted by meenahga

I spoke with the seller again tonight. It was Guitar Resurrection. 3004 Guadalupe St Austin, TX. Seems like a reputable place. Anyone had dealings with them?

He purchased the guitar there about 35 years ago. He said he called them a couple of years ago in hopes of verifying his purchase with maybe have some former records, but they didn't have any. They could only verify that the serial number indeed was consistent with a '58.
I asked him if he would be willing to sit down with me and give me some history of himself and his playing, and I guess provenance with the guitar. Over the years, he said many times, people who could here him playing, would come in from the streets in front of the clubs and ask about the guitar.
I want to know who the musicians are in the pictures with him, I saw in his living room, and his extensive touring through out Texas, and Europe. I will let you all know when I find out. I also wouldn't mine doing a little pickin' and grinnin' with him.


As I mentioned before, I am a player, not a dealer. I have several nice guitars, mainly Ernie Ball Music Man, and also my first electric, a '63 Burns of London Split Sound. I have sold a couple of guitars and amps over the years.
Originally, I saw this Tele as a way to maybe make some money, (my house needs a new roof), but after some serious contemplation and consideration, I have decided that I will keep this guitar and continue playing the heck out of it as he has done. The guitar really sounds great and just feels "right" in my hands. Maybe someday when I (hopefully) get to be his age, I will pass the guitar on to someone like myself and pass along a bit of history with it.

I told the seller that I was going to keep it, and he said he could tell that, by the look on my face when I played it, that I probably wouldn't be able to sell it. He felt good that the guitar was going to be played and that a guitar like this, should be.

I'll keep you all posted.

I ordered a couple of guitars from them a year or so ago. One inexpensive Ibanez and an Eastman archtop worth a couple thousand dollars. I was very pleased with the guitars and the service.

[Westerly Sunn]

Just got to end of this thread... I hate that you would have to sell that guitar. My birth year is '58; sure would love to have a guitar with that birthday too! It's a cinch that ain't gonna happen though! I'm trying to save up enough $'s just to pay property taxes! Good Luck!

[IPLAYLOUD]

Possible that someone put a Maple veneer on top and bound it?

That body has a LOT going on in the back for a piece of Alder. Too much.

[meenahga]

Originally Posted by IPLAYLOUD

Possible that someone put a Maple veneer on top and bound it?

That body has a LOT going on in the back for a piece of Alder. Too much.

I believe it to be one piece ash.

[MatteusNova]

Originally Posted by Kahli

Looks to me like a mid 60s tele custom body with a late 50s neck but I'm no expert. I don't believe the tele custom was available in the late 50s. I think '62 was the first year but that might not be incorrect. Just beware that this guitar may not be 100% original.

Wasn't there a double bound Custom Esquire around in 1959-60, somewhere? Not a Tele but you sure could put a neck pick-up in it. He talks about it around 01:00- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQp2b68PrMM

[paulyray]

Looks to me like somebody les pauled it. A flame maple bound top and a faded cherry sunburst finish. Although not original, it is very cool. Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it.

[Twangbanger]

According to the Tele Bible......
Customs came out in mid 59'. That's when the slab board rosewood necks hit the market as well. The Slab boards changed in late 62'. That's why Fender makes the 62' custom tele with slab board neck. 58-59, also is when Fender phased out the top loader bridges. Mine is drilled for both top and through body, which is an example of fender using their left over parts.
My 59/60 tele, has been changed so much throughout it's years that pencil dates are gone. The only way to date them after that is if the neck is intact and by the nail holes on the body. Through out 58-62 the nail holes changed from 4-3 and locations changed.

The best info I've found is on this site.
Vintage Fender dating