Is this a Tele Custom

GuitarJonz · May 20th, 2008, 06:00 AM

Billed as 71 Tele Custom, but headstock does not say that. Wouldn't this be a customer-ordered Telecaster, not a true Tele Custom? In any event, a beautiful guitar!

See It Here

Joe M · May 20th, 2008, 07:09 AM

I saw one very similar to that one, only in sunburst, at a show this last weekend. The dealer insisted it was the real deal

even though it didn't say Telecaster Custom on the headstock, just Telecaster, like the one you posted about. From about the same era also, so maybe there was a time that Fender didn't put the word Custom on the headstock??? Anyway, the guitar I saw was is much better shape than the one you linked to and was way cheaper also...

thaus · May 20th, 2008, 07:35 AM

It looks like the real deal and the seller does have very detailed pics. I am no expert but I recently bought the same colour double-bound MIJ 62 reissue and the decal is different. I am sure the experts will chime in (calling Mr. Davis). I got my MIJ for $400..........a little different than $17K!!! Interesting that the wear marks on my 85MIJ are very similiar!!

Norrin Radd · May 20th, 2008, 07:37 AM

Well that certainly is a very beautiful guitar. The Fender CS could make an identical one for about a 1/5 the price though........

Joe M · May 20th, 2008, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaus

It looks like the real deal and the seller does have very detailed pics. I am no expert but I recently bought the same colour double-bound MIJ 62 reissue and the decal is different. I am sure the experts will chime in (calling Mr. Davis). I got my MIJ for $400..........a little different than $17K!!! Interesting that the wear marks on my 85MIJ are very similiar!!

The MIJ Customs never had the word Custom on the headstock. I don't know why Fender Japan did that, everything else about the guitar was pretty spot on...

Tele Fan · May 20th, 2008, 07:50 AM

Sorry for the interruption, but Norrin, I don't know what's more scary: the fact that you have the Silver Surfers real name as you tag, or the fact that I know what the Silver Surfers name is.

mellecaster · May 20th, 2008, 07:53 AM

Page 48 of the Duchossoir Book, shows that the Custom was left off the Decal, starting around 1968.

Norrin Radd · May 20th, 2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tele Fan

Sorry for the interruption, but Norrin, I don't know what's more scary: the fact that you have the Silver Surfers real name as you tag, or the fact that I know what the Silver Surfers name is.

LOL!

I'm pretty sure it's part "B"!

TELECASTERbstrd · May 20th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe M

The MIJ Customs never had the word Custom on the headstock. I don't know why Fender Japan did that, everything else about the guitar was pretty spot on...

Actually I think that you may be reffering to the early MIJ Customs because my '88 of '89 did and it also had the classic '62 Fender font. That is late '60's to '70's logo and font and I can't say if maybe early in the CBS transition to CBS style Tele's that Fender dropped subtitles. I wonder what it is? I looks like a nice Tele. I had a mid '80's Custom Esquire with that body color. I wish I never sold it! Stupid, Stupid...

I'm gonna say (with no provenance) that that is the real deal. It has all the 70's markings and the micro-tilt adjust hole in the body that they were starting back then. The right bridge and saddles, tuners, neck-plate... Damn, I like it!

alexpigment · May 20th, 2008, 12:50 PM

pretty sure the 70s teles didn't have the word "custom" on it because the custom had been rebranded to mean that it had a humbucker in the neck

TELECASTERbstrd · May 20th, 2008, 01:23 PM

Oh BTW... I like it and the case looks original too BUT,
I would no way pay the $18k that they are asking!
Maybe $4k or 5 or 6k for me personally, the asking price is just Crazy! You can get '66's for $5k.
Still, a cool Telecaster if it is real.

jwells393 · May 20th, 2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

I can't say if maybe early in the CBS transition to CBS style Tele's that Fender dropped subtitles. I wonder what it is?

I think mellecaster answered the question.

TELECASTERbstrd · May 20th, 2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

I think mellecaster answered the question.

Yes I noticed that after I had mentioned someting about that, mellecaster sure may have solved the mystery!
Good job!

May 20th, 2008, 06:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
GuitarJonz Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Mass. Posts: 2,621 7 Photos	Is this a Tele Custom Billed as 71 Tele Custom, but headstock does not say that. Wouldn't this be a customer-ordered Telecaster, not a true Tele Custom? In any event, a beautiful guitar! See It Here

May 20th, 2008, 07:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 752	Sorry for the interruption, but Norrin, I don't know what's more scary: the fact that you have the Silver Surfers real name as you tag, or the fact that I know what the Silver Surfers name is. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

May 20th, 2008, 07:53 AM	#7 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,798 17 Photos	Page 48 of the Duchossoir Book, shows that the Custom was left off the Decal, starting around 1968. __________________ Let's Not Forget the Other 75% of The Tone Equation...It's Called an AMP

May 20th, 2008, 01:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 615	Oh BTW... I like it and the case looks original too BUT, I would no way pay the $18k that they are asking! Maybe $4k or 5 or 6k for me personally, the asking price is just Crazy! You can get '66's for $5k. Still, a cool Telecaster if it is real. __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

May 20th, 2008, 07:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Joe M Moderator Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 969	I saw one very similar to that one, only in sunburst, at a show this last weekend. The dealer insisted it was the real deal even though it didn't say Telecaster Custom on the headstock, just Telecaster, like the one you posted about. From about the same era also, so maybe there was a time that Fender didn't put the word Custom on the headstock??? Anyway, the guitar I saw was is much better shape than the one you linked to and was way cheaper also...

May 20th, 2008, 07:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
thaus Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 407	It looks like the real deal and the seller does have very detailed pics. I am no expert but I recently bought the same colour double-bound MIJ 62 reissue and the decal is different. I am sure the experts will chime in (calling Mr. Davis). I got my MIJ for $400..........a little different than $17K!!! Interesting that the wear marks on my 85MIJ are very similiar!!

May 20th, 2008, 07:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Norrin Radd TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Saint Paul Age: 41 Posts: 46	Well that certainly is a very beautiful guitar. The Fender CS could make an identical one for about a 1/5 the price though........

May 20th, 2008, 12:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
alexpigment Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin TX Posts: 268	pretty sure the 70s teles didn't have the word "custom" on it because the custom had been rebranded to mean that it had a humbucker in the neck