New Acquisition -'73 Tele *lots of pix*

Strat God · October 20th, 2009, 08:35 AM

Last night I picked up a fairly clean '73 tele. Blonde over ash has darkened to a cool caramel color.

The neck is not super-chunky, but has some good meat to it. It appears mostly original-

Strat God · October 20th, 2009, 08:35 AM

It has a good ding on a back edge that looks like someone tried to repair some time ago.

Headstock is clean with original tuners- and they're still tight.

I had them pull the neck to confirm it's a '73 - and discovered the date is my birthday -January 3rd! How cool is that?

I'm not sure about the pots- the numbers don't corospond to CTS from that period. They look original but there is a large Orange Drop resistor and also a tiny one soldered in - I guess they are bleeders because as you roll down the volume the treble doesn't get muddy. Overall, a great playing and sounding early 70's example. I like it alot.
Any comments or helpful info would be greatly appreciated!

funff · October 20th, 2009, 08:36 AM

Nice!

Hiker · October 20th, 2009, 08:59 AM

Great photos, I like it, too!

3 Chord · October 20th, 2009, 09:32 AM

Looks alot like my 76, which is in about the same condition, only difference is mine has a black pickgaurd. Your neck has more wear but mine has wear on the upper bout where there is a strip of no finish.

When I bought my 76 in 1991, they also had a 73 and it had a white gaurd. I played them both but since they were near identical I went with the one that felt better in my hands.

I like 70's Tele's, I think it is funny when folks complain about the CBS guitars. If you have ever played a good one you know that they are an excellent workhorse, just what the Tele was designed to be.

And when I play it out people talk of the great snappy tone I get and I know it is from the guitar because my playing leaves a lot to be desired.

Nice one, enjoy. And nice to see a real "road worn".

FenderJunkee · October 20th, 2009, 09:40 AM

SWEEEEEEEEET!!!!!

Paulie13 · October 20th, 2009, 10:44 AM

Gorgeous! Great pickup

SoulPedro · October 20th, 2009, 11:01 AM

Congrats!

I have a '75 tele which is my favorite tele, despite all I've heard about CBS-era teles.

The pickups are the best I've ever heard on a tele.

Cuco · October 20th, 2009, 11:21 AM

She's a beauty.

Strat God · October 20th, 2009, 02:47 PM

Thanks everybody. I have to agree the tone is not ice-picky or shrill in the bridge position like many I've played before. At 7.2 lbs. it's light but still has enough girth to give it great tone.

Post Toastie · October 20th, 2009, 05:39 PM

I need to get me one of those!!

garymaddox · October 20th, 2009, 05:40 PM

Very nice! Thanks for posting the pictures.

jkingma · October 20th, 2009, 05:48 PM

Looks great... almost as nice as my '73.

October 20th, 2009, 08:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Strat God Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 104	New Acquisition -'73 Tele lots of pix Last night I picked up a fairly clean '73 tele. Blonde over ash has darkened to a cool caramel color. The neck is not super-chunky, but has some good meat to it. It appears mostly original-

October 20th, 2009, 08:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hiker Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 775 4 Photos	Great photos, I like it, too! __________________ Hammer On!

October 20th, 2009, 05:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Post Toastie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: fullerton,ca Age: 55 Posts: 1,924	I need to get me one of those!! __________________ I don't need no I.D.,I know who I am,I'm Tommy Bolin!

October 20th, 2009, 05:48 PM	#13 (permalink)
jkingma Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N43° 11.943 ~ W079° 35.285 Posts: 3,098 18 Photos	Looks great... almost as nice as my '73. __________________ Creator of Fine Sawdust and Expensive Kindling.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pick apart my '69 Tele! (lots of photos)	Jerrod	Telecaster Discussion Forum	7	July 15th, 2009 02:50 PM
Please help with this 69 ?? tele ( lots of pics )..	zoppotrump	Telecaster Discussion Forum	25	February 16th, 2009 02:11 PM
My new (non-tele, but tele inspired) project (lots of pics)	Kevin	Telecaster Discussion Forum	9	April 1st, 2005 02:31 PM
a site with lots of tele samples?	robrecht	Telecaster Discussion Forum	0	December 21st, 2003 04:34 PM
My new Greenwich Tele (lots of pics)	faustocaster	Telecaster Discussion Forum	18	November 26th, 2003 07:21 PM

October 20th, 2009, 08:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Strat God Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 104	It has a good ding on a back edge that looks like someone tried to repair some time ago. Headstock is clean with original tuners- and they're still tight. I had them pull the neck to confirm it's a '73 - and discovered the date is my birthday -January 3rd! How cool is that? I'm not sure about the pots- the numbers don't corospond to CTS from that period. They look original but there is a large Orange Drop resistor and also a tiny one soldered in - I guess they are bleeders because as you roll down the volume the treble doesn't get muddy. Overall, a great playing and sounding early 70's example. I like it alot. Any comments or helpful info would be greatly appreciated!

October 20th, 2009, 08:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
funff Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Age: 44 Posts: 385	Nice!

October 20th, 2009, 09:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
3 Chord Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Billings MT Age: 43 Posts: 428	Looks alot like my 76, which is in about the same condition, only difference is mine has a black pickgaurd. Your neck has more wear but mine has wear on the upper bout where there is a strip of no finish. When I bought my 76 in 1991, they also had a 73 and it had a white gaurd. I played them both but since they were near identical I went with the one that felt better in my hands. I like 70's Tele's, I think it is funny when folks complain about the CBS guitars. If you have ever played a good one you know that they are an excellent workhorse, just what the Tele was designed to be. And when I play it out people talk of the great snappy tone I get and I know it is from the guitar because my playing leaves a lot to be desired. Nice one, enjoy. And nice to see a real "road worn".

October 20th, 2009, 09:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
FenderJunkee TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Age: 63 Posts: 34	SWEEEEEEEEET!!!!!

October 20th, 2009, 10:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Paulie13 Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SC Age: 23 Posts: 285 5 Photos	Gorgeous! Great pickup

October 20th, 2009, 11:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
SoulPedro Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marseille Age: 45 Posts: 104	Congrats! I have a '75 tele which is my favorite tele, despite all I've heard about CBS-era teles. The pickups are the best I've ever heard on a tele.

October 20th, 2009, 11:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cuco Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 109 31 Photos	She's a beauty.

October 20th, 2009, 02:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Strat God Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 104	Thanks everybody. I have to agree the tone is not ice-picky or shrill in the bridge position like many I've played before. At 7.2 lbs. it's light but still has enough girth to give it great tone.

October 20th, 2009, 05:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
garymaddox Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Foat Wuth, Texus Posts: 526	Very nice! Thanks for posting the pictures.

IMPORTANT:Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult! No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.