Identifying Telecaster Models

[jmreyes]

Hi All,

Im new to Teles. Been playing one for a few months now. Really diggin' it. Love the playability and the overall tone.

I know my question may require a very lengthy answer but how do you identity a Telecaster model at one glance?

What are the basic telltale signs?

Is there a wiki somewhere that shows Telecaster models from every decade? Models? Specs? Differences?

Thanks to anyone who can share some some info.

Cheers!

[BGTele]

Unless it is a distinctive model say, a Deluxe, a Blackout, a '52 maybe, it's tough.
Teles that are of the Standard persuasion are rather non-descript except for the
occassional color change. So no-frills, so minimalist you gotta get up close and
check that serial number and even then it might be off a couple years.

[Mark Davis]

First thing I look for is the neck pickup mounted to the pickguard or to the body.

Its easy to tell cause there are adjustment screws visible on the pickguard mounted ones.

That tells me right away its not a vintage speced Tele. Its the modern design which usually has a 6 saddle bridge tuners where the string goes sideways thru the tuner post instead of down the middle like vintage ones do.

I only like the Vintage style ones so as soon as I see those neck pickup adjuster screws I look elsewhere.

[RodeoTex]

For normal Teles I look at the bridge first, that'll narrow down the possibilities right away, then the number of screws in the pickguard. These two things will tell you at least whether it is a newer or older model. Of course all the reissue guitars mimmic the old ones so, as BG stated the S/N and origin of manufacture will tell you a lot.

All this can go right out the window if the guitar has been modded after it left the showroom so to be more informed you might need to look at the end of the neck and in the body cavaties - thus this is why members here often ask for these photos.

I love threads where someone is trying to ID a particular guitar and the banter back and forth by the historians here. I've learned a lot this way.

Fender has tended to be very fickle about using up old parts, and their S/N-to-neck date relationship may often throw more kinks into the fray.

[LazerMouth]

One day you will be enlightened, and then you'll just know.

[Mark Davis]

Another good way is go to Fender.com look at all the Teles and their specs and see how they are all different.

[jmreyes]

Thanks Everyone.

Did some studying for a few hours. Instead of identifying exact models, I narrowed it down to years. Here's what I noticed:

50's
5 screws on pick guard (none on pickups)
Round Switch Tip
Truss Rod Adjustment hole on headstock
Round String Tree

60's
8 screws on pick guard (none on pickups)
Top-Hat Switch Tip
Truss Rod Adjustment hole under pick guard
Butterfly Type String Tree

All bridges were vintage ashtray type with either 3 steel or brass saddles.
Vintage Tuners
21 frets

Someone correct me if im wrong. Feel free to add also.

Are 70's mostly humbuckers?

[IPLAYLOUD]

Be careful...just when you "think" you have it down, something comes out of left field and leaves you scratching your head.

Remember, they did not know we would be looking at things with a magnifying glass 50+ years after they just "built the stuff". You'll see many thing on original Guitars that are there purely because the parts "were there" and they didn't want to waste anything.

The basic rule is, Fender made 1 of everything...even if it wasn't in the Catalogue. ;-)

[Mark Davis]

On the 50's Teles thats a walnut plug on the headstock it looks like it adjusts there cause of that walnut plug but it adjusts like the 60's at the back of the neck under the pickguard.

Other than that you got it right.

[Tonemonkey]

Most of us use this. Its the best out there, almost too much detail!