USA Telecasters from the 80's and 90's

[alanfc]

I'm a little lost on the good/bad trends in QC on USA's from the 80's and 90's. Any generalizations that can be made?

Plus---
for a used USA Tele from the 80's or 90's what's your upper limit for cost? I've seen quite a range, but based only on Ebay trolling.

Thanks

[micawber999]

hi,
CBS sold fender in '84. so outside of leftovers, there were no american teles made, (except for the 52 reissue), until production began in late '87, on the american standard. feel free to purchase any from '88-present day, they are all excellent!!


hang fire.....

[geddyleedog]

I bought my American Tele off the Bay over a year and 1/2 ago. Best I can determine from the serial number it's an early 90s model. It plays and feels great. It's a high quality guitar. I have no issues with it other than the fact that I put a 4th screw in the bridge plate to secure it better to the body. The side closest to the neck always lifted off of the body by about the thickness of a piece of paper and it would resonate a little.
I believe I payed about $450 for it.
I say go for it!!!!

[alanfc]

thanks guys-
I like the idea of used stuff

[blauserk]

A buddy of mine has an 83 or 84 Tele he bought new. I always scoffed at it as a new, soul-less six-saddle Tele in an injection-moulded case. But we played together, and it sounded fantastic. I really ate my words.

[Geo]

I had two '80s models bought pre-owned.
Both were well built. The only thing I was not too
crazy about was the fretboard/neck edge was
not rounded making a bit odd feeling and sort of
uncomfortable. Some years later (year?) this
was changed to a rolled edge.
I don't think this would be much of any issue unless
you use your thumb. I do and some way adjusted
and played/gigged with those for a couple years.

Later I decided to return to the vintage style
necks and radius as I liked the feel of them
better.

[micawber999]

Originally Posted by Geo

Later I decided to return to the vintage style
necks and radius as I liked the feel of them
better.

hi,
i also had numerous teles, and strats, early in my career, from this period.
all were excellent!! like you i also returned to the fenders with the vintage frets and radius. i think leo really had everything right the first time around.


hang fire.....

[alanfc]

thank you

I know there's a fan base for Japan Teles out there, and I see them regularly on Ebay with alot more Rosewood fretboards (my #1 choice) than I see on the Americans.

So I was wondering,
when we talk about "Vintage", old or new, I assume this means a 7.5 radius and a narrow neck width? Like 1 5/8 nut width - - - - do the Japanese Fenders follow this same design?

My Tele copy now has a nut width of 1 5/8. I tried some MIM's and MIA's the other day and scales and runs were a little weird and I was missing strings. Their nut widths are larger. Does this make ME a prime candidate for "vintage" style Telecasters?. To me, its all about the neck and the fretboard. Finish, electronics I don't care about-they are easily changed.

This naturally makes me think what about American Vintage designs. Is the only way to get this in an American to buy a Re-Issue, or perhaps a $3000+ 1950'-60's collector's item??
I can't do that. I think even the cost of new re-issues is steep for me now.

One more thing, with a Vintage neck and frets and radius, is it =guaranteed= that I will have problems bending up 2 half steps anywhere above the 12 fret? This may change my thinking too. My nut width is 1 5/8 but my radius is 9.5, so I'm able to do it now.

thanks