Need some expertise on vintage find.

[Lawson]

What makes you guys think its refreted? I find it weird that a private owner would go thru with all that trouble.

I got more pics:







So if its refreted, did they refret the original neck?

If this was all original and unmodfied, what would this roughly be selling for? And considering these mods are done, how much would be shaved of the "Original" price, in your opinion? Thanks for all the help so far, i hope the new pics sets more things straight.

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Lawson

What makes you guys think its refreted? I find it weird that a private owner would go thru with all that trouble.

The frets looks bigger in the first pic, but not so much in the later ones - so I think not.

[Mondoslug]

Headstock looks pretty convincing to me...but I could be fooled.

Good luck!

[dayold]

Originally Posted by ThinlineSwamp

Am i the only one who thinks it's fake? So many parts have been 'replaced' (neck pup from newer MIM, newer neck plate and pickguard), it might as well be fake. Also take a look at the neck and headstock, i see a plastic glossy chinese finish and a misshapened headstock. As for the body, i think it is just a MIM telecaster with the finish taken off.

you've never played a 45 year old fender have ya.

[dayold]

Originally Posted by Lawson

If this was all original and unmodfied, what would this roughly be selling for? And considering these mods are done, how much would be shaved of the "Original" price, in your opinion? Thanks for all the help so far, i hope the new pics sets more things straight.

7,000 dollars.

[Chris H.]

Originally Posted by ThinlineSwamp

Am i the only one who thinks it's fake? So many parts have been 'replaced' (neck pup from newer MIM, newer neck plate and pickguard), it might as well be fake. Also take a look at the neck and headstock, i see a plastic glossy chinese finish and a misshapened headstock. As for the body, i think it is just a MIM telecaster with the finish taken off.

!!! You really shouldnt be contributing to this thread

[SamClemons]

I like it, if I had the money and really wanted it, I would go 2000 pretty quick, maybe 3000 tops.

[dayold]

it looks like a 66 fender that got stripped and revamped with a 70's 6 saddle bridge, 70's bucker and a mustang pickup.

Paint that thing semi-transparant yellow and twang on brother.

[Lawson]

Originally Posted by dayold

it looks like a 66 fender that got stripped and revamped

Why do people strip it? Does this mean they do what? Tear of the finish paint? How and why do they do this?


Also, what does revamped mean?

(Thanks folks)

[Ron Garson]

Originally Posted by Lawson

Why do people strip it? Does this mean they do what? Tear of the finish paint? How and why do they do this?


Also, what does revamped mean?

(Thanks folks)

There was a time when "natural" finish guitars were very popular, and many a Fender had the paint stripped off to give it that look!
Revamped means to patch up, revise, reorganise, even restore...though not restore to original in this case!

[Jack FFR1846]

Originally Posted by Lawson

Why do people strip it? Does this mean they do what? Tear of the finish paint? How and why do they do this?


Also, what does revamped mean?

(Thanks folks)

Think about the early to mid 70's. This was "my" time. Natural finish was the new Fender thing to do. At that time, you could either spend $300 on a new Telecaster in that nice, natural finish or buy a 10 year old one for $100 and then strip off the finish yourself and spray some clear on it. Voila, you then have a "new" Fender.

The "valuable" vintage Fender trend didn't happen until long after this. I stopped playing guitar in the late 70's and didn't start up again until 4 years ago, so to me, it was sort of like being in a time where we throw out a broken TV and then waking up in a new time where this old, broken TV is worth more than a brand new TV. I still can't get used to it.

I have no input on this particular guitar. Anything more than the cost of a MIM is too scary to me.

[Lawson]

Originally Posted by Ron Garson

There was a time when "natural" finish guitars were very popular, and many a Fender had the paint stripped off to give it that look!

Okay, I understand! :)

If I were to get my hands on it, I would love to put on a tainted military 60's green finish on it. Would that color work best in solid or semi trans? What do you guys think? How would the base wood color compliment a semi transparent color?

Also, is it frowned upon to repaint a oldie like this?

[mndean]

Originally Posted by Ron Garson

There was a time when "natural" finish guitars were very popular, and many a Fender had the paint stripped off to give it that look!
Revamped means to patch up, revise, reorganise, even restore...though not restore to original in this case!

Around '82 I traded for a '69 Tele, the body had been stripped and contoured as well, both things done in the '70s. Mods like mine and the OP happened a lot from what I've seen.

[Joefish]

Originally Posted by mndean

Around '82 I traded for a '69 Tele, the body had been stripped and contoured as well, both things done in the '70s. Mods like mine and the OP happened a lot from what I've seen.

… because in the mid 70’s, you could buy them all day for $150

[BillyC]

We modded the hell out old Fenders in the 70s, it's a wonder it don't have a brass nut. It makes you wonder what happened to those millions of guitars with brass nuts.

[dayold]

Originally Posted by Lawson

Why do people strip it? Does this mean they do what? Tear of the finish paint? How and why do they do this?


Also, what does revamped mean?

(Thanks folks)

in the 70's a lot of folks wanted plain wood grain guitars with no paint. they stripped or sanded all the paint off and thne generally stained the wood natural color.

revamped is just rebuilt.

[dayold]

Originally Posted by Ron Garson

I don't think it's fake either, although modified. Could be a cool player's guitar!

T-W-A-N-G...looks like its all fender too.

[Bartholomew3]

Originally Posted by RubyRae

Yup. Decal looks fake to me. I'd look for a neck stamp and check that body out before I spent much money. Good luck, it might play great and you can get a good deal...never know.

I have a 68 tele beside me that I bought new that year and there was no production in Japan or Mexico then as mentioned elsewhere.

The decal appears to be in the wrong place. Also those don't seem to be original frets - they look oversize. Seventies was mostly a 3 bolt neck and the serial number on mine is close to 242,150 in 1968 for whatever that may be worth - you can probably find the approximate date here...possibly 1966 for that #:

http://home.provide.net/~cfh/fender.html#serial

HB pick-up is wrong for Sixties but we all did it anyways - mine is routed for a humbucker so I can configure it any way I want with a pickguard change and some soldering.

Anyone can buy a neck plate with a serial number or stamp a number in after the fact.

[slack]

Originally Posted by Bartholomew3

I have a 68 tele beside me that I bought new that year and there was no production in Japan or Mexico then.

Above is what I also thought about the decal plus it's in the wrong place & the body is artificially worn. Aalso those don't seem to be original frets - they look oversize.

HB pick-up is wrong for Sixties and also bridge & saddles as mentioned prior.

Anyone can buy a neck plate with a serial number or stamp a number in after the fact.

The transitional decal is correct, with typical placement. Your 68 has a CBS decal, with different placement.

If the body is authentic, obviously the finish has been removed. So, of course it has "artificial" wear. I don't see any hint of the type of wear I think you're suggesting.

Of course the WRH is wrong for the 60s. But it was a common mod in the 70s. As was changing to this bridge.

I don't see anything that appears Japanese or Mexican in these pics. Regarding the frets - who knows. Based on the pics, I would not say it's definitely been refretted.

[Bartholomew3]

Whoops - forgot about CBS...but still think the decal looks like it was stuck on after the fact.

Mine also has no finish and I varathaned it after sanding. Stuck in Timmins, Ontario at 40 below zero for a couple of days with nothing to do between gigs...