Used tele, what IS this thing?

trashmail · May 23rd, 2005, 03:05 PM

For the record, I love it, so please don't tell me that it's crap.

I bought it at a used and vintage shop here in town, not a fender dealer. Here's the specs.

Two pickups (traditional setup)

Pearloid pickguard (custom shop?? - appears to be original)

Classic body style (no wierd angling or anything)

I know it's a '95 based on the N5 at the head of the serial

Redburst finish (red to black - first one I've seen)

VERY fat sounding. The first thing that suprised me was the center detent pot in the tone position. Sounds classic at center, but gets pretty bright past that point. I can't assume that any of this is original, because the thing was owned previously by a tweaker. I'm hoping for the best.

If you have any thoughts, I just want to know exactly what it is. If it's not an original custom shop piece, I figure we'll find that out by the lack of info here.

Let me know what I've forgotten. Thanks!

JT

maestrovert · May 23rd, 2005, 03:07 PM

a pic would help.....

trashmail · May 23rd, 2005, 03:10 PM

well of course it would! I don't have one at the moment. I'm headed back to work in an hour or so, I'll snap a couple pics when I get there and get them loaded. In the meantime, any thoughts?

JT

J-man · May 23rd, 2005, 03:14 PM

Sounds like it could be a home made/modded guitar but it's going to be hard to tell without any pictures.

If it plays great who cares eh? :)

Mark Davis · May 23rd, 2005, 03:27 PM

The detent in the knob and N5 serial would lead me to believe its a 1995 American Std Tele thats been refinished.

Tele295 · May 23rd, 2005, 03:29 PM

That detent potentiometer is a Fender TBX tone control. It is designed to work exactly as you describe.

trashmail · May 23rd, 2005, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

The detent in the knob and N5 serial would lead me to believe its a 1995 American Std Tele thats been refinished.

So the '95s all had that? That suprises me. I figured it was a mod. I would have guessed it would be a mid-boost, but this seems to be more of a high cut, with the flattest sound being at center. It's hard to tell, because I don't have a stock tele to compare it to. My other one has the Brent Mason 5/2's in it, so it's fairly bright and spanky.

As far as a refin, I have my doubts. If it was refinned, someone did a hell of a good job. I'll have to get some danged pictures up. Thanks for the help though!

JT

eryque · May 23rd, 2005, 04:44 PM

What kind of bridge does it have?

trashmail · May 23rd, 2005, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

What kind of bridge does it have?

Looks fairly standard. 5 independant saddles - brushed look to them. I looked around online at a couple of other '95s and they have the older looking saddles. Who knows? Wife has the camera at work with her. I'll get something up asap.

JT

jwells393 · May 24th, 2005, 09:10 AM

Trashmail wrote:

Quote:

Looks fairly standard. 5 independant saddles - brushed look to them.

Man ............. I hope it has 6 saddles............

dhdfoster · May 24th, 2005, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Trashmail wrote:

Quote:

Looks fairly standard. 5 independant saddles - brushed look to them.

Man ............. I hope it has 6 saddles............

Maybe you bought one of Keith Richards' Teles.

May 23rd, 2005, 03:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
trashmail NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4	Used tele, what IS this thing? For the record, I love it, so please don't tell me that it's crap. I bought it at a used and vintage shop here in town, not a fender dealer. Here's the specs. Two pickups (traditional setup) Pearloid pickguard (custom shop?? - appears to be original) Classic body style (no wierd angling or anything) I know it's a '95 based on the N5 at the head of the serial Redburst finish (red to black - first one I've seen) VERY fat sounding. The first thing that suprised me was the center detent pot in the tone position. Sounds classic at center, but gets pretty bright past that point. I can't assume that any of this is original, because the thing was owned previously by a tweaker. I'm hoping for the best. If you have any thoughts, I just want to know exactly what it is. If it's not an original custom shop piece, I figure we'll find that out by the lack of info here. Let me know what I've forgotten. Thanks! JT

May 23rd, 2005, 03:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,553	well, ah.... a pic would help..... __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

May 23rd, 2005, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
trashmail NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4	yeah well of course it would! I don't have one at the moment. I'm headed back to work in an hour or so, I'll snap a couple pics when I get there and get them loaded. In the meantime, any thoughts? JT

May 23rd, 2005, 03:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 20 Posts: 6,288 9 Photos	Sounds like it could be a home made/modded guitar but it's going to be hard to tell without any pictures. If it plays great who cares eh? :) __________________ Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. - Unknown "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away." - Tom Waits

May 23rd, 2005, 03:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haunted Amp, CA Posts: 3,403 14 Photos	That detent potentiometer is a Fender TBX tone control. It is designed to work exactly as you describe. __________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

May 23rd, 2005, 03:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	The detent in the knob and N5 serial would lead me to believe its a 1995 American Std Tele thats been refinished.

May 23rd, 2005, 04:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,126 44 Photos	What kind of bridge does it have?