50's tele body? Need help

[dustinc]

Oh I see. I checked my other two and they have the dowels also. You guys are good btw. I'm glad I came here.

[dustinc]

Originally Posted by MrTwang

Hard to tell from the picture but the shape of the indent just above the neck pocket doesn't look deep enough for it to be a 50s body. Might be better to take front and back pictures straight on.

I put it up to my '78 and everything is exactly the same except that indent above the neck pocket is deeper on this one and it cuts off sooner, so the hole for one of the neck bolts is exposed unlike the '78.

[dustinc]

Pics of the deeper cut on at the neck and the holes for the bigsby. Also there's a hole by the bridge pup cavity that seems unusual.

[dustinc]

I was mistaken on the original tray holes being there. They obviously are not. Must be more bigsby holes. So does anyone know when the cut where the neck joint and body got shallower? Approximate year?

[Ronkirn]

The dowels are definitely there. Good looking out. Now what's it mean lol

it's a pretty good indication that it's original, but that roundover is a deal killer to me… that's not gonna be "fixed" to easily, unless you're going to paint it an opaque color…

Ron Kirn

[afungus amungus]

Originally Posted by kharrison

Just slap a neck on it and some hardware and play it. Total relic job.

+1

[dustinc]

Originally Posted by Ronkirn

it's a pretty good indication that it's original, but that roundover is a deal killer to me… that's not gonna be "fixed" to easily, unless you're going to paint it an opaque color…

Ron Kirn

If only I had known then what I know now. Pretty ignorant I know.

[dustinc]

I had to bump this. Everything I'm finding on this points to a '52. Someone prove me wrong. And I don't mean that in a jerkish way. You guys have taught me a ton about tele's on here. thanks

[dustinc]

Oh and I know I killed the value by rounding the edges, but would it be a good idea to clean up the edges a bit and paint this thing? Or should I just leave it be?

[dustinc]

Originally Posted by kharrison

Just slap a neck on it and some hardware and play it. Total relic job.

If I had a neck to put on it I would. I'd just hate to put a newer neck on such an old body, but a neck would cost a fortune otherwise. Plus I'd have to find a bigsby

[Telemarkman]

It's always a bad idea to try and cover up something ... And why do you feel its a '52?

I'm no "axespert" on old Tele bodies, but Slack definitely is! And Ron knows his stuff too. I will let them be the judges here ...

[Robert.V]

Originally Posted by dustinc

Oh and I know I killed the value by rounding the edges, but would it be a good idea to clean up the edges a bit and paint this thing? Or should I just leave it be?

Why dont you route it again, just straight like the way you would route for binding.
Then glue a strip of new.wood.on there and route back to original specs.
Finish in bsb with slighty less translucent edges of even a solid colour.

[dustinc]

Originally Posted by Robert.V

Why dont you route it again, just straight like the way you would route for binding.
Then glue a strip of new.wood.on there and route back to original specs.
Finish in bsb with slighty less translucent edges of even a solid colour.

Because I'm not that good lol. I've thought about it though

[dustinc]

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

It's always a bad idea to try and cover up something ... And why do you feel its a '52?

I'm no "axespert" on old Tele bodies, but Slack definitely is! And Ron knows his stuff too. I will let them be the judges here ...

The cut where the upper body and neck joint meet seem to be correct to that year. It changed a little after that. I don't know exactly when, but this one curves in deeper than the later ones and part of the neck joint is exposed more. The type of bigsby that would have been on it(I can tell by the holes) seems to be correct for a '52, and last but not least, the brass chrome plated ridged jack cup. Which definitely wasn't used on post-52 tele's.

[dustinc]

The more I find out about this thing the more upset I get that I routed it lol. I can't believe I did that to it.

[dustinc]

You can tell this thing is really old when you see it in person. It has that look like and old piece of furniture. Like an old wax build up or something. Hard to explain.

[Robert.V]

Originally Posted by dustinc

Because I'm not that good lol. I've thought about it though

*cough* ron kirn *cough*

[dustinc]

Originally Posted by Robert.V

*cough* ron kirn *cough*

Lol. The guys on here know their stuff, I'll give you that. I don't wanna pay to have a bunch of work done to it. I'd rather see someone get it that would appreciate it more and wanna do the work. I have a '72 custom that was passed down through the family that's more important to me. It needs a ton of work. I don't plan on ever selling it but I'd like to keep it as original as possible. Needs a fret job bad.

[Robert.V]

Originally Posted by dustinc

Lol. The guys on here know their stuff, I'll give you that. I don't wanna pay to have a bunch of work done to it. I'd rather see someone get it that would appreciate it more and wanna do the work. I have a '72 custom that was passed down through the family that's more important to me. It needs a ton of work. I don't plan on ever selling it but I'd like to keep it as original as possible. Needs a fret job bad.

In that case, i would be happy to have the work done....

Can i call dibs?

[dustinc]

Originally Posted by Robert.V

In that case, i would be happy to have the work done....

Can i call dibs?

I didn't mean I want to give it away I'm pretty darn sure it's authentic. I'd like to know what it might be worth despite the routing job. Even after knowing the value, if there's any left, I'd unload it for a fair price to the right person.