Please help me ID this Tele Model....

Kyle Ashley · July 7th, 2005, 06:19 AM

My friend has a cool Tele that I borrow from time to time. I'd like to find one like it someday and have been checking ebay for awhile but cannot find any like his. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Here is what I know:

He got it about 9-10 years ago from Musician's Friend closeouts.

Basswood body, maple neck and board, headstock reads: Fender "Telecaster". Neck has "V" shaped back.
Finish is kind of a TV yellow like the old Les Paul juniors.
Very narrow frets.

Neck plate has no markings or serial number.

Standard Tele pickup setup with ashtray type bridge. 3 brass saddles. Neck pickup is chrome covered, bridge is uncovered.

Black pickguard, chrome knob plate and 2 knurled knobs.
1 P/U switch.

Aside from the name on the headstock, there are no externally visible markings to offer any other info on this model.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, they are most appreciated! Thanks.

moondoggie999 · July 7th, 2005, 06:34 AM

like this?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/510062/

but its 2:34 am here what do I know at a time like this?

maestrovert · July 7th, 2005, 09:05 AM

a bone stock '52RI....'twould be my guess

Kyle Ashley · July 7th, 2005, 01:49 PM

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the tips. It looks just like that photo except the finish is solid and not opaque. You cannot see any wood grain through it. Otherwise that's it.

One other thing, he paid $299.00 for it.

Aen · July 7th, 2005, 01:53 PM

Solid means the same as opaque in this instance. You mean solid, not transparent.

Steve Perry · July 7th, 2005, 01:54 PM

A 52 reissue would have an ash body. With the basswood, it is more than likely a MIJ 50's reissue. Great neck on those guitars.

Steve Perry

Kyle Ashley · July 7th, 2005, 02:39 PM

Yes Aen, I mean solid. Thanks for correcting my terminology.

Yes Steve, the neck on this guitar is great. MIJ is probably correct especially at that price point.

Butch Snyder · July 7th, 2005, 05:22 PM

Could that one be a 50's Classic? I remember back in the in about 1997 or so, they were being mage in Japan out of basswood and were opaque with a black guard and all the other appointments mentioned. I believe they started being made in Mexico they way they look now and with ash bodies, in 2000....

Kyle Ashley · July 8th, 2005, 05:38 AM

Thanks for all the tips guys! At least now I know what I'm looking for. I just missed one by a couple of weeks on ebay that went for under $300.

Also, after gazing very closely at the finish on the guitar in the right light, I realized that I can just faintly see some wood grain through the finish.

This guitar is so loud acoustically, I just love it. It's almost as loud unplugged as my Taylor 510. It just barks beautifully when amped up.

waddeem · July 8th, 2005, 08:33 AM

Sounds just like my 93' mij 50's reissue Tele. I wonder if the serial # and mij stamp have been sanded off the neck down near the neck pocket. Anyway I have had mine for ten years and it is still my #1!

Kyle Ashley · July 8th, 2005, 06:21 PM

Hi Waddeem,

It doesn't appear that anything has been sanded off. He age the guitar quite well and it looks really cool and old. I know he baked the body in an oven for a few days as well.

July 7th, 2005, 06:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kyle Ashley NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5	Please help me ID this Tele Model.... My friend has a cool Tele that I borrow from time to time. I'd like to find one like it someday and have been checking ebay for awhile but cannot find any like his. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Here is what I know: He got it about 9-10 years ago from Musician's Friend closeouts. Basswood body, maple neck and board, headstock reads: Fender "Telecaster". Neck has "V" shaped back. Finish is kind of a TV yellow like the old Les Paul juniors. Very narrow frets. Neck plate has no markings or serial number. Standard Tele pickup setup with ashtray type bridge. 3 brass saddles. Neck pickup is chrome covered, bridge is uncovered. Black pickguard, chrome knob plate and 2 knurled knobs. 1 P/U switch. Aside from the name on the headstock, there are no externally visible markings to offer any other info on this model. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, they are most appreciated! Thanks.

July 7th, 2005, 06:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
moondoggie999 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pleasanton, CA Age: 40 Posts: 492 3 Photos	Kinda sounds like a 52 reissue? like this? http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/510062/ but its 2:34 am here what do I know at a time like this? __________________ You start off playing guitar to get chicks and end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails - Ed Gerhard

July 7th, 2005, 09:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,553	looks to be........ a bone stock '52RI....'twould be my guess __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

July 7th, 2005, 01:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Aen Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 942	Solid means the same as opaque in this instance. You mean solid, not transparent. __________________ Alt-country and psych-rock-tronica! Hey, be happy you can choose one genre for yourself! http://www.myspace.com/aenpage

July 7th, 2005, 01:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Steve Perry TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Elizabethtown, KY Posts: 54	MIJ 50's Reissue A 52 reissue would have an ash body. With the basswood, it is more than likely a MIJ 50's reissue. Great neck on those guitars. Steve Perry

July 7th, 2005, 01:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kyle Ashley NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5	Hi Guys, Thanks for the tips. It looks just like that photo except the finish is solid and not opaque. You cannot see any wood grain through it. Otherwise that's it. One other thing, he paid $299.00 for it.

July 7th, 2005, 02:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kyle Ashley NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5	Yes Aen, I mean solid. Thanks for correcting my terminology. Yes Steve, the neck on this guitar is great. MIJ is probably correct especially at that price point.

July 7th, 2005, 05:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
Butch Snyder Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lebanon, OH Posts: 644	Could that one be a 50's Classic? I remember back in the in about 1997 or so, they were being mage in Japan out of basswood and were opaque with a black guard and all the other appointments mentioned. I believe they started being made in Mexico they way they look now and with ash bodies, in 2000.... __________________ Cheers, Butch Snyder

July 8th, 2005, 05:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Kyle Ashley NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5	Thanks for all the tips guys! At least now I know what I'm looking for. I just missed one by a couple of weeks on ebay that went for under $300. Also, after gazing very closely at the finish on the guitar in the right light, I realized that I can just faintly see some wood grain through the finish. This guitar is so loud acoustically, I just love it. It's almost as loud unplugged as my Taylor 510. It just barks beautifully when amped up.

July 8th, 2005, 08:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
waddeem TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: portland,oregon Posts: 13	Sounds just like my 93' mij 50's reissue Tele. I wonder if the serial # and mij stamp have been sanded off the neck down near the neck pocket. Anyway I have had mine for ten years and it is still my #1!

July 8th, 2005, 06:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
Kyle Ashley NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5	Hi Waddeem, It doesn't appear that anything has been sanded off. He age the guitar quite well and it looks really cool and old. I know he baked the body in an oven for a few days as well.