Neck code?

InSlide · August 3rd, 2005, 06:19 PM

Hey All,
I picked up a 73 Telecaster Custom and it has a neck code of 07033333 - what does it mean?
Thanks,
Dave

InSlide · August 3rd, 2005, 06:25 PM

Here's a link to the auction - the guitar sounds and plays excellent!
Thanks in advance for any neck info

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7338469810

Coyote · August 3rd, 2005, 07:10 PM

That is a nice Tele alright, I've never seen a '72 with the ashtray bridge cover before.

As for your code thing, I don't quite know what that is, perhaps a serial number?

TDPRI · August 3rd, 2005, 07:20 PM

For a while Fender stopped dating necks in the late 1960's and came up with a number system. Some of the early numbers are decipherable, but then in the 70's they went to numbers that are pretty much impossible to figure out. Later they went back to dating the necks.

This neck has one of the undecipherable numbers. I have a 73 neck with a similar number. Also that's a 3-bolt neck. Most Teles from that period remained 4-bolt models. But not the Custom. Some folks won't own a Fender with a 3-bolt neck. They can be a hard item to sell. Others have no problems with them.

There are websites that have attempted to break this down but if you ask me its not very accurate.

Paul Green

0le FUZZY · August 3rd, 2005, 09:01 PM

Its a tuff row ta hoe sumtimes on 70s TELECASTERs.

I haff ceen em perfect with the standard numbers and then a buncha numbers that noe body been able tew finger out.[*]There are a few sources onna NET that try and splain these strange markins but none haff dunn it completely yet.

Here issa Webmasters and a 74 and 76 cee iffin yew kin figger out which won iss which.

HEE! HEE! I still haffa headache.

Please visit my page

slack · August 3rd, 2005, 09:18 PM

All regular Teles remained 4-bolt. The Custom v2, Thinline v2, and Deluxe were 3-bolt. None are remotely difficult to sell if original, though natural and walnut finishes are a bit less desirable than the others. 70s Customs are always in very high demand by dealers as well. A 75 Oly White Custom closed on eBay for over $4k a week or so ago, a subject of a thread here. A 73 Thinline closed for over $5k. Far more than typical 70s 4-bolt Teles go for.

Looking at the pics in the listing I'd say the finish is not original. The control knobs are definitely not original, they should have conical tops. Also, the seller's statement that 73 was the first year is incorrect. There seem to have been some made in 71, but few if any got into stores until 72. 72 is generally considered the first year, and is the year used as the RI.

I guess I'll differ here. Some neck codes around 69 are puzzling, but I've concluded that these 8-digit 70s codes have an established meaning now, their breakdown widely accepted. Yours would indicated (in digit order):

07 = Telecaster Custom
03 = maple board
33 = 33rd week
3 = 1973
3 = Wednesday

I have documented dozens and dozens of these 8-digit codes, and have seen anomalies, but in almost every instance it translates sensibly and in accordance with other date indicators on the guitar. In further support of the code breakdown, as posted on various sites as well, you won't encounter a fifth and six digit higher than 52, or an eighth digit higher than 5, etc.

August 3rd, 2005, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
InSlide Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wisconsin Age: 45 Posts: 279	Neck code? Hey All, I picked up a 73 Telecaster Custom and it has a neck code of 07033333 - what does it mean? Thanks, Dave __________________ If you think you can, you are right.

August 3rd, 2005, 06:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
InSlide Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wisconsin Age: 45 Posts: 279	link Here's a link to the auction - the guitar sounds and plays excellent! Thanks in advance for any neck info http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=7338469810 __________________ If you think you can, you are right.

August 3rd, 2005, 07:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Coyote Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 302	That is a nice Tele alright, I've never seen a '72 with the ashtray bridge cover before. As for your code thing, I don't quite know what that is, perhaps a serial number?

August 3rd, 2005, 07:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,582 36 Photos	For a while Fender stopped dating necks in the late 1960's and came up with a number system. Some of the early numbers are decipherable, but then in the 70's they went to numbers that are pretty much impossible to figure out. Later they went back to dating the necks. This neck has one of the undecipherable numbers. I have a 73 neck with a similar number. Also that's a 3-bolt neck. Most Teles from that period remained 4-bolt models. But not the Custom. Some folks won't own a Fender with a 3-bolt neck. They can be a hard item to sell. Others have no problems with them. There are websites that have attempted to break this down but if you ask me its not very accurate. Paul Green

August 3rd, 2005, 09:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	Its a tuff row ta hoe sumtimes on 70s TELECASTERs. I haff ceen em perfect with the standard numbers and then a buncha numbers that noe body been able tew finger out.[]There are a few sources onna NET that try and splain these strange markins but none haff dunn it completely yet. Here issa Webmasters and a 74 and 76 cee iffin yew kin figger out which won iss which. HEE! HEE! I still haffa headache. Please visit my page*

August 3rd, 2005, 09:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
slack Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,929	All regular Teles remained 4-bolt. The Custom v2, Thinline v2, and Deluxe were 3-bolt. None are remotely difficult to sell if original, though natural and walnut finishes are a bit less desirable than the others. 70s Customs are always in very high demand by dealers as well. A 75 Oly White Custom closed on eBay for over $4k a week or so ago, a subject of a thread here. A 73 Thinline closed for over $5k. Far more than typical 70s 4-bolt Teles go for. Looking at the pics in the listing I'd say the finish is not original. The control knobs are definitely not original, they should have conical tops. Also, the seller's statement that 73 was the first year is incorrect. There seem to have been some made in 71, but few if any got into stores until 72. 72 is generally considered the first year, and is the year used as the RI. I guess I'll differ here. Some neck codes around 69 are puzzling, but I've concluded that these 8-digit 70s codes have an established meaning now, their breakdown widely accepted. Yours would indicated (in digit order): 07 = Telecaster Custom 03 = maple board 33 = 33rd week 3 = 1973 3 = Wednesday I have documented dozens and dozens of these 8-digit codes, and have seen anomalies, but in almost every instance it translates sensibly and in accordance with other date indicators on the guitar. In further support of the code breakdown, as posted on various sites as well, you won't encounter a fifth and six digit higher than 52, or an eighth digit higher than 5, etc.