My new 78 Tele! Ooooh!

TELECASTERbstrd · August 11th, 2005, 02:52 PM

OK, so it's actually an 81. I didn't figure it out 'till I took the neck off. The s/n says 78, but that was one of the "funny" years for Fender s/n's. No sweat. I may have payed a little more than I should have (a little over $1k), but there is a history to this one and it's all original.

Back when I was first starting to play in bands around 1986, my singer freind had a neighbor that would stop by and bring his acoustic 'cause he's more of a strummer, but he'd also bring this Tele over and let me play it for the fun of it. I always loved it! He finally he bought a Martin and nedded a little xtra $... My luck. I'd been asking him to sell it to me for about 18 years.

Swamp ash, 7lbs or less (my lightest Tele) I prefer rosewood necks!(That's another story). Barely a ding. SUPER TONE!

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lewis · August 11th, 2005, 03:03 PM

Great looking Tele!!! If you're happy, we're are to. Congrats and thanks for sharing.
(No, you didn't pay too much IMO.)

fenderrookie · August 11th, 2005, 03:50 PM

I am not normally a fan of the natural finish, but that one looks fantastic! That age and it looks in showroom condition........looks like you did very well, especially since you have a long connection with it.

Congrats!

kp8 · August 11th, 2005, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderrookie

I am not normally a fan of the natural finish, but that one looks fantastic! That age and it looks in showroom condition........looks like you did very well, especially since you have a long connection with it.

Congrats!

i was gonna say the same thing on both counts... great score, super looking axe with a nice story. If i has 2gs i would get my hands on an orange '78 that i found here that is really sweet too. ... not much difference between a 78 and an 81 anyway is there? i have had both years but not as teles and i remember then having similar vibes and i think the big changes came in 83 or so...

reallly super axe... i really like that one! wow!

div · August 11th, 2005, 04:38 PM

I am a fan of natural finish & love the way it looks with a rosewood board. Unique grain pattern on that one- a nice looking telecaster.

As I think Slack mentioned in a previous discussion, Fender continued to use "S8" serial numbers after '78, so many teles that were made from 79-82 are mistakenly ID'ed as '78s. Check ebay & gbase & werever else & you'll see a ton of '78s for sale but you could go a year without ever seeing an '81 for sale. No big deal, I don't think any features changed from 78-82.

Coyote · August 11th, 2005, 05:10 PM

What in the world is that thing below the bridge?

Fuzzyhead · August 11th, 2005, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coyote

What in the world is that thing below the bridge?

Second that!

TELECASTERbstrd · August 11th, 2005, 06:10 PM

I just like it so much I wanted to give y'all eye candy.

Quote:

What is that thing below the bridge

That's one of them old fangled "Hipshot B-benders".
It's almost kind of an eyesore, but I use them. I like it better than the other built-ins because the only thing that affects the value of the guitar is a small 16th" hole at the base of the bridge.

Keep 'em bending!

Fuzzyhead · August 11th, 2005, 06:18 PM

Yes indeed.... :D

OutlawSteph · August 11th, 2005, 11:13 PM

Nice! It looks like it's NOS!

radarman · August 11th, 2005, 11:35 PM

will you sell the tele to me?

hey! sounds fair, don't it?

What a beautiful telecaster. I love it.

Congratulations!!

Flipped Mustang · August 12th, 2005, 01:57 AM

Nice looking guitar! I'm a big fan of the late 70's early 80's Telecasters. They have a great feel and vibe to them. All the necks on the ones I've tried have been fantastic.
Congrats!

August 11th, 2005, 02:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 748	My new 78 Tele! Ooooh! OK, so it's actually an 81. I didn't figure it out 'till I took the neck off. The s/n says 78, but that was one of the "funny" years for Fender s/n's. No sweat. I may have payed a little more than I should have (a little over $1k), but there is a history to this one and it's all original. Back when I was first starting to play in bands around 1986, my singer freind had a neighbor that would stop by and bring his acoustic 'cause he's more of a strummer, but he'd also bring this Tele over and let me play it for the fun of it. I always loved it! He finally he bought a Martin and nedded a little xtra $... My luck. I'd been asking him to sell it to me for about 18 years. Swamp ash, 7lbs or less (my lightest Tele) I prefer rosewood necks!(That's another story). Barely a ding. SUPER TONE! [/img] __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

August 11th, 2005, 03:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,881 28 Photos	Great looking Tele!!! If you're happy, we're are to. Congrats and thanks for sharing. (No, you didn't pay too much IMO.) __________________ "I'm a maestro, I'm a maestro," Taj Mahal, 8/20/05.

August 11th, 2005, 04:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
div Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: noo yawk Posts: 284 12 Photos	I am a fan of natural finish & love the way it looks with a rosewood board. Unique grain pattern on that one- a nice looking telecaster. As I think Slack mentioned in a previous discussion, Fender continued to use "S8" serial numbers after '78, so many teles that were made from 79-82 are mistakenly ID'ed as '78s. Check ebay & gbase & werever else & you'll see a ton of '78s for sale but you could go a year without ever seeing an '81 for sale. No big deal, I don't think any features changed from 78-82. __________________ stop on by!:The Lonesome Prairie Dogs

August 11th, 2005, 06:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fuzzyhead Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bonn (Yer-up) Age: 25 Posts: 1,350 23 Photos	Yes indeed.... :D __________________ about me: blog, photos & musical preferences

August 11th, 2005, 11:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
OutlawSteph Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 453	Nice! It looks like it's NOS! __________________ 'From the hills they came, from backwoods without a name, carrying their guitars and a heartful of southern soul..'

August 11th, 2005, 03:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
fenderrookie TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 85	I am not normally a fan of the natural finish, but that one looks fantastic! That age and it looks in showroom condition........looks like you did very well, especially since you have a long connection with it. Congrats!

August 11th, 2005, 05:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Coyote Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 302	What in the world is that thing below the bridge?

August 11th, 2005, 11:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
radarman Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 319	When you get a new Martin... will you sell the tele to me? hey! sounds fair, don't it? What a beautiful telecaster. I love it. Congratulations!! __________________ One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork. Edward Abbey

August 12th, 2005, 01:57 AM	#12 (permalink)
Flipped Mustang Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 312	Nice looking guitar! I'm a big fan of the late 70's early 80's Telecasters. They have a great feel and vibe to them. All the necks on the ones I've tried have been fantastic. Congrats!