Hello all! Noob questions re 2006 MIM Tele, set-up, pick guard

tmj529 · December 16th, 2006, 01:26 AM

Hello all of you friendly folk,

Thank you for your great advice, humor, and insight. It's been terrific reading this board ever since I found it two weeks ago,

I just bought this new 60th Anniversary MIM Tele a few weeks ago. A few questions (very stupid ones):

I have lost the receipt and tag for this guitar -- and I am not sure which one I freaking bought! Yes, it's MIM and a 60th anniversary -- but the body is a natural finish (IMHO, gorgeous -- that and the feel/sound is why I bought it). But now I go to fender dot com and I cannot find it. Is it one of those "we can crank out anything we want at the end of the production run" deals? Yes, this is stupid that I don't know exactly what I bought, but I can't believe I can't find anything online about this.

Second of three questions: I've decided to swap out this tortoise shell for a pearly white (no pics yet, unforuntately). Does pearly white detract from the great grain of the body? Would black be better?

Lastly, I took it to a local guy (he's on the recommend list of a very established, popular used instrument store around here), and I am wondering: what should I expect from a guy charging 60 bucks for a basic set-up to factory spec? He wants it for a week, which is cool (though I miss it a lot!). Should I be able to go in later and play it and give him my thoughts on personalizing the feel? What SHOULD and SHOULDN'T he be doing with/without my persmission? Just curious.

Thank you all. More pics to come, if any of you care. :)

tmj529 · December 16th, 2006, 01:31 AM

Serial number is MZ6058096. I know MZ6 means MIM in 2006, but what about the seven digits?? I thought only six usually came after that.

Also, just FYI -- I got this guitar at GC. It was 458.00 while the other standard, solid-color MIM 2006 teles were around 369.00.

Bones · December 16th, 2006, 09:09 AM

This is a special edition native to GC, it's called the "Nashville standard". I do not think that it has the Tex-Mex pickups like the Nashville Deluxe. I think it is basically an MIM standard with a tortoise shell guard.

Fender also did a run of these with white guards, I bought two of them and swapped the guards to black and replaced the hardware to vintage style. Nice guitars.

Before....

After.....

As far as your other questions, if you didn't like the set up at GC, you should have had them do a basic one for you before you took it home, a guitar should be set to factory specs before it leaves the shop. That's what factory specs are.

$60.00 seems like a lot to return a new guitar to factory specs. As far as what that means, there's a set up guide on Fender.com that explains how a telecaster should be set up. A weeks time is probably on the low side of normal around here which is why i learned to set up my own guitars. I dropped off an amp for some work over a week ago and I have not even gotten a cal back with an estimate yet.

All the guy will probably do is change the strings, adjust the neck if it's needed . set the intonation and string height. Maybe clean up the nut a little . Beyond that if the guitar needs anything else, you should get a call. Also if the guy claims the guitar needs any other work, make sure he is an authorized Fender service center, if not bring the guitar somewhere else to avoid any warranty problems. Anything major bring the guitar back to GC and get your money back. Also go to GC and get a duplicate receipt in case you need it in the future.

Oh and yes, definitely check the guitar out in front of the guy and make sure it has not been damaged and that the work he did is what you wanted. If you don't like the set up, you need to be able to communicate what it is that you don't like so he can tweek it to your liking.

tmj529 · December 16th, 2006, 02:53 PM

Thank you, sir. That was a great answer. I appreciate your help and your time!

jwells393 · December 16th, 2006, 03:07 PM

Take some time and teach yourself to set it up yourself. The Fender website has good information on doing this. Factory specs might not be the best for you. Set it up so that it feels best to your playing style.

I think the tortoise guard is a great choice for that guitar. I think the body color is too light for a white pearl guard. Black would be another excellent choice.

tmj529 · December 17th, 2006, 12:43 AM

JWells, thank you, sir. At some point soon, I will teach myself that! I just couldn't bear to bring the tools to this little beauty, lest I destroy it completely. I'm not the most mechanically-inclined guy in the universe. :)

That's why I basically wanted this luthier to make my guitar "factory spec" -- the plan is, when he's done, for me to go over and play it for a bit to see what I like and dislike. And then he can personalize it a bit for me. (I asked if I could watch him work on it, but he said he doesn't "do that" -- hmm).

Regarding the tortoise vs. white pearl -- I tend to agree with you, though I've always digged the white look against natrual wood. Perhaps you're right -- perhaps black would be a real looker, too.

Right now, I just can't wait to get this guitar back into my hands. :)

Thank you for your time and opinion -- I appreciate it very much.

tim

December 16th, 2006, 03:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,245 101 Photos	Take some time and teach yourself to set it up yourself. The Fender website has good information on doing this. Factory specs might not be the best for you. Set it up so that it feels best to your playing style. I think the tortoise guard is a great choice for that guitar. I think the body color is too light for a white pearl guard. Black would be another excellent choice. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

December 16th, 2006, 01:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
tmj529 TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: California Posts: 93	Serial number is MZ6058096. I know MZ6 means MIM in 2006, but what about the seven digits?? I thought only six usually came after that. Also, just FYI -- I got this guitar at GC. It was 458.00 while the other standard, solid-color MIM 2006 teles were around 369.00.

December 16th, 2006, 09:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bones Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,921 1 Photos	This is a special edition native to GC, it's called the "Nashville standard". I do not think that it has the Tex-Mex pickups like the Nashville Deluxe. I think it is basically an MIM standard with a tortoise shell guard. Fender also did a run of these with white guards, I bought two of them and swapped the guards to black and replaced the hardware to vintage style. Nice guitars. Before.... After..... As far as your other questions, if you didn't like the set up at GC, you should have had them do a basic one for you before you took it home, a guitar should be set to factory specs before it leaves the shop. That's what factory specs are. $60.00 seems like a lot to return a new guitar to factory specs. As far as what that means, there's a set up guide on Fender.com that explains how a telecaster should be set up. A weeks time is probably on the low side of normal around here which is why i learned to set up my own guitars. I dropped off an amp for some work over a week ago and I have not even gotten a cal back with an estimate yet. All the guy will probably do is change the strings, adjust the neck if it's needed . set the intonation and string height. Maybe clean up the nut a little . Beyond that if the guitar needs anything else, you should get a call. Also if the guy claims the guitar needs any other work, make sure he is an authorized Fender service center, if not bring the guitar somewhere else to avoid any warranty problems. Anything major bring the guitar back to GC and get your money back. Also go to GC and get a duplicate receipt in case you need it in the future. Oh and yes, definitely check the guitar out in front of the guy and make sure it has not been damaged and that the work he did is what you wanted. If you don't like the set up, you need to be able to communicate what it is that you don't like so he can tweek it to your liking.

December 16th, 2006, 02:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
tmj529 TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: California Posts: 93	Thank you, sir. That was a great answer. I appreciate your help and your time!

December 17th, 2006, 12:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
tmj529 TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: California Posts: 93	JWells, thank you, sir. At some point soon, I will teach myself that! I just couldn't bear to bring the tools to this little beauty, lest I destroy it completely. I'm not the most mechanically-inclined guy in the universe. :) That's why I basically wanted this luthier to make my guitar "factory spec" -- the plan is, when he's done, for me to go over and play it for a bit to see what I like and dislike. And then he can personalize it a bit for me. (I asked if I could watch him work on it, but he said he doesn't "do that" -- hmm). Regarding the tortoise vs. white pearl -- I tend to agree with you, though I've always digged the white look against natrual wood. Perhaps you're right -- perhaps black would be a real looker, too. Right now, I just can't wait to get this guitar back into my hands. :) Thank you for your time and opinion -- I appreciate it very much. tim