52 Tele!

Hwilliams · September 22nd, 2003, 10:30 AM

At a gig this weekend I talked to an older man that I had met once or twice before. He used to play and still owns a 52 tele. He told me that he wanted me to take it and clean it up and play it because it is not getting used at all. I told him that I would love to by it but I know that he wouldn't sell it. I also told him that I would rather not take to tele because It would kill me if something happened to it. Do you think I should have taken it just to play around the house for a little while?

I have seen the guitar and it looks great. Something about a guitar that has been around and shows it. It also plays very well. I didn't play it through an amp.
HW

TheGoodTexan · September 22nd, 2003, 10:38 AM

I have a friend that gigs with a real '59 Strat. It's the real deal, with original pups. He knows how much I like that guitar, and he's offered for me to take it home and "fool around with it" more than a few times. I just can't bring myself to be responsible for that guitar, outside of his presence.

Raymond · September 22nd, 2003, 11:03 AM

Too much responsability!
Some time ago, I was helping a friend fixing his guitar. I took it home because he didn't have a soldering iron. After fixing it, I plugged it into the amp for testing.
After playing for a minute or so, the strap button failed and the guitar almost hit the ground!!! I was able to catch it, but the headstock hit my chair....just a ding...well, a big one...I was really concerned.
My friend was cool about it because the guitar was cheap and already beaten up, but still....

Remember this Tele is a 50-year-old guitar...anything could happen. I think you did the right thing.

lewis · September 22nd, 2003, 12:08 PM

How often does a person get a chance to be a "foster parent" for a lonely vintage Tele?
It brings you one step closer to being the future owner if it's ever for sale.

'ol hank pank · September 22nd, 2003, 12:25 PM

You'd have to do some pretty extreme to hurt a tele.
They are bullet proof.
I would have jumped at the chance. Would have been an honor.

buglecorps · September 22nd, 2003, 12:31 PM

You need to do what youe are comfortable with..right now it dosen't sound like you would have enjoyed the experence(worry ect.) perfectly understandable. Hopefuly you will beable to keep in contact with this gent, and perhaps enjoy the tele in the future when all three of you are ready.

Brad · September 22nd, 2003, 12:32 PM

Opportunities such as this seldom come around. Time to take advantage of it.

MikeS · September 22nd, 2003, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hwilliams

At a gig this weekend I talked to an older man that I had met once or twice before. He used to play and still owns a 52 tele. He told me that he wanted me to take it and clean it up and play it because it is not getting used at all. I told him that I would love to by it but I know that he wouldn't sell it. I also told him that I would rather not take to tele because It would kill me if something happened to it. Do you think I should have taken it just to play around the house for a little while?

I have seen the guitar and it looks great. Something about a guitar that has been around and shows it. It also plays very well. I didn't play it through an amp.
HW

I think I'd have taken him up on the offer. But, not to take the guitar OUT and play it. Just around my house.

Jerry J · September 22nd, 2003, 01:59 PM

Just leave it in the house. The reason I've bought new Fenders in the last year is to leave my '65 Strat at home where its safe. And that is a '65 Strat, not a real deal '52 Tele.

spyder · September 22nd, 2003, 09:52 PM

Ho...far and away, most folks don't know the difference between a '52 telecaster and a hundred dollar bill...if either is laying around unattended chances are its history....the only thing about your plight that causes flags to go up IMO is because you don't know the dude very well.....if he continues to pursue a friendship with 'ya...and is sincere about the axe offer...heck, take him up on it.....like some of the others say....clean the thing up and play it around the house for a spell...if nothin' else it'll give you a fair chance to make comparisons with a *real* telecaster compared to modern day offerings.....I think I know where that boat will float....later, spyder

Pedalworld · September 22nd, 2003, 11:34 PM

just go buy a new reissue and tell him you cleaned it up REAL GOOD!!

auger · September 22nd, 2003, 11:55 PM

What happens the day you gotta give it back?
You can't miss what you never had.

Adam Waldron · September 23rd, 2003, 12:05 AM

Oh man...

Yes, huge responsibilty.

There is no chance I would say no!

As to gigging it, I would be scared myself - but *only* of theft.

I would love to play around the house or jam privately with a real fiddy two!

Oh man...

Cheers,

Adam

Anonymous · September 23rd, 2003, 01:54 AM

I'm no fan of insurance companies, believe me, but they serve their purpose. You can insure the guitar for its true vintage value for a few hundred bucks per year. If someone offered to rent me a genuine '52 for a year for $300 -- we're talkin' like $2 a week here -- man, I'd jump on that in a heartbeat! Buy the insurance, and have fun!

You need to do what feels right to YOU. But believe me, you will not get another offer like this. Plus, it would make the owner happy to see it getting played.

Guess you can tell which side of the fence I'm on, huh? ;-) Best of luck, CS

genelovesjez · September 23rd, 2003, 04:58 AM

I would definitely take it. Forget about what it's "worth". Look at what your car's worth and you take that out in traffic! I think the mojo that will flow around you and the guitar is the most valuable thing in this scenario. Plus, once it's out of his house, maybe the owner will find himself more prepared to sell it (sorta the reverse of the trick of the grandfather clock salesman who would "store" his clock in someone's home after his car broke down. When he comes back a couple weeks later, they can't part with it).

KingPussBlues · September 23rd, 2003, 05:50 AM

How often do you get a chance like that?

Good Luck!

John 8)

Impala · September 23rd, 2003, 08:50 AM

I'd only take it home and give it some TLC, play it awhile and return it in beautiful condition to the owner. Remember that if it's been sitting around for a long time it shouldn't look very good right now. I think, as the others have said, that you'd be the first one in line if the owner ever decides to sell. Oh! And by the way, I wouldn't play it out of the house!!!

NashTele · September 23rd, 2003, 08:53 AM

I would not feel right about doing that myself. If something happened to it, I would feel terrible.

Baard · September 24th, 2003, 09:40 AM

string it up and play it out, like it was meant to. (Given that it would be fine with the owner.) Then I don´t play in beer joints.

baard

bluz · September 25th, 2003, 07:26 PM

Hail to that,strap that puppy on an take'er for a whirl!Just treat her like the golden girl that she is,you might not get an opportunity like this again for quit some time.It'll be better than second guessing yourself somewhere down the road??....and when you bring it back give that man a warm smile and a heathly handshake,you've just been "mojo'd" 8)

reverbbb · September 26th, 2003, 08:39 AM

There aren't really any dry creeks in Louisiana are there?

Hwilliams · September 26th, 2003, 09:04 AM

No the creeks are not really dry but it all depends on the rain I guess.

I believe I'll give that guy a call and get that 52 from him for a while. If he ever did sell it I would be in a great position to buy.

Thanks

I'll let you know what happens when I get it. Which could be a little while.

HW

September 22nd, 2003, 10:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Hwilliams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dry Creek, La Age: 35 Posts: 175	52 Tele! At a gig this weekend I talked to an older man that I had met once or twice before. He used to play and still owns a 52 tele. He told me that he wanted me to take it and clean it up and play it because it is not getting used at all. I told him that I would love to by it but I know that he wouldn't sell it. I also told him that I would rather not take to tele because It would kill me if something happened to it. Do you think I should have taken it just to play around the house for a little while? I have seen the guitar and it looks great. Something about a guitar that has been around and shows it. It also plays very well. I didn't play it through an amp. HW

September 22nd, 2003, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheGoodTexan Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Age: 36 Posts: 5,188 18 Photos	Similar situation I have a friend that gigs with a real '59 Strat. It's the real deal, with original pups. He knows how much I like that guitar, and he's offered for me to take it home and "fool around with it" more than a few times. I just can't bring myself to be responsible for that guitar, outside of his presence.

September 22nd, 2003, 11:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Raymond Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Herndon, VA Posts: 2,417 3 Photos	I couldn't have taken it.... Too much responsability! Some time ago, I was helping a friend fixing his guitar. I took it home because he didn't have a soldering iron. After fixing it, I plugged it into the amp for testing. After playing for a minute or so, the strap button failed and the guitar almost hit the ground!!! I was able to catch it, but the headstock hit my chair....just a ding...well, a big one...I was really concerned. My friend was cool about it because the guitar was cheap and already beaten up, but still.... Remember this Tele is a 50-year-old guitar...anything could happen. I think you did the right thing. __________________ "That's a hard pill to swallow, buddy; when you find out what the blues is all about"

September 22nd, 2003, 12:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,881 28 Photos	You should take it home. How often does a person get a chance to be a "foster parent" for a lonely vintage Tele? It brings you one step closer to being the future owner if it's ever for sale.

September 22nd, 2003, 12:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
'ol hank pank Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Scotia NY Posts: 436	I agree You'd have to do some pretty extreme to hurt a tele. They are bullet proof. I would have jumped at the chance. Would have been an honor. __________________ TDPRI tpyo Myster

September 22nd, 2003, 12:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
buglecorps Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Suburban Twang Town Posts: 753	Maybe, maybe not... You need to do what youe are comfortable with..right now it dosen't sound like you would have enjoyed the experence(worry ect.) perfectly understandable. Hopefuly you will beable to keep in contact with this gent, and perhaps enjoy the tele in the future when all three of you are ready. __________________ Loud is Good...

September 22nd, 2003, 12:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	I'd take it in a heart beat! Opportunities such as this seldom come around. Time to take advantage of it. __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

September 22nd, 2003, 01:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jerry J Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NoVa Posts: 650	Agree - Take it home and play it. Just leave it in the house. The reason I've bought new Fenders in the last year is to leave my '65 Strat at home where its safe. And that is a '65 Strat, not a real deal '52 Tele.

September 22nd, 2003, 09:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
spyder Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: chillicothe, ohio Posts: 530	Ho...far and away, most folks don't know the difference between a '52 telecaster and a hundred dollar bill...if either is laying around unattended chances are its history....the only thing about your plight that causes flags to go up IMO is because you don't know the dude very well.....if he continues to pursue a friendship with 'ya...and is sincere about the axe offer...heck, take him up on it.....like some of the others say....clean the thing up and play it around the house for a spell...if nothin' else it'll give you a fair chance to make comparisons with a real telecaster compared to modern day offerings.....I think I know where that boat will float....later, spyder __________________ I'm not a luthier, but I used to play trombone with my jr. high band

September 22nd, 2003, 11:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
Pedalworld Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 936	Re: 52 Tele! just go buy a new reissue and tell him you cleaned it up REAL GOOD!!

September 22nd, 2003, 11:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
auger Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Uptown in penthouse #3 Posts: 363 5 Photos	What happens the day you gotta give it back? You can't miss what you never had. __________________ I'd give my left arm to be ambidextrous

September 23rd, 2003, 12:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
Adam Waldron Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 607	Oh man... Yes, huge responsibilty. There is no chance I would say no! As to gigging it, I would be scared myself - but only of theft. I would love to play around the house or jam privately with a real fiddy two! Oh man... Cheers, Adam

September 23rd, 2003, 01:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
Anonymous Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 0	Buy some insurance. I'm no fan of insurance companies, believe me, but they serve their purpose. You can insure the guitar for its true vintage value for a few hundred bucks per year. If someone offered to rent me a genuine '52 for a year for $300 -- we're talkin' like $2 a week here -- man, I'd jump on that in a heartbeat! Buy the insurance, and have fun! You need to do what feels right to YOU. But believe me, you will not get another offer like this. Plus, it would make the owner happy to see it getting played. Guess you can tell which side of the fence I'm on, huh? ;-) Best of luck, CS

September 23rd, 2003, 04:58 AM	#15 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 41 Posts: 3,735	I would definitely take it. Forget about what it's "worth". Look at what your car's worth and you take that out in traffic! I think the mojo that will flow around you and the guitar is the most valuable thing in this scenario. Plus, once it's out of his house, maybe the owner will find himself more prepared to sell it (sorta the reverse of the trick of the grandfather clock salesman who would "store" his clock in someone's home after his car broke down. When he comes back a couple weeks later, they can't part with it).

September 23rd, 2003, 05:50 AM	#16 (permalink)
KingPussBlues Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 629	I'd do it. How often do you get a chance like that? Good Luck! John 8) __________________ "There's been a lot of people, and they've had a lot to say. But this time, I'm gonna tell it my way." 'The Messiah Will Come Again' - Roy Buchanan

September 23rd, 2003, 08:50 AM	#17 (permalink)
Impala Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA Posts: 253	If I were you.... I'd only take it home and give it some TLC, play it awhile and return it in beautiful condition to the owner. Remember that if it's been sitting around for a long time it shouldn't look very good right now. I think, as the others have said, that you'd be the first one in line if the owner ever decides to sell. Oh! And by the way, I wouldn't play it out of the house!!!

September 23rd, 2003, 08:53 AM	#18 (permalink)
NashTele Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 202 2 Photos	I would not feel right about doing that myself. If something happened to it, I would feel terrible. __________________ .::blooz for yooz::.

September 24th, 2003, 09:40 AM	#19 (permalink)
Baard Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 668	I´d take it home string it up and play it out, like it was meant to. (Given that it would be fine with the owner.) Then I don´t play in beer joints. baard

September 25th, 2003, 07:26 PM	#20 (permalink)
bluz TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 86	Hail to that,strap that puppy on an take'er for a whirl!Just treat her like the golden girl that she is,you might not get an opportunity like this again for quit some time.It'll be better than second guessing yourself somewhere down the road??....and when you bring it back give that man a warm smile and a heathly handshake,you've just been "mojo'd" 8)

September 26th, 2003, 08:39 AM	#21 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,708 34 Photos	BTW There aren't really any dry creeks in Louisiana are there? __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ Myspace Guitarist P&W Forum

September 26th, 2003, 09:04 AM	#22 (permalink)
Hwilliams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dry Creek, La Age: 35 Posts: 175	Dry Creeks No the creeks are not really dry but it all depends on the rain I guess. I believe I'll give that guy a call and get that 52 from him for a while. If he ever did sell it I would be in a great position to buy. Thanks I'll let you know what happens when I get it. Which could be a little while. HW