Newbie with 1972 Tele for restoration.

spirochete · April 12th, 2007, 10:38 PM

He guys,a few weeks ago I picked up a 1972 tele.I am glad I found this forum,up till now was on another Fender forum with only a few posts/day,I didn't know this one exhisted.
Anyway here's a description.
Refin in blue green krylon,not a good job-was originally a sunburst that had been beaten up-my favorite finish.May get a refin back to original sunburst.
Has SD hotrails humbucker in bridge,SD hotstack in neck-they sound good but have the originals to put back in.
Non original P/G but have the original,also same goes for input jack.
Bridge was non original ESP,heavy plate,already changed that out for a Fender,3 brass compensated saddles.I noticed a change in tone,with this P/U combination is a heavy or light brdge better?What bridge would a '72 have?
Frets are about a third worn in some places.
All in all a great guitar to play,I've been used to LP'S but this baby rocks.
Any advice on this guitar and how to get it back to it's former glory would be appreciated.
Here's a bad photo.

Keith.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...101Aat2Tdw2Ysc

Nick Fanis · April 13th, 2007, 04:39 AM

The original 72 bridge & saddles are by far the best Fender ever made (because of the grooved steel saddles) you can get the exact same bridge (w/o the patent nr the originals have of course) here

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/g...fendertele.htm

(it is the "Genuine Fender Mexican Thinline Bridge",they are selling it together with a pickup but maybe you can get it w/o too)

you can also get it here

http://cgi.ebay.com/2007-USA-Fender-...QQcmdZViewItem

cradlehall · April 13th, 2007, 06:53 AM

It's fortunate that you have some of the original parts that have been replaced. I would restore to the originals if I were you.

Southpaw433 · April 13th, 2007, 09:28 AM

I'd put back on any of the original parts you have, and the 3 saddles steel with the one circular groved slot. I'm not a fan of rail type pick-ups - I'd use a set of Duncans non stagered pole pieces. That should get you back a close as you can to original

jwells393 · April 13th, 2007, 09:39 AM

Guitars are like antique furniture ......... if you refinish them they decrease in value. However since yours has already been refinished, that's a green light to do another refinish. Sounds like you have most of the original parts so I would strip it to bare wood and refinish it in the original sunburst or some other 70s original color. Give it a light relicing like a 35 year old guitar that's been well cared for and who's to say it's been refinished........... only the experts.

0le FUZZY · April 13th, 2007, 12:31 PM

...I wood leaf that color on air!

...I wood change all the parts back tew stock if I could but I wood knott go and buy original parts.

...Nice lookin TEL:ECASTER (the : iss because its modified HEE! HEE!)

0le FUZZY

spirochete · April 16th, 2007, 09:30 PM

OK guys,thanks for the advice.The guy that had it before me was a player and didn't care about the vintage vibe-so got a great deal and the guitar sounds awesome.
I'm sure that in time I will restore it 100% and hang on to it,I have a feeling that the value of vintage teles will skyrocket in the next few years.

April 12th, 2007, 10:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
spirochete TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bermuda Posts: 95 8 Photos	Newbie with 1972 Tele for restoration. He guys,a few weeks ago I picked up a 1972 tele.I am glad I found this forum,up till now was on another Fender forum with only a few posts/day,I didn't know this one exhisted. Anyway here's a description. Refin in blue green krylon,not a good job-was originally a sunburst that had been beaten up-my favorite finish.May get a refin back to original sunburst. Has SD hotrails humbucker in bridge,SD hotstack in neck-they sound good but have the originals to put back in. Non original P/G but have the original,also same goes for input jack. Bridge was non original ESP,heavy plate,already changed that out for a Fender,3 brass compensated saddles.I noticed a change in tone,with this P/U combination is a heavy or light brdge better?What bridge would a '72 have? Frets are about a third worn in some places. All in all a great guitar to play,I've been used to LP'S but this baby rocks. Any advice on this guitar and how to get it back to it's former glory would be appreciated. Here's a bad photo. Keith. http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...101Aat2Tdw2Ysc

April 13th, 2007, 04:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Nick Fanis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Athens-GREECE Posts: 1,799 14 Photos	The original 72 bridge & saddles are by far the best Fender ever made (because of the grooved steel saddles) you can get the exact same bridge (w/o the patent nr the originals have of course) here http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/g...fendertele.htm (it is the "Genuine Fender Mexican Thinline Bridge",they are selling it together with a pickup but maybe you can get it w/o too) you can also get it here http://cgi.ebay.com/2007-USA-Fender-...QQcmdZViewItem __________________ "Hit him again Jack,he is crazy!" Hunter S.Thompson www.myspace.com/nickfanis

April 13th, 2007, 09:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
Southpaw433 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Age: 54 Posts: 405 36 Photos	I'd put back on any of the original parts you have, and the 3 saddles steel with the one circular groved slot. I'm not a fan of rail type pick-ups - I'd use a set of Duncans non stagered pole pieces. That should get you back a close as you can to original __________________ http://steve-steveszone.blogspot.com/ Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted. John Lennon

April 13th, 2007, 09:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,505 101 Photos	Guitars are like antique furniture ......... if you refinish them they decrease in value. However since yours has already been refinished, that's a green light to do another refinish. Sounds like you have most of the original parts so I would strip it to bare wood and refinish it in the original sunburst or some other 70s original color. Give it a light relicing like a 35 year old guitar that's been well cared for and who's to say it's been refinished........... only the experts. __________________ 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.

April 13th, 2007, 06:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
cradlehall Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Inverness, Scotland Age: 57 Posts: 273	It's fortunate that you have some of the original parts that have been replaced. I would restore to the originals if I were you.

April 13th, 2007, 12:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	...I wood leaf that color on air! ...I wood change all the parts back tew stock if I could but I wood knott go and buy original parts. ...Nice lookin TEL:ECASTER (the : iss because its modified HEE! HEE!) 0le FUZZY

April 16th, 2007, 09:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
spirochete TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bermuda Posts: 95 8 Photos	OK guys,thanks for the advice.The guy that had it before me was a player and didn't care about the vintage vibe-so got a great deal and the guitar sounds awesome. I'm sure that in time I will restore it 100% and hang on to it,I have a feeling that the value of vintage teles will skyrocket in the next few years.