General quality of 1990's MIM Standard Teles?

bobgure · August 3rd, 2007, 02:44 PM

Hey guys,
Someone is offering me a 1995 Mexican Standard Tele for a pretty low price and I'm tempted to buy it. It's the color....gun metal blue. Guitar Aquistion Syndrome has struck!
I did have my heart set on a new Classic Series 60's or new Classic Player Baja.

Was the quality on the 1990's MIM Tele's generally of higher quality (or lower) than the current stock MIM Standards?

Thanks for your feedback, counseling etc.

aunchaki · August 3rd, 2007, 03:39 PM

My 1994 MIM Standard seems to be high quality. One thing to look for (if you care) is that some mid-nineties MIM Standards have top-loader bridges (mine does). Mine is Olympic White, which has started to yellow nicely.

jwells393 · August 3rd, 2007, 04:09 PM

Here's a picture of my '95 MIM. It shows one thing you can do with that toploader bridge. I just ran the strings from the Hipshot bender through those string holes. Unlike the later models, changing to a vintage style bridge wouldn't be a snap. You'd not only have to drill the string through holes but also new mounting holes and I'm not sure if the original holes would show. But ............... if you have a hankerin' for a Bigsby, these toploader Teles are perfect candidates. If you bought the Bigsby B-5 "F" kit, you could have what looked like a Factory installation.

......

I bought this guitar used and it was quite a mess but it cleaned up nicely. Top quality finish. With guitars as old as these a lot depends on how they were taken care of .

I just checked and it looks like if you installed a vintage bridge, you'd get just a little peek at the original mounting holes behind the vintage bridge.

dobrodoc · August 3rd, 2007, 04:34 PM

I've got one of those, had a top loader bridge. I put a bottom feeder on, but it left a significant gap between the bridgeplate and the pickguard. Made it REAL hard to set the intonation, especially the high "E" string. I bought the guitar used, and it had an EMG in the bridge. Tried all kinds of stuff to get a neck pup to even out, and I wound up with an EMG humbucker I bought over on the steel forum. Worked out pretty good, and, with the EMG's, it'll cover a lot of territory. I don't know if a previous owner had done any fretwork or not but the frets are just OK---nothing special. Still, a pretty good guitar.

bobgure · August 3rd, 2007, 04:37 PM

Thanks for the info!

Now I'm really confused.

I emailed the person selling the instrument querying the date and he informed me that it was a 2005. Hmmmm.

However, in the photo of the actual guitar, the serial # on the headstock reads: MN5140900 - which according to the 'how to date your tele' post on this site indicates that it's a 1995-6 manufacured instrument.

Just to double check, I just called (1) Guitar Center, and two Vintage guitar dealers, who assured me that it was a 2005.
Another guy told me that it was indeed a 1995.

Am I wrong or doesn't "MN5..." indicate Mexico Ninety five as opposed to "MZ5..." which would be Mexico 2005?

One dealer told me Mz5 or MN5 can both be 2005.

Is it possible that 'MN5...' could be 2005?
This is insane.

xanadewnick · August 3rd, 2007, 04:47 PM

yep it is a 1995 I have had a few and n stands for ninety for both stats and teles. I like the ninety better than the brand new ones I just think they were better built. Also I was told that a few guys working in mexico during the ninetys now work in corona CA. Is that true?

jwells393 · August 3rd, 2007, 04:54 PM

Do not call Guitar Center expecting to get valid information. This is the place to come for valid information. If the serial number is MN5......... it is a 1995.

The yahoo at Guitar Center was probably in diapers in 1995 and has probably not seen a guitar older than a 2005.

The dealers you called are idiots .......... You should never call them again.

Contact the seller............ ask him about the bridge. I don't think they made toploaders after 1995.

bobgure · August 3rd, 2007, 06:21 PM

Man,
You guys are great.
The guitar is indeed a "String thru the bridge"/ toploader type.
So unless i'm wrong that clinches it in being a 1995 Mexican Tele.

I don't think I can really go wrong here. If the seller wants to believe it's a 2005, I'll let him. I think the guitar's on consignment anyway.

Any comments are welcome as usual.
I always learn something new after each post.

August 3rd, 2007, 02:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
bobgure TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: new york city Posts: 17	General quality of 1990's MIM Standard Teles? Hey guys, Someone is offering me a 1995 Mexican Standard Tele for a pretty low price and I'm tempted to buy it. It's the color....gun metal blue. Guitar Aquistion Syndrome has struck! I did have my heart set on a new Classic Series 60's or new Classic Player Baja. Was the quality on the 1990's MIM Tele's generally of higher quality (or lower) than the current stock MIM Standards? Thanks for your feedback, counseling etc.

August 3rd, 2007, 03:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
aunchaki Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western New York Posts: 1,190 16 Photos	My 1994 MIM Standard seems to be high quality. One thing to look for (if you care) is that some mid-nineties MIM Standards have top-loader bridges (mine does). Mine is Olympic White, which has started to yellow nicely. __________________ Two Teles, One Strat, Two Acoustics (6 & 12 strings), Two Mandolins (4 & 8 strings), One Bass (5 strings)

August 3rd, 2007, 04:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,913 101 Photos	Here's a picture of my '95 MIM. It shows one thing you can do with that toploader bridge. I just ran the strings from the Hipshot bender through those string holes. Unlike the later models, changing to a vintage style bridge wouldn't be a snap. You'd not only have to drill the string through holes but also new mounting holes and I'm not sure if the original holes would show. But ............... if you have a hankerin' for a Bigsby, these toploader Teles are perfect candidates. If you bought the Bigsby B-5 "F" kit, you could have what looked like a Factory installation. ...... I bought this guitar used and it was quite a mess but it cleaned up nicely. Top quality finish. With guitars as old as these a lot depends on how they were taken care of . I just checked and it looks like if you installed a vintage bridge, you'd get just a little peek at the original mounting holes behind the vintage bridge. __________________ 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.

August 3rd, 2007, 04:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,913 101 Photos	Do not call Guitar Center expecting to get valid information. This is the place to come for valid information. If the serial number is MN5......... it is a 1995. The yahoo at Guitar Center was probably in diapers in 1995 and has probably not seen a guitar older than a 2005. The dealers you called are idiots .......... You should never call them again. Contact the seller............ ask him about the bridge. I don't think they made toploaders after 1995. __________________ 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.

August 3rd, 2007, 04:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
dobrodoc Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ware Shoals, S.C. Age: 53 Posts: 350	I've got one of those, had a top loader bridge. I put a bottom feeder on, but it left a significant gap between the bridgeplate and the pickguard. Made it REAL hard to set the intonation, especially the high "E" string. I bought the guitar used, and it had an EMG in the bridge. Tried all kinds of stuff to get a neck pup to even out, and I wound up with an EMG humbucker I bought over on the steel forum. Worked out pretty good, and, with the EMG's, it'll cover a lot of territory. I don't know if a previous owner had done any fretwork or not but the frets are just OK---nothing special. Still, a pretty good guitar.

August 3rd, 2007, 04:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
bobgure TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: new york city Posts: 17	Thanks for the info! Now I'm really confused. I emailed the person selling the instrument querying the date and he informed me that it was a 2005. Hmmmm. However, in the photo of the actual guitar, the serial # on the headstock reads: MN5140900 - which according to the 'how to date your tele' post on this site indicates that it's a 1995-6 manufacured instrument. Just to double check, I just called (1) Guitar Center, and two Vintage guitar dealers, who assured me that it was a 2005. Another guy told me that it was indeed a 1995. Am I wrong or doesn't "MN5..." indicate Mexico Ninety five as opposed to "MZ5..." which would be Mexico 2005? One dealer told me Mz5 or MN5 can both be 2005. Is it possible that 'MN5...' could be 2005? This is insane.

August 3rd, 2007, 04:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
xanadewnick NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: utah Age: 29 Posts: 5	yep it is a 1995 I have had a few and n stands for ninety for both stats and teles. I like the ninety better than the brand new ones I just think they were better built. Also I was told that a few guys working in mexico during the ninetys now work in corona CA. Is that true?

August 3rd, 2007, 06:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
bobgure TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: new york city Posts: 17	Man, You guys are great. The guitar is indeed a "String thru the bridge"/ toploader type. So unless i'm wrong that clinches it in being a 1995 Mexican Tele. I don't think I can really go wrong here. If the seller wants to believe it's a 2005, I'll let him. I think the guitar's on consignment anyway. Any comments are welcome as usual. I always learn something new after each post.