need some advice

[ehren]

I posted about this yesterday but was looking for info on the builder and nobody had any. So I will rephrase the question.

Would you guys pay $425 for this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...TODAY.m238.lVI

And please don't snag it out from under me

It fits the exact specs that I would want out of a tele. The guy has great feedback. i've had some correspondence with him and he seems legit. The pickups might be one area that I'd want to upgrade but maybe not. I love the color and am not concerned about having a "factory finish." Hand rubbed nitro is right up my alley and I like to beat up my guitars anyway. I think this would be a good workingmans tele. Thoughts?

[Guitar_Ninja]

The price for the item listed said $559 when I checked it just now so I don't know if that affects anything.

Do you know what kind of pickups he's using? I'm by no means an expert but $425 is about what you'd pay for a MIM so if the pickups are decent and he's done the setup and used the high quality components he claims then it would seem to be a reasonable price to me for a custom assembled guitar. But again I don't exactly know what the prices are for these things.

He does note that the finish may have some imperfections though. The only thing I noticed from the photos is that the body seems to have a weird cutoff angle along the jack side. Almost looks like it's been leveled off flat or something.

[jwells393]

It's probably a decent guitar. I'm suprised he's advertising it as a Fender when it is clearly a counterfeit. I find it a little hard to believe that a maple bodied Telecaster would weigh only 7.2 lbs. Although with soft maple it might be possible. I built a semi-hollow Telecaster from hard maple that weighs in a 7.5 lbs.

[ehren]

I thought the body angle looked a bit weird too, but he says he builds them to spec. It could be the photos I suppose. $425 is what he's willing to sell it for. Also, the pickups are wilkinson vintage, not great, not terrible.

[jumpnblues]

Man, that's a tough one. If the guitar is as represented it seems to be a fair price. I'd want to know who's "vintage" pu's are they? Although chances are I'd change them anyway. Like I said, it's a tough call. And I'd continue to seek more advice on this forum. If you don't get any other responses here I'd run it by the Gear Page Forum. Lots of knowledgeable people both places. Good luck.

Tom

[ehren]

the pickups are wilkinson

[postjob62]

Originally Posted by jwells393

It's probably a decent guitar. I'm suprised he's advertising it as a Fender when it is clearly a counterfeit. I find it a little hard to believe that a maple bodied Telecaster would weigh only 7.2 lbs. Although with soft maple it might be possible. I built a semi-hollow Telecaster from hard maple that weighs in a 7.5 lbs.

This fellow has been selling these and other similar partscasters for a long time, and always represents them as Fenders-or at least allows the uninformed to come to that conclusion on their own. Given that "licensed" necks do not come with a Fender decal, this decal is obviously bogus, and I'm amazed that ebay and especially Fender have not shut him down. But they haven't!

Now if he were selling partscasters with home-brew bodies and genuine Fender necks, and leaving the original Fender decal on the neck, I'd have no problem with him...IF he disclosed it as a partscaster with a real Fender whatever neck.

Lest anyone think I'm a member of the decal police, I'll say right up front I have no problem with them if you want to do it on your own guitar for whatever reasons, but NOT like this. Clearly, this is fraud. And, sadly, it gives legitimate fodder to those who oppose decal use under private circumstances.

Sorry, didn't mean to rant or hijack the thread.

And no, I sure wouldn't pay 425. or 325. or even 225. for it when you can find really nice MIM Standards in the 250. up range. I've always thought MIM Stds. are one of the greatest bargains in the marketplace, even if you just use it for a mod platform.

Just my .02 though.

[ehren]

I fully understand that it is not a real Fender, and in fact, that doesn't bother me at all as I'm just interested in the guitar itself and I like the decal. Maybe it's not right, and it looks like it isn't, but I'm more interested in thoughts of the guitar itself. I do not like mim standards personally so that is not an option for me. I like a vintage bridge, their pickups are horrible and the look of the stark white necks don't do it for me. I'm looking for a player first and foremost. If the decal wasn't there it wouldn't really make any difference to me. The specs are right on and I would be hard pressed to buy all the parts and do it myself for $425. That is why I'm asking, is there something I'm missing that says this guitar is not worth the money.

[postjob62]

Originally Posted by ehren

I fully understand that it is not a real Fender, and in fact, that doesn't bother me at all as I'm just interested in the guitar itself and I like the decal. Maybe it's not right, and it looks like it isn't, but I'm more interested in thoughts of the guitar itself. I do not like mim standards personally so that is not an option for me. I like a vintage bridge, their pickups are horrible and the look of the stark white necks don't do it for me. I'm looking for a player first and foremost. If the decal wasn't there it wouldn't really make any difference to me. The specs are right on and I would be hard pressed to buy all the parts and do it myself for $425. That is why I'm asking, is there something I'm missing that says this guitar is not worth the money.

Uh, guess not. On second thought, think I'd jump on it.

[91xlntS-3]

That's a nice looking Tele. At $425 you still get the case? Shipping would be extra? I personally like the color and the specs. Wonder just how "bright" a Tele would be with a maple body? Does he offer returns if not satisfied?

I will say, I've owned several of the MIM Teles and I have always been satisfied with them as far as finish/playability/tone. Only swapped p-ups out on one of them, rest were left stock. New one in your choice of color is $399 w/bag/free shipping.

I looked at some of his other offerings and looked at his feedback-100% is hard to do, and buyers seem to all be satisfied. Tough call on this one. I'd like to know how it REALLY is, if you decide to buy. Says he can "customize", wonder what a blackguard with all "real" goodies would cost? Hmmmmm........

[ehren]

Maybe I should just buy the dang thing and see. Thanks for the replies everyone, especially you postjob62 for helping me see the other side of the coin.