MIJ Jerry Donahue owners?

[riggergreg]

I snagged one for a good price the other day(Haven't received it yet) and am wondering what routing is under the pickguard? I know it's a strat pup in the neck, but is it standard route or larger?

Here it is

[jwells393]

I just took a peek ............ it's a standard Strat pickup rout with the wiring channel between the pickup cavity and the control cavity.

[riggergreg]

Thanks, Mr Wells..

[telemomo]

Riggergreg:

Have you had a chance to play your new JD Tele? If so, I would be interested to hear what you think of it and where it fits in to the stable of Teles you have.

I have a 1985 MIJ JD Tele that looks exactly like yours. I replaced the stock bridge pup with a CS Nocaster pup. The OE neck pup is outstanding IMO. I also had to re-fret right away.

For me, I LOVE the soft V neck, vintage vibe, and amazing chime. It is a keeper for me.

Mike

[telemomo]

Oooops.

[telemomo]

Oooops, Two corrections:

First, I now see you have not received your JD Tele yet. So, let us know what you think after your get her. Next, Mine is a 1986 not 85.

Mike

[jwells393]

Mine is a 1986

Maybe so ........... maybe not. Sounds like you may have based that on the "A" serial number on the bridge plate. You can't do that with Japanese Telecasters.

[tiktok]

JD Tele's were produced for just a few years in the 90's. MIJ Tele serial numbers don't follow the standard system.

[jwells393]

Japanese Fenders follow the Japanese Fender serial number system but you cannot use that bridge plate serial number for dating purposes.

[telemomo]

Maybe nothing... I purchased my JD Telecaster from the original owner who purchased it new in 1986. Furthermore, I believe it is stamped 1986 in the neck pocket. So... it pretty much is a 1986 model. 1990 was not the first year of the MIJ Tele.

Mike

[jwells393]

telemomo............ what does it say on the heel of the neck just above the body?

[telemomo]

jwells:

It just reads "Made in Japan".

There is a small, thick sticker on the neck plate that reads a067665. The bridge plate has the same serial number stamped into it. The sticker may have been put on in the U.S. to match the bridge plate serial#.

If I have to, I will cut my strings and remove the neck for a photo. But, I have every reason to believe the original owner when he tells me he bought it new in 1986. And, if I did not have "oldtimers disease", I could state for sure that the neck and pocket are dated 1986. I am reasonably sure they are. I just can't remember for certain.

Mike

[jwells393]

Don't cut your strings but I've found more than one source indicating that both the Custom Shop models and the Japanese models were't made until around 1992. The following link is an interview with Jerry Donahue. I've pasted a portion into this post. The point is, almost all Japanese Telecasters with a vintage style bridge have an "A" serial number on the bridge plate.......... no matter when they were made.

http://dmme.net/interviews/donahue.html

- Telecaster is the guitar for you. When did you start using it and what did fascinate you in the model in the first place?

Though my first electric was a Jazzmaster, I traded it for a Strat after moving to the UK at the age of fifteen; as I became a huge SHADOWS fan. During the eighteen-month period I worked at "Selmer's Musical Instruments" in London until I was twenty-two, I got into Telecasters, too! In bands I would play with in during the coming years - FOTHERINGAY, FAIRPORT CONVENTION, Chris Rea, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Warren Zevon, etcetera - I used to switch between the two most of the time. It really wasn't until the early Nineties with the release of my signature Tele by Fender, and the advent of THE HELLECASTERS that I began to play the Tele more exclusively. It has, without a doubt, a far superior bridge / pickup assembly that suits my needs much more satisfactorily..................

[telemomo]

Is Donahue not referring to the Fender USA Custom shop model?

Anyway, I will cut the strings and check again.

What do you conclude about the "Made in Japan" decal on the back of the neck? My 58 Reissue CIJ Strat has a serial number on the back of the neck.

Mike

[jwells393]

The "Made In Japan" indicates it was made before 1997. Mine says "Crafted in Japan". From what I've read both the Custom Shop model and the Japanese model were released around the same time. If anything the Custom Shop model was probably released first.

[riggergreg]

Well, I guess I'm lucky. Mine doesn't have the original neck, so I'll never know.

I'm really not too worried about it..

[telemomo]

Body: pocket is stamped in black "JD-TL" there is also a red "A" stamped inside a circle.

Neck: Is stamped JD-TL. There is a red "E" stamp on the neck and a black "N" stamped on the neck.

Again, the original owner is certain he purchased new in 1986.

Mike

[jwells393]

Here's the senario I see ............. The original owner bought it new when they first came out. Sometime while he owned it he did some research which told him that an "A" serial number indicates 1986. His memory is not so good......... drugs, booze who knows. He knows he bought it new. He thinks it was made in 1986 ......... therefore he thinks he bought it in 1986.

[tiktok]

The JD and the Custom Shop Jerry Donahue debuted in '92, according to all published accounts I've ever seen, and I personally recall them showing up in stores in the early 90's. '91? Maybe, but no way in '86, regardless of what the previous owner recalls. Although it matters only as far as historical accuracy goes.

[telemomo]

That is all good and all, but I am NOT claiming to have a FENDER USA CUSTOM SHOP JD TELECASTER.

I have a 1986 MIJ JD Telecaster and they WERE produced in 1986. I think 1985 was the first year they were made in Japan.

The "A" stamp on the body cavity of my 1986 JD Tele confirms it is a 1986 JD Tele!

Mike

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by telemomo

That is all good and all, but I am NOT claiming to have a FENDER USA CUSTOM SHOP JD TELECASTER.

I have a 1986 MIJ JD Telecaster and they WERE produced in 1986. I think 1985 was the first year they were made in Japan.

The "A" stamp on the body cavity of my 1986 JD Tele confirms it is a 1986 JD Tele!

The "JD Telecaster" is the MIJ version.
The "Jerry Donahue" is the US Custom Shop model.
Both debuted in 1992.

The body on your guitar may have been manufactured in '86, but there were no JD Telecasters in '86. MIJ '62 Custom RI's debuted in '85.

Perhaps your body sat around for a few years before it was used for a JD Telecaster. Putting a MIJ '62 Custom Tele body together with a JD neck, black 8-screw pickguard, and the Donahue 5-way switch/wiring scheme would probably have only required routing the body for the Strat style neck pup. Or maybe the previous owner had more than one Tele in the last few decades and lost track of which one came when.

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by riggergreg

I snagged one for a good price the other day(Haven't received it yet) and am wondering what routing is under the pickguard? I know it's a strat pup in the neck, but is it standard route or larger?

Here it is

Gorgeous guitar there, by the way. I'm curious as to whether the pickguard is original, since it appears to be five-screw, and the JD's were eight. If you ever have the guard off, let us know if there's empty screw holes under there.

[dobrodoc]

MY JD Tele also has a 5-screw guard. It's the ONLY guitar Fender put a laminated 5-hole guard on. In addition, mine has a "Crafted in Japan" decal at the base of the neck.

[jwells393]

since it appears to be five-screw, and the JD's were eight

My JD has a five hole guard. Almost every JD picture I've seen on the Internet had a five hole guard.

......

Check out this site. There are several JD Telecasters shown. Only one has an eight hole guard and that guitar was modified ....... so the pickguard may have been replaced.

http://www.xhefriguitars.com/page9.html