Need experts on buying mysterious used guitar and translating model number

Jenix · February 7th, 2008, 09:04 PM

This is my first post to tdpri though I've learned alot reading other posts. The serial number on the back of the headstock is N965784. It matches a 1999 U.S made and is a Tabacco sunburst. The owner says one of the pickups was replaced with a hotrail. Someone help me figure this guitar out I'm making the switch from Gibson to Fender and don't want to start off on the wrong foot because I've heard horror stories. Any help would be appreciated, thanks for your time and hopefully I can post these pics.

I couldnt post them so here they are on photbucket.
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0887.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0883.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0891.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0895.jpg

J-man · February 7th, 2008, 09:10 PM

Looks like a Fender MIA Standard that's been modified, to me.

Welcome to the board!

mellecaster · February 7th, 2008, 09:37 PM

Run ...don't Walk....phony Decal, Squier Bridge ...wrong neck...Total fake IMO

mellecaster · February 7th, 2008, 10:00 PM

Just Screams Homemade !!

Attachment 8682

tpaul · February 7th, 2008, 10:07 PM

It would help if we could see the front of the headstock.

So far... the tuners, both pickups, volume and tone knobs have been changed. The pickguard doesn't look original either and that bridge, with the two front screws, looks like a Squier bridge. And I don't see any birdseye in that birdseye maple neck.

Questions:
1) how much would you be paying for it?
2) does it play well and sound good?
3) is the seller being up-front about the many obvious mods?

If the seller says it's an all-original USA Fender Tele, he's either lying or doesn't know what he's talking about. It might be a great guitar but only you can decide that. Just be aware of what you're getting.

Tim Armstrong · February 7th, 2008, 10:08 PM

Looks like it had different tuners on it too, those cheap ones they put on Squiers, like these ones:

Cheers, Tim

buddywayne · February 7th, 2008, 10:11 PM

I'm with mellecaster on this one. That thing just doesn't look right.

Flat357 · February 7th, 2008, 10:14 PM

If that's a Fender , i've just received a phone call from Brent Mason asking me for lessons !

As fuzzy would have screamed ' look at those 12th's

aznrambo481 · February 7th, 2008, 10:16 PM

12th fret dot spacing... that's no MIA neck.

Somehow, that fretboard maple doesn't look MIA quality. But I can only base this on the handful of american-made fenders that I have played. It looks more like my squier '51. There are also holes where the old tuners had been plugged up. Those are the same tuners that are on my squier. The ones on my 2000 MIA are square on the back.

Flat357 · February 7th, 2008, 10:21 PM

This is one of my necks showing Birdseye .
Granted , this is extreme birdseye , but you get the idea .

Jenix · February 7th, 2008, 10:33 PM

Wow, thanks for all your help, I would be trading a Gibson SG faded for it and a Vox DA15 for this "American made Guitar" I'll post another pic of the front of headstock in a min.

Jenix · February 7th, 2008, 10:39 PM

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...DSCN0889-2.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0879.jpg
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0878.jpg
Here it is, again thanks for all your help I really don't know what I'm doing with tele's. The second two are with the neck off. I havent played it its been a craigslist thing.

buddywayne · February 7th, 2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenix

Wow, thanks for all your help, I would be trading a Gibson SG faded for it and a Vox DA15 for this "American made Guitar" I'll post another pic of the front of headstock in a min.

A better shot of pickguard showing the notch by the neck would be good.

Jenix · February 7th, 2008, 10:43 PM

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0896.jpg

Thats the best I got that I was sent by the guy, who's really nice and so far hasnt shown any signs of trying to spam me so if anything I'd say he's oblivious. He was upfront about the pickup change.

buddywayne · February 7th, 2008, 11:03 PM

Jenix, There are many people here that are much more Knowledgible than me,
But I wouldn't bet that the neck or much else on that guitar is even Fender.

aznrambo481 · February 7th, 2008, 11:11 PM

That headstock decal looks a bit rough on the inside... and that string holder-downer thing is not on straight. Not sure what that may mean, though...

jjz28 · February 7th, 2008, 11:24 PM

Did they have the "CE" stickers back in '99?...hmmm. That body wood looks like Agathis to me. The decal looks very phony and the string tree placement is way off. I wouldn't touch it myself.

aznrambo481 · February 7th, 2008, 11:31 PM

ok, at second glance... that neck wood is definitely not MIA. I think.

Mark Davis · February 7th, 2008, 11:34 PM

Its got a 21 fret neck and the decal would suggest its an AM STD which has a 22 fret neck. So whoever did this fake was all messed up hahah.

kp8 · February 7th, 2008, 11:40 PM

That neck pocket don't look right either and the logo... whew.... That is too much in trade for this deal, imo. It might still be a nice guitar, but no way does that look like a real deal MIA. That looks a lot like a squier that has been mucked with. You would prolly be better off getting a MIM or Squier from a dealer and knowing for sure exactly what you were getting and sell the SG straight up.

jjz28 · February 7th, 2008, 11:49 PM

Blow up that front headstock picture guys. That "Fender" logo is not a decal, there is no outline, it's painted on. The "Telecaster" logo is a stencil someone made and whats up with all the "goop/glue" around the truss rod hole. It might be an Agathis Squier body, but I, for one, don't think that's a Fender neck of any kind.

jjz28 · February 7th, 2008, 11:57 PM

Jenix: I checked out your SG on the Chicago CL. It looks very nice. Why don't you keep it and buy a Squier Tele for a couple hundred and keep the SG. You'll get lots of help and encouragement here with the Squier and you can always upgrade later? Just a thought....

pgordo · February 8th, 2008, 12:04 AM

stay away from that guitar,it is a horrible fake.i wouldnt pluck that guitar with your pick,lol.seriously that looks like a tiajuana rolex,worth about 25 dollars.that is hands down the poorest decal/logo work ive ever seen,fonts dont even resemble anything fender ever did. i would give that guy a smack for trying to pawn off that poo poo on someone,then break it so no one else may fall victim to it

jjz28 · February 8th, 2008, 12:15 AM

Jenix: There's a killer looking '89 American, B-Bender(Parsons/White) Telecaster on your CL looking for a trade.($700.) Sunburst, tortoise guard, HB/neck. Go for it!

blue metalflake · February 8th, 2008, 01:25 PM

Hi Jenix

Picked this up late, but hold onto the SG & don't go near that thing. No evidence of any Fender parts that I can see.

Scotele · February 8th, 2008, 01:39 PM

Jenix: Kick this one into touch, most certainly aint Fender.

February 7th, 2008, 09:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jenix Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: J town Age: 18 Posts: 271	Need experts on buying mysterious used guitar and translating model number This is my first post to tdpri though I've learned alot reading other posts. The serial number on the back of the headstock is N965784. It matches a 1999 U.S made and is a Tabacco sunburst. The owner says one of the pickups was replaced with a hotrail. Someone help me figure this guitar out I'm making the switch from Gibson to Fender and don't want to start off on the wrong foot because I've heard horror stories. Any help would be appreciated, thanks for your time and hopefully I can post these pics. I couldnt post them so here they are on photbucket. http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0887.jpg http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0883.jpg http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0891.jpg http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0895.jpg Last edited by Jenix : February 9th, 2008 at 06:27 PM.

February 7th, 2008, 09:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 19 Posts: 6,082 9 Photos	Looks like a Fender MIA Standard that's been modified, to me. Welcome to the board! __________________ Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. - Unknown When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Hunter S Thompson

February 7th, 2008, 09:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,164 17 Photos	Run ...don't Walk....phony Decal, Squier Bridge ...wrong neck...Total fake IMO __________________ Let's Not Forget the Other 75% of The Tone Equation...It's Called an AMP

February 7th, 2008, 10:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,164 17 Photos	Just Screams Homemade !! Attachment 8682 __________________ Let's Not Forget the Other 75% of The Tone Equation...It's Called an AMP Last edited by mellecaster : April 9th, 2008 at 10:09 PM.

February 7th, 2008, 10:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
tpaul Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kingston, NY Posts: 698	Not sure It would help if we could see the front of the headstock. So far... the tuners, both pickups, volume and tone knobs have been changed. The pickguard doesn't look original either and that bridge, with the two front screws, looks like a Squier bridge. And I don't see any birdseye in that birdseye maple neck. Questions: 1) how much would you be paying for it? 2) does it play well and sound good? 3) is the seller being up-front about the many obvious mods? If the seller says it's an all-original USA Fender Tele, he's either lying or doesn't know what he's talking about. It might be a great guitar but only you can decide that. Just be aware of what you're getting.

February 7th, 2008, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 8,096	Looks like it had different tuners on it too, those cheap ones they put on Squiers, like these ones: Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

February 7th, 2008, 10:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
buddywayne Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: missouri Age: 62 Posts: 537 6 Photos	I'm with mellecaster on this one. That thing just doesn't look right. __________________ 51 luv!!

February 7th, 2008, 10:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 40 Posts: 2,623	If that's a Fender , i've just received a phone call from Brent Mason asking me for lessons ! As fuzzy would have screamed ' look at those 12th's

February 7th, 2008, 10:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
aznrambo481 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla, California Age: 17 Posts: 2,823 6 Photos	12th fret dot spacing... that's no MIA neck. Somehow, that fretboard maple doesn't look MIA quality. But I can only base this on the handful of american-made fenders that I have played. It looks more like my squier '51. There are also holes where the old tuners had been plugged up. Those are the same tuners that are on my squier. The ones on my 2000 MIA are square on the back. __________________ "Never age. Never die. Live forever in that one last white-hot moment, when the crowd screamed. When every note was a heartbeat. Burn across the sky."-Terry Pratchett, Soul Music.

February 7th, 2008, 10:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 40 Posts: 2,623	This is one of my necks showing Birdseye . Granted , this is extreme birdseye , but you get the idea .

February 7th, 2008, 10:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
Jenix Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: J town Age: 18 Posts: 271	Wow, thanks for all your help, I would be trading a Gibson SG faded for it and a Vox DA15 for this "American made Guitar" I'll post another pic of the front of headstock in a min.

February 7th, 2008, 10:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
Jenix Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: J town Age: 18 Posts: 271	http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...DSCN0889-2.jpg http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0879.jpg http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0878.jpg Here it is, again thanks for all your help I really don't know what I'm doing with tele's. The second two are with the neck off. I havent played it its been a craigslist thing.

February 7th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
Jenix Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: J town Age: 18 Posts: 271	http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...u/DSCN0896.jpg Thats the best I got that I was sent by the guy, who's really nice and so far hasnt shown any signs of trying to spam me so if anything I'd say he's oblivious. He was upfront about the pickup change.

February 7th, 2008, 11:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
buddywayne Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: missouri Age: 62 Posts: 537 6 Photos	Jenix, There are many people here that are much more Knowledgible than me, But I wouldn't bet that the neck or much else on that guitar is even Fender. __________________ 51 luv!!

February 7th, 2008, 11:11 PM	#16 (permalink)
aznrambo481 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla, California Age: 17 Posts: 2,823 6 Photos	That headstock decal looks a bit rough on the inside... and that string holder-downer thing is not on straight. Not sure what that may mean, though... __________________ "Never age. Never die. Live forever in that one last white-hot moment, when the crowd screamed. When every note was a heartbeat. Burn across the sky."-Terry Pratchett, Soul Music.

February 7th, 2008, 11:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
jjz28 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ecum Secum Posts: 318 16 Photos	Did they have the "CE" stickers back in '99?...hmmm. That body wood looks like Agathis to me. The decal looks very phony and the string tree placement is way off. I wouldn't touch it myself.

February 7th, 2008, 11:31 PM	#18 (permalink)
aznrambo481 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: La Jolla, California Age: 17 Posts: 2,823 6 Photos	ok, at second glance... that neck wood is definitely not MIA. I think. __________________ "Never age. Never die. Live forever in that one last white-hot moment, when the crowd screamed. When every note was a heartbeat. Burn across the sky."-Terry Pratchett, Soul Music.

February 7th, 2008, 11:34 PM	#19 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 57 Posts: 12,187	Its got a 21 fret neck and the decal would suggest its an AM STD which has a 22 fret neck. So whoever did this fake was all messed up hahah. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

February 7th, 2008, 11:40 PM	#20 (permalink)
kp8 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 2,689	That neck pocket don't look right either and the logo... whew.... That is too much in trade for this deal, imo. It might still be a nice guitar, but no way does that look like a real deal MIA. That looks a lot like a squier that has been mucked with. You would prolly be better off getting a MIM or Squier from a dealer and knowing for sure exactly what you were getting and sell the SG straight up.

February 7th, 2008, 11:49 PM	#21 (permalink)
jjz28 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ecum Secum Posts: 318 16 Photos	Blow up that front headstock picture guys. That "Fender" logo is not a decal, there is no outline, it's painted on. The "Telecaster" logo is a stencil someone made and whats up with all the "goop/glue" around the truss rod hole. It might be an Agathis Squier body, but I, for one, don't think that's a Fender neck of any kind.

February 7th, 2008, 11:57 PM	#22 (permalink)
jjz28 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ecum Secum Posts: 318 16 Photos	Jenix: I checked out your SG on the Chicago CL. It looks very nice. Why don't you keep it and buy a Squier Tele for a couple hundred and keep the SG. You'll get lots of help and encouragement here with the Squier and you can always upgrade later? Just a thought....

February 8th, 2008, 12:04 AM	#23 (permalink)
pgordo NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kingman AZ Age: 30 Posts: 6	stay away from that guitar,it is a horrible fake.i wouldnt pluck that guitar with your pick,lol.seriously that looks like a tiajuana rolex,worth about 25 dollars.that is hands down the poorest decal/logo work ive ever seen,fonts dont even resemble anything fender ever did. i would give that guy a smack for trying to pawn off that poo poo on someone,then break it so no one else may fall victim to it

February 8th, 2008, 12:15 AM	#24 (permalink)
jjz28 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ecum Secum Posts: 318 16 Photos	Jenix: There's a killer looking '89 American, B-Bender(Parsons/White) Telecaster on your CL looking for a trade.($700.) Sunburst, tortoise guard, HB/neck. Go for it!

February 8th, 2008, 01:25 PM	#25 (permalink)
blue metalflake Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ireland Age: 54 Posts: 2,296 10 Photos	Hi Jenix Picked this up late, but hold onto the SG & don't go near that thing. No evidence of any Fender parts that I can see.

February 8th, 2008, 01:39 PM	#26 (permalink)
Scotele TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Elgin, Scotland Posts: 70	Jenix: Kick this one into touch, most certainly aint Fender.