70's Telecaster Custom with replacement body

[Jackson753]

Hi,
I think I will have to take the neck off this guitar as there is no sign of a serial number on the headstock in the usual place or the neck plate.
Has anyone seen a Fender Telecaster Custom without a serial number? I know the the body was replaced in the 1990s. I'm thinking that the whole guitar may have been originally assembled from original period parts then body was cracked and replaced.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Minivan Megafun]

Are those spots on the headstock filled holes from having the string trees moved?
That decal seems to be a bit crooked.
And if you look at the neck plate you'll see the hole for the micro tilt adjustment is missing on the body as you can see the white finish of the body behind it.
I could be mistaken but if it was MIJ then the serial number should be just before the neck joint on the neck.

 

[backporchmusic]

As part of your research, keep in mind that Squier had a series of three-bolt MIJ guitars that included the CTC-55 model. Not saying what you have is made of Squier parts, but the three bolt with bullet truss rod has not often been used by other companies when making knock-offs.

Link

CTC 55 Squier

 

[Jackson753]

Thanks for that info. Strangely it does remind me of the first Japanese Squier necks but I never knew that there was a CTC 55 Squier.
I took the guitar to a luthier today and bad news. There's not enough reach in the truss rod to make the neck straight. It's the neck pick up that I like on this guitar and it's a shame about the neck issues.

 

[brmusician]

I have an AVRI 74 Jazz Bass in which its serial is engraved on the neck plate. The Reissue model (AVRI) of your tele seems to have the serial number engraved the same way:

❌SOLD❌ Fender American Vintage '72 Telecaster Custom Reissue Sunburst, 2012

The Fender American Vintage 72 Telecaster recreates the model built from 1972 to 1981, a major change from the Custom introduced in 1959.

www.12fret.com

Taking the neck and pickguard off will solve the mystery.

 

[Jackson753]

The number on the neck plate looks like a PAT Pending number not a serial number.
The neck is not Fender, the body is not Fender.
I think the neck pickup is the only genuine piece and it looks like the lead is compromised.
It's short with another bit of wire soldered on as an extension.
The photos aren't the best. I was pushed for time.
The neck has a back bow and the the truss rod doesn't have enough turns to fix it.
The action is high.

 

[Jackson753]

I wonder if Fender are soon to reissue the 72 Thinline? Maybe as an American Original?
I missed out on those Vintera aged ones they didn't seem to be around for long.
There are some pink ones left and I know shell pink is coveted by I like mocha or walnut or whatever that brown is now called?

 

[Jackson753]

The neck could actually be a Xavier Armenta Fender neck?
Thing with it is that the truss rod is maxed out already and it's not straight.
The neck I have is at the end of the row of pictures below, Pic 4.

 

[MatthewK]

Yeah, I think the neck is genuine. Rather than trying to use the truss nut to apply force to straighten the neck, why not back it off completely, clamp the neck flat and gently heat it with a small heat pack. Let it cool clamped and flat, and then snug up the nut.
By the way I have a Squier Japan CTC55 and it’s an absolute killer, better than my USA Fenders.

 

[jfgesquire]

A maxed truss rod? Won't a small spacer give you more threads for adjustment?

If there aren't enough threads, stewmac sells tools to cut new threads. The rescue tools would be cheaper than a new neck.

 

[Jackson753]

I took it to a local tech. He suggested the same heat treatment but said look it might not work plus it might take two or three options and it could be expensive and it's not really worth it.
The guitars on loan so I've not bought it yet but the neck has put me off.