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Does This "Custom Shop" Look Legit?

Discussion in 'Telecaster Discussion Forum' started by Andy Summers, Nov 4, 2020.

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  1. Nov 4, 2020 #1
    Andy Summers

    Andy Summers Friend of Leo's

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    I don't see any serial numbers on this thing. Any thoughts?

    https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/F...I8K-TbbKGC2sYHZFKNIGlATHK6aG-QWxoCdEkQAvD_BwE

    EDIT: I did just speak with the shop. They are on to it too. There is no serial number anywhere so they aren't sure if it's legit. They contacted Fender and are waiting to hear back. I guess it was a return that someone purchased in a different GC. So they are stuck with it now.
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2020
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  2. Nov 4, 2020 #2
    Masmus

    Masmus Tele-Meister

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    GC is known for taking one bad pic, however if it is at a store you can't get to they will usually ship it to a local store for $25. Once you look at it you can get the money back for the guitar for any reason you just lose the $25.
     
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  3. Nov 4, 2020 #3
    teletail

    teletail Tele-Afflicted

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    I'm not expert, but based on the fact that they don't actually call it a Custom Shop and the low price would cause me to skip that one. Any time I see a "custom shop" that cheap it tells me that they don't believe it's a legit custom shop guitar.
     
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  4. Nov 4, 2020 #4
    Joe M

    Joe M Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Better yet, just give the local shop a call.

    Edit: I agree with teletail, even though it has a CS logo on the back of the headstock, the price, and that they don’t call it a CS, is a little shaky.
     
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  5. Nov 4, 2020 #5
    Andy Summers

    Andy Summers Friend of Leo's

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    Yeah, I agree, teletail. There are a few red flags going on there.
     
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  6. Nov 4, 2020 #6
    Andy Summers

    Andy Summers Friend of Leo's

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    I thought about it. I suppose I could ask if it at least comes with a COA though.
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2020
  7. Nov 4, 2020 #7
    kjatexas

    kjatexas TDPRI Member

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  8. Nov 4, 2020 #8
    Andy Summers

    Andy Summers Friend of Leo's

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    I did just speak with the shop. They are on to it too. There is no serial number anywhere so they aren't sure if it's legit. They contacted Fender and are waiting to hear back. I guess it was a return that someone purchased in a different GC. So they are stuck with it now.
     
  9. Nov 4, 2020 #9
    backporchmusic

    backporchmusic Friend of Leo's

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    I would have thought they track sales and returns through serial numbers, but I guess not?
     
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  10. Nov 4, 2020 #10
    Andy Summers

    Andy Summers Friend of Leo's

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    I know they at least make note of them in their system. Not sure how that one got past. Different levels of knowledge from the various sales folks, I guess.
     
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  11. Nov 4, 2020 #11
    backporchmusic

    backporchmusic Friend of Leo's

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    Otherwise, what's to stop someone buying one guitar and returning a similar but not the exact same guitar?
     
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  12. Nov 4, 2020 #12
    dickey

    dickey Friend of Leo's

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    On a Tele, the SN is usually stamped into the bridge, just behind the pickup. That does NOT look like the original bridge.
     
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  13. Nov 4, 2020 #13
    Peegoo

    Peegoo Poster Extraordinaire

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    Looks like a weak attempt at a fake. Fender does not install neck plates with a 'Custom Shop' stamp and a plastic gasket like that.

    It's not advertized as a custom shop and the price reflects that. It's a bitser.
     
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  14. Nov 4, 2020 #14
    Coyoteaz

    Coyoteaz Tele-Meister

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    Looks fake to me. Custom shop doesn't normally put the truss rod access on the head stock either.
     
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  15. Nov 4, 2020 #15
    boris bubbanov

    boris bubbanov Tele Axpert Ad Free Member

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    My suggestion is, the "Custom Classic" bridge on this guitar is in desperately short supply - there's no surplus of this bridge to be found, anywhere. I know because I looked hard for spares of this bridge for a very long time - although I'm not sure I want one now.

    My concern, frankly, is that this guitar is Stolen, or that at least some of the parts on this guitar are stolen.

    Look carefully at the "hangover" section that goes off at right angles to the "normal" bottom lip you might see on other "6 narrow through holes over 3 mount screw" guitar template common to American Standards and Deluxes, etc. Think about what other bridge you've seen like that. Drawing a blank? Yup.
     
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  16. Nov 5, 2020 #16
    Sea Devil

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    Looks fake to me. Warmoth neck on a Squier or Chinese body?
     
  17. Nov 5, 2020 #17
    Sea Devil

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    AFAIK, there has never been a black spaghetti logo with a gold outline. The end of the headstock is also too rounded.
     
  18. Nov 5, 2020 #18
    Peegoo

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  19. Nov 5, 2020 #19
    Mr. St. Paul

    Mr. St. Paul Tele-Meister

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    Nice-looking neck, nice looking body. Electronics look like junk.

    That headstock logo...woof. Phony as a football bat.
     
  20. Nov 5, 2020 #20
    PeteWaller

    PeteWaller Tele-Meister

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    My 2016 custom shop tele has the serial number on the neck plate and not on the bridge plate.
     
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