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Flea market find- early 50s tele?

Discussion in 'Vintage Tele Discussion Forum (pre-1974)' started by Charlodius, Apr 8, 2019.

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  1. Jun 20, 2019 #461
    Charlodius

    Charlodius Tele-Meister

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    I was working with the black thermoplastic sheeting at work and I’m going to see if I was able to make a suitable match-
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. Jun 21, 2019 #462
    agogetr

    agogetr Tele-Meister

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    oh man its awesome! and for 20 dollars i dont think seller was trying to counterfeit items for a profit.
    i would ditch the bridge cover and play it like it is. the world has enough boring 'restored' teles. you can restore it 20 years down the road if it has to be sold. it looks so cool the way it is! uber cool
     
  3. Jun 21, 2019 #463
    bender66

    bender66 Poster Extraordinaire

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    Am I missing something? I see no pics of any potentiometers.

    Or FB & win a strap. Small deal, I know... but a strap!

    I was excited that it was found & being resurrected. I'm now of the mind that the finish is a part of the appeal. I'd also leave it. Once you do a re-fin some of the history goes with it. You can "add value" later.

    Is there a chance that the pickup doesn't need a rewind? Cold joint? Broken connection somewhere?

    I'm glad you got the book. It's incredible, isn't it? You belong* in THAT club now.

    *pending ;)
     
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  4. Jun 21, 2019 #464
    Charlodius

    Charlodius Tele-Meister

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    Yes- the book is awesome! Someone said that every time they open that book they get lost in it for a couple of hours. That’s me right now!

    I swear I posted pics of the pots, but I must have done an edit and removed them. One pot has solder covering the entire date code. Also, here is a shot of what the shaft looks like.
    To my eye, the shaft looks like one out of a 53 in Nacho’s book. But he also says the blend wiring went out mid-late 53. What say you?

    I was going to hold off putting it on the log - until I verify the exact year, and get a letter of authenticity. Of course, I don’t know who could possibly give me a definitive date. I personally think that the hive mind of this forum is a better and more accurate source than any one store ( like Gruhn, Lark Street, or Carter’s). From what I’ve read, the dates were penciled on the body and the neck before the finish went on. If the pocket and the heel were not sanded, it’s possible that these dates could be found if the refin can safely be removed from those areas. I don’t know who could do that, but I sure won’t try it myself.
     

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    Last edited: Jun 21, 2019
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  5. Jun 21, 2019 #465
    Charlodius

    Charlodius Tele-Meister

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    5095FB2D-D2E6-4204-B49C-4061400D2455.jpeg My fabricated fret dot is actually a more perfect circle than the actual dots. Nothing getting glued anywhere. I wonder if I hit the dot (not the neck) with lacquer, will it shine like the others..?
     
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  6. Jun 21, 2019 #466
    Antoon

    Antoon Tele-Afflicted

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    Hm. It does not seem to fit.
     
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  7. Jun 21, 2019 #467
    Charlodius

    Charlodius Tele-Meister

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    Perhaps if I hit it with a few coats of lacquer it will. If it doesn’t look and fit 100%, I’ll have a pro do it. I thought I read that the ‘clay’ dots were actually Bakelite. I may be mistaken. They are all irregular up close. The dot in question of course, is the last one.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2019
  8. Jun 21, 2019 #468
    galaxiex

    galaxiex Tele-Afflicted

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    Well... just my personal opinion... but I'd just leave the dot out. It's part of the patina.

    Have you ever seen Keef's Micawber?

    It's missing the dot at 17, and probably will never get replaced...

    .
     
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  9. Jun 22, 2019 #469
    CHarg

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    If I were going to try to remove some of the refin in the neck pocket, I think my first thought would be to try using a Q-tip with one of the Mirror Glaze rubbing compounds, and very slowly remove as little as possible/necessary in the smallest area likely to have part of a date code under it, as shown in the Nacho book.
     
  10. Jun 22, 2019 #470
    Charlodius

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    I wouldn’t do anything until I see Gruhn, but honestly I don’t think I’d be comfortable doing that myself.
     
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  11. Jun 22, 2019 #471
    Hotburrito1

    Hotburrito1 TDPRI Member

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    you could also just fill the remaining "gap" on top and around the dot with C.A. Glue and then buff it out.
    Im used to these types of jobs however you may not be comfortable. It would be reversible if you ever needed to. A reliable guitar tech could do the process in a few hours.
     
  12. Jun 24, 2019 #472
    CHarg

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    Understandable, on both counts. I certainly wouldn't do anything permanent to it until it's been evaluated by at least one expert.
    Is there some hi-tech way of "seeing" what's under the finish, x-ray or something like that?
     
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  13. Jun 24, 2019 #473
    Stubee

    Stubee Doctor of Teleocity Gold Supporter

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    I’ve enjoyed following this cool story. Been around a ton of vintage acoustics but I’m no vintage Fender expert, so no comments on what to do etc.

    I do want ya to know that some guys, like me, like the looks of that body finish just fine and I’d like it if it just rolled outta a guitar factory yesterday. Nice dark wood showing the grain. Mmmm mmmm mmmm!
     
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  14. Jun 30, 2019 #474
    Charlodius

    Charlodius Tele-Meister

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    F2C4415E-0F67-412B-A1FC-45187A48E665.jpeg View attachment 620052
    He was in a good mood, and did tell a ton of stories. He broke out an insane early strat that had been modified to be half guitar and half mandolin by a guy who was in a country western duo with his wife. He had the promo pic of them e duo in the case that was pretty funny but cool. He pulled out the tele pickguard he sold me and said that he and a friend of his who trades in vintage gear were friends with Ceasar Diaz. He said the friend got the pickguard from ceasar in the 80s. That pickguard and a telecaster were being consigned in his store for the friend. He thought the pickguard would go great with my guitar. View attachment 620052
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2019
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  15. Jul 1, 2019 #475
    Brian J.

    Brian J. Tele-Afflicted

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    Glad you checked him out, I used to hang out around his old store in Albany as a kid and listen to the stories, then as a long haired teenage metal head, now I'm in Pa and they are in Teaneck so I don't get to hang around so much but every now and then I make the trip
     
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  16. Jul 1, 2019 #476
    bender66

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    [​IMG]
    Best pic of all!
     
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  17. Jul 1, 2019 #477
    BrowneFace

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    Thanks a lot for the kind words!

    I seldom get to check in, here, but -of course- this thread is *irresistible*!!
     
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  18. Jul 1, 2019 #478
    Fuelish

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    Been reading this thread off and on …..I'd keep it lookin' the way it does....it's a beaut
     
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  19. Jul 1, 2019 #479
    chezdeluxe

    chezdeluxe Poster Extraordinaire

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    Feeling stupid yet bro?
     
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  20. Jul 2, 2019 #480
    Rasher

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    This sort of thing has happened to me many years ago, except around the other way, when I bought a brand new 1977 Strat and the guy said I could have the '62 that was hanging there for the same money. I took the brand new one. (I was 18 at the time).
    Yes, 42 years and I'm still not over it.
    I console myself by remembering it wasn't a Nocaster or a '52 Tele

    Charlodius, I am genuinely happy for you.
     
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