James Burton Standard Tele

I would say that it would be a good buy- new on line is around 800-900 so I would go for it if you like it.

 

I bought one a few years ago...........

for $500 which was a very pretty pearl white like finish and had three lace sensor type pickups. I was going to make a B-Bender guitar out of it but within a few days of getting the guitar I was offered $850 cash for it so I took the money and ran....... Thinking back, I wish I'd kept the guitar and kept it stock. The guy I sold it to is still playing it and it sounds great.......JH in va.

 

I have owned both and would take the Burton every single time. To each his own, however. I think the neck on the JB is simply magical and the stock pickups are far superior to the stock Nashville. That being said the Nashville is a good, versatile guitar. It's a very subjective thing in the end.

 

I'd be all over it for $400 if just in decent shape.

 

Vintage inspired specs, substantial neck, jumbo frets, Texas specials, and affiliation with a twang legend? Sounds like a winner to me. Heard nothing but good things about the Burton model on this forum.

 

Where are you in Ontario ?
I live Toronto and the only one I've ever seen is the I bought. They are a great guitar and hard to find .

 

To fund something that is long forgotten. It was a rare moment of insanity. Biggest gear mistake ever in retrospect.

 

N6 is 1996, My JB Tele is N5 1995.

As best I can tell the specs have not changed on this model. Yours and mine are the same as the new guitars.

 

I'm not really following how you are surprised at the age of the guitar if he communicated it had been in the closet for 17 years? Many times people boast about a closet find like that.

 

It isn't an old guitar

Some of the artist models had the N6 as does mine

It came from the factory to the store new that way. I bought it a day after it arrived from the factory

 

I believe and I think others here agree the OP bought a great guitar for a good price. I own the same model and it's a keeper for me.

Now to the age. The OP learned the guitar was purchased new and kept in a closet for 17 years so I'm not sure why the idea that it was manufactured recently.

The Fender website has a page defining their serial number markings, it's posted below. They even make specific reference to the signature models as MSN. Mine is an MSN5 and is consistent with what my seller told me about the age of the guitar. The OP guitar is marked N6 and even Ma & Pa Kettle would add that as 1996 + 17 = 2013.

I don't know when a guitar stops being a new guitar if it's never been played. To me OP purchased a closet queen. It appears in brand new condition but it is 17 years old.

DATING YOUR MEXICAN-MADE FENDER INSTRUMENT
Fender began producing instruments in its Ensenada, Mexico, factory in 1990. Instruments made between 1990 and 2000 carry “MN” prefix serial numbers, with the “M” designating Mexico and the “N” designating the 1990s.

The numbers for each year typically overlap, as there is always a transitional period between successive years and as necks that are made and serial numbered late in any given year are used on instruments assembled in the early months of the following year.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES
MN0 + 5 or 6 digits 1990-1991
MN1 + 5 or 6 digits 1991-1992
MN2 + 5 or 6 digits 1992-1993
MN3 + 5 or 6 digits 1993-1994
MN4 + 5 or 6 digits 1994-1995
MN5 + 5 or 6 digits 1995-1996
MN6 + 5 or 6 digits 1996-1997
MN7 + 5 or 6 digits 1997-1998
MN8 + 5 or 6 digits 1998-1999
MN9 + 5 or 6 digits 1999-2000
At the end of 1999, the serial numbers transitioned from an “MN” prefix to an “MZ” prefix with the “M” designating Mexico and the “Z” designating the 2000s.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES
MZ0 + 5 or 6 digits 2000-2001
MZ1 + 5 or 6 digits 2001-2002
MZ2 + 5 or 6 digits 2002-2003
MZ3 + 5 or 6 digits 2003-2004
MZ4 + 5 or 6 digits 2004-2005
MZ5 + 5 or 6 digits 2005-2006
MZ6 + 5 or 6 digits 2006-2007
MZ7 + 5 or 6 digits 2007-2008
MZ8 + 5 or 6 digits 2008-2009
MZ9 + 5 or 6 digits 2009-2010

A new serial-numbering scheme was adopted toward the end of 2009 using the number “10” as a prefix, followed by a space, followed by seven digits. The “10” prefix was designed to identify the first year of the second decade of the new millennium, and while it appears on the instrument decals, it was not captured in Fender’s operating system. Only the seven-digit suffixes were actually entered into the database. These serial numbers did not identify the country of origin in the body of the number. Instead, the instrument’s country of origin appears on the decal on the back of the headstock, near the serial number.

This new numbering scheme was short-lived and was replaced only a few months later by an improved scheme that identifies an instrument’s country of origin and year of manufacture in the body of the serial number.

This new scheme uses the letters “MX” as a prefix to designate an instrument made in Mexico, followed by an eight-digit number. The first two digits of the number identify the year of manufacture, (10 for 2010, 11 for 2011, etc.). The following six digits are the unit identifier, although it should be noted that these final six numbers are not sequential and do not provide any other identification information about the instrument. This new scheme is now used on the majority of Fender instruments made in Mexico, with certain exceptions.

SERIAL NUMBERS PRODUCTION DATES
“10” prefix followed by a space and eight digits
Late 2009 through approximately March 2010
MX10 + 6 digits 2010-2011
MX11 + 6 digits 2011-2012

EXCEPTIONS

The Jim Root Telecaster, James Burton Standard Telecaster, Buddy Guy Stratocaster (polka dot model), Robert Cray Stratocaster and Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster use an “MSN” serial number prefix. Note: in October 2010, some artist models switched to the new “MX10” numbering scheme.

The Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster and Duff McKagan P Bass use an “MSZ” serial number prefix.

The Reggie Hamilton and Frank Bello Jazz basses used an “MX” serial number prefix before the 2010 change.

California Series electric guitars and basses from 1997 and 1998 use an “AMXN” prefix and share U.S./Mexico origin.