Need help identifying what kind of tele I might have

[PWbenderMN]

I was recently given B bender that my dad bought used a while ago. I have looked all over the internet and I can't find anything that's really at all similar. I believe the guitar has mostly been put together from different parts of a couple models, but I am hoping someone here might be able to look at my pictures and tell me what models/years the body and neck may have come from.

Things that are not original to the guitar:
pickups
pickguard
b bender
New saddles and frets

Weird things:
The body is drilled for 5 holes. Unsure about the wiring since the pickups have been changed. It looks to me like the bridge plate did not originally have the cut in it for the bender, there are some markings around the cut that indicate it was probably custom cut for the bender. Apart from the numbers on the bridge plate, there doesn't appear to be any other serial number. There was a serial on the pickup selector when I looked at the wiring, but I didn't think to take a picture. I'm not sure whether that is relevant.
The neck is stamped with the name of a luthier I have seen on other necks from fender factories, but the date is smudged and the neck pocket doesn't look like any neck pocket I have seen.


I tried emailing with fender but they only responded once. Anyone on here ever seen a guitar like this?

 

[PWbenderMN]

Also these

 

[JustABluesGuy]

I can’t help ID it, but I would live to have a B Bender!

 

[BB]

Looks like a tribute to Clarence White. Marty Stuart owns the original now.

 

[Red Ryder]

I've heard of these things for many years, this is the first one I've seen. I have to ask, not being a wise a$$, what's the point?

 

[Resojazznblues]

It looks like somebody modded a telecaster to look like a Clarence White tribute.
The original Clarence White Telecaster:

A MIM modded Clarence White telecaster copy.

A Fender Custom Shop Clarence White Telecaster:

 

[Greggorios]

Whoever put it together did a pretty decent job. It's a cool guitar, congrats. How does it play and sound?

 

[PWbenderMN]

Hey everyone, thanks for the replies. Yep I know it looks like Clarence's guitar, I'm a big Byrds fan. As I stated in my post it did not look like that when it was bought, it had a white pickguard and no stickers. We made it look like that. I'm more curious about what model the body may have been before it was modified since the body doesn't seem to match the neck.

I believe the neck comes from a 52 avri but I could be wrong.

It plays and sounds great! Has Lollar pickups now

 

[PWbenderMN]

It looks like somebody modded a telecaster to look like a Clarence White tribute.
The original Clarence White Telecaster:
View attachment 943047
A MIM modded Clarence White telecaster copy.
View attachment 943048
A Fender Custom Shop Clarence White Telecaster:
View attachment 943049
View attachment 943050

Yeah it looks just like that, but the neck doesn't have that custom shop logo on the headstock

 

[Resojazznblues]

Yeah it looks just like that, but the neck doesn't have that custom shop logo on the headstock

True. But that is ok. The original and the Made In Mexico pictured below it don't have the custom shop logo either.

 

[Telekarster]

Darn.... wish I could help you but I'm at a loss, but man what a flippin' cool gift!!! Take Dad out for a big ol Porterhouse

 

[boris bubbanov]

The images seem to cover up the kinds of details I might need, to tell you what you started with.

I'm thinking, the body isn't Fender at all. As for the neck, I need to see the whole thing (all views).

If I was making a White reproduction, I'd probably use aftermarket parts - but I would leave the "Fender" label off of there. A good Clarence White fan will (IMO) be able to enjoy it for the good feelings it is sure to bring (with no headstock brand image).

 

[PWbenderMN]

The images seem to cover up the kinds of details I might need, to tell you what you started with.

I'm thinking, the body isn't Fender at all. As for the neck, I need to see the whole thing (all views).

If I was making a White reproduction, I'd probably use aftermarket parts - but I would leave the "Fender" label off of there. A good Clarence White fan will (IMO) be able to enjoy it for the good feelings it is sure to bring (with no headstock brand image).

Here's the thing. I didn't ask what your opinion about what a good Clarence white fan is. You have nothing to say that helps me, so why post a reply? There's plenty of pictures. If the details you need are missing from what I've posted, then you can't help me.

At no point in my post did I say that I would enjoy the guitar more if I knew it was genuine. I am at most curious, and have no interest in ever parting with it. The guitar is to me, priceless.

I'll be sure to get out my sandpaper and get off any remnants of anything fender, can't risk anyone else thinking I don't really like Clarence.

 

[PWbenderMN]

Darn.... wish I could help you but I'm at a loss, but man what a flippin' cool gift!!! Take Dad out for a big ol Porterhouse

Definitely need to do that!

 

[PWbenderMN]

True. But that is ok. The original and the Made In Mexico pictured below it don't have the custom shop logo either.

True, I'm thrilled just to have something so unique!

 

[JBryantfan]

I've heard of these things for many years, this is the first one I've seen. I have to ask, not being a wise a$$, what's the point?

It's a specialty type guitar, would like to hear what it can do. Worked for Clarence not sure
if I'm good enough to use one. He was an amazing player.
Wondering if it sounds like a pedal steel, it would be great to get those tones.
Only one I know who seems to do it is Junior Brown

 

[Sax-son]

Yeah! It definitely looks like someone's take on the Clarence White Telecaster now owned by Marty Stuart. Looks like it has the Parsons-White B bender unit installed. Has some of the simulated decals, but not the Strat neck pickup. Also, no Plymouth Satellite trim emblem.

 

[PWbenderMN]

It's a specialty type guitar, would like to hear what it can do. Worked for Clarence not sure
if I'm good enough to use one. He was an amazing player.
Wondering if it sounds like a pedal steel, it would be great to get those tones.
Only one I know who seems to do it is Junior Brown

Yeah man! You can definitely get those pedal steel licks, that's the sweet spot on this guitar. I like it on the bridge p (Lollar 52) and I have a little black star ht5 that breaks up really nice.

Ive been learning by playing along with Clarence and Bob Warford records. There's a couple Linda Ronstadt records with Bobby Warford playing b bender, he built his bender out of Clarence's spare tele, another 50s but this one was white. Also Marty Stuart, diamond Rio, the Sadie's, and obviously all the Byrds live albums in the 70s have really good bender if you're interested in finding more stuff to listen to!

 

[JBryantfan]

If anyone here has heard The Night Ryder by Jimmy Bryant/Speedy West I've wondered if it was
ever possible to use a guitar like this to add the Pedal Steel parts in an arrangement to sound like
Speedy as well as Jimmy.
Maybe its wishful thinking or asking the impossible even with a B Bender. I've never
actually played one and saw one recently but didn't get to try it.

 

[Ghostdriver]

It's a specialty type guitar, would like to hear what it can do. Worked for Clarence not sure
if I'm good enough to use one. He was an amazing player.
Wondering if it sounds like a pedal steel, it would be great to get those tones.
Only one I know who seems to do it is Junior Brown

I think Junior Brown uses this hybrid Tele lap steel, never seen him with a B-bender Tele, but i may be wrong, love me a bit of Jnr Brown though