New 1960 Telecaster owner

[Plarchetele]

Ok then, I guess it’s not early ‘60. My guess is that they had some five hole lefty guards left over when your guitar was assembled. Great looking tele. Just for reference, here’s mine…..

Gorgeous. I just need that amp now!

 

[fernieite]

Wow, congrats! That's a rare guitar, being a lefty. Fantastic condition for a '61 too!

 

[Antoon]

A microphonic bridge pickup is in 90% of the cases a loose baseplate. Easy to fix with a few drops of wax and a hair dryer.

 

[Antoon]

The 5 screw pickguard intrigues me. Is that because it is lefthanded? The right handed model switched to 8 screw guards two years earlier. Those lefthanded models also have this weird upsidedown bridge plate. Very cool guitar

 

[brookdalebill]

Ultra cool!
Congratulations!

 

[Geoff738]

Nice!

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Willie Johnson]

Ok then, I guess it’s not early ‘60. My guess is that they had some five hole lefty guards left over when your guitar was assembled. Great looking tele. Just for reference, here’s mine…..

Ooof, what a rig.

 

[pbenn]

Teles went steel slugs in '55, I believe, with the threaded stock appearing a couple of years later?
Neat guitar.
If you decide on a rewind and the big shops are too backlogged, 12th fret is doing rewinds but I have no actual knowledge of how they are.

Speaking of backlogs... Walmart dot ca is carrying a full page of medium quality luthier tools now.

 

[Plarchetele]

A microphonic bridge pickup is in 90% of the cases a loose baseplate. Easy to fix with a few drops of wax and a hair dryer.

Thanks Antoon,

So I assume you take the baseplate off, melt a few drops of wax and put it back on?

 

[Plarchetele]

The 5 screw pickguard intrigues me. Is that because it is lefthanded? The right handed model switched to 8 screw guards two years earlier. Those lefthanded models also have this weird upsidedown bridge plate. Very cool guitar

I honestly don't know why it only has the 5 screws, but likely because they did lefty's in such small quantities, they didn't get around to updating the specs on it.

 

[Plarchetele]

Teles went steel slugs in '55, I believe, with the threaded stock appearing a couple of years later?
Neat guitar.
If you decide on a rewind and the big shops are too backlogged, 12th fret is doing rewinds but I have no actual knowledge of how they are.

Speaking of backlogs... Walmart dot ca is carrying a full page of medium quality luthier tools now.

Thanks for the tip. Not too many Canadian shops that specialize in vintage gear. I really like the sound of the pickup and will likely leave it as it is for now until it gets unmanageable. I'll likely try securing the pickup baseplate with wax as suggested.

 

[Kurbmaster]

Yeah Fender went steel just not sure when

1954 had plain unthreaded steel saddles.

 

[milocj]

Thanks Antoon,

So I assume you take the baseplate off, melt a few drops of wax and put it back on?

You don't even actually have to go that far. There's a ground wire that is soldered to the baseplate and you can gently lift one end of the plate enough to get a drop or two of wax in between. I found some beeswax at the local craft store that come in what are basically "drops" and it works great. Some gentle heat with a hair dryer and your done.

 

[Antoon]

Thanks Antoon,

So I assume you take the baseplate off, melt a few drops of wax and put it back on?

Yes that is basically it.

 

[blue metalflake]

Congratulations

 

[msalama]

Congrats mate, that's a lovely old Tele! As is Barham's too, it has to be mentioned...

 

[d barham]

Congrats mate, that's a lovely old Tele! As is Barham's too, it has to be mentioned...

Aw shucks, you didn’t have to. I always hesitate to post a photo of my guitar in someone else’s NGD thread. The OP’s ‘60 lefty is the real rare bird here. And, it’s a beauty.

 

[msalama]

Huh? Of course I feekin' had to, because yours is lovely too But anyways a happy NGD to Plarchetele, because that one's a corker!

 

[Southlaw 68]

From one southpaw to another, CONGRATS!!!! This is a very special tele, because it is now yours. Play the heck out of it and enjoy. And just in case you get sick of it.......

 

[Lefty Addams]

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Lovely lefty, nice one!