Randy Stodola's 1968 Telecaster

[Sax-son]

and streets of San Francisco due to the housing situation and economy..... and I don't know how true it is.. but people just leave their excrements outside there ...as well... if that is true.. then No ......I would Not want to probably go there.....

They used to call San Francisco the "Paris of the West Coast". Not anymore! The problems there have stemmed from a lot of different reasons, but I would argue the worst contributor is Silicone Valley. When housing costs exceed a couple million dollars each, it prices out your service sector that makes the city run. In addition, a lot of the housing sits empty because millionaires and billionaires have bought up the whole city and is just sitting on the property. The San Francisco middle class has pretty much moved out. It's definitely a strange situation. Los Angeles has similar problems, but not anything like San Francisco.

 

[Drowned Rabbit]

Just radiates coolness. That’s what the old timers call, “the Real Deal”

Just wanted to do an appreciation post of sorts for this guitar. I doubt many guitars have been through the wringer like this one has, owned by Randy Stodola of the Alley Cats. One of the best sounding Teles I've ever heard. I'm attaching a few pictures of its recent condition as well as one taken from a live show in the late 1970s when it still had most of its finish. Date-wise I'm guessing it's a '68 based on the laminated maple board, CBS logo, hardware, and finish, but I could be wrong. I believe he bought it in the early 1970s and it was "already old" by then, so must have been used hard from the get-go.

View attachment 1074863 View attachment 1074864 View attachment 1074865

 

[Drowned Rabbit]

I lived there for nearly 2 decades until recently. Great city ruined by things I won’t mention because they have nothing to do with Teles. But, yeah, tragic is the word

I heard that there are a lot of homeless people sleeping in the walk ways.. and streets of San Francisco due to the housing situation and economy..... and I don't know how true it is.. but people just leave their excrements outside there ...as well... if that is true.. then No ......I would Not want to probably go there.....

 

[TheZ]

These are a few of the photos I was mentioning earlier in the thread that I am curious about. Based on the number on the plate, that makes me think the body is from late '65 and the neck is from 1968 or so. Looks to have threaded saddles as well.

 

[Drowned Rabbit]

Here’s my ‘68 Tele. It’s a refin and not as cool as yours but, those later ‘60s Fenders are underrated

Just wanted to do an appreciation post of sorts for this guitar. I doubt many guitars have been through the wringer like this one has, owned by Randy Stodola of the Alley Cats. One of the best sounding Teles I've ever heard. I'm attaching a few pictures of its recent condition as well as one taken from a live show in the late 1970s when it still had most of its finish. Date-wise I'm guessing it's a '68 based on the laminated maple board, CBS logo, hardware, and finish, but I could be wrong. I believe he bought it in the early 1970s and it was "already old" by then, so must have been used hard from the get-go.

View attachment 1074863 View attachment 1074864 View attachment 1074865

 

[Drowned Rabbit]

NEVER SELL THAT!!! Believe me, you’ll regret it. Coolest guitar I’ve seen in awhile. Congrats!

These are a few of the photos I was mentioning earlier in the thread that I am curious about. Based on the number on the plate, that makes me think the body is from late '65 and the neck is from 1968 or so. Looks to have threaded saddles as well. View attachment 1092645 View attachment 1092647

 

[TheZ]

NEVER SELL THAT!!! Believe me, you’ll regret it. Coolest guitar I’ve seen in awhile. Congrats!

This is Randy's guitar, I am just a fan.

 

[Robert H.]

They used to call San Francisco the "Paris of the West Coast". Not anymore! The problems there have stemmed from a lot of different reasons, but I would argue the worst contributor is Silicone Valley. When housing costs exceed a couple million dollars each, it prices out your service sector that makes the city run. In addition, a lot of the housing sits empty because millionaires and billionaires have bought up the whole city and is just sitting on the property. The San Francisco middle class has pretty much moved out. It's definitely a strange situation. Los Angeles has similar problems, but not anything like San Francisco.

I’ve lived in the Haight for 44 years. There’s a lot of BS put out there about this City. Whatever. Yes there is homelessness in spots. Yes it is somewhat worse now than 15 years ago. But it’s been an issue long before the screamers and slammers jumped on this crap. And yes, housing costs are a real issue due to the tech boom which, btw, most metro areas would kill for. Slam away.

 

[Sax-son]

I’ve lived in the Haight for 44 years. There’s a lot of BS put out there about this City. Whatever. Yes there is homelessness in spots. Yes it is somewhat worse now than 15 years ago. But it’s been an issue long before the screamers and slammers jumped on this crap. And yes, housing costs are a real issue due to the tech boom which, btw, most metro areas would kill for. Slam away.

Sorry bro! Your feelings about your city are as valid as anyone's. However, it's not like I or others have never been there, and I remember when that city was "awesome" and that's going back years further than your 44 years in the Haight, believe me. I also remember when LA was awesome, but a different kind from that of San Francisco.

When you have countless people sleeping on city sidewalks in residential neighborhoods, I don't exactly consider that the "glory" days of yesteryear. It was never anything that I have ever experienced in the past and there has to be someone or something to blame for it. In addition, much of what I have been hearing lately comes from conversations with former residents from SF who have moved to where I live now. I do not take pleasure in slamming a city that I once revered, but I unfortunately have to consider it a sad travesty.

This is the end of my diversion into this topic and it's back to Randy's guitar.

 

[thunderbyrd]

"inmate of the month county jail" - now there's a decal.

 

[naneek]

I’ve lived in the Haight for 44 years. There’s a lot of BS put out there about this City. Whatever. Yes there is homelessness in spots. Yes it is somewhat worse now than 15 years ago. But it’s been an issue long before the screamers and slammers jumped on this crap. And yes, housing costs are a real issue due to the tech boom which, btw, most metro areas would kill for. Slam away.

the truth is that the culture and diversity of the city has been gutted by the ultra wealthy. both the tech industry and the people it brought to the city.

The people and places that made SF unique and a joy to live in are being pushed out and demolished. The culturally unique local art and music is gone, it's being pushed out to oakland or much further away.

As saxson said, the middle class is gone. I would know, I left when it did.
And as for real estate costs, the tech boom effect on housing prices is also destroying and demolishing the city's historical victorian architecture. The market and its consumers favor new construction or gutted facades with modern luxury features and no historical value.

SF was a special place with a unique history and distinct local culture. but the people who have the wealth and power over it now prefer to standardize and comoditize it for consumption.

 

[Sax-son]

the truth is that the culture and diversity of the city has been gutted by the ultra wealthy. both the tech industry and the people it brought to the city.

The people and places that made SF unique and a joy to live in are being pushed out and demolished. The culturally unique local art and music is gone, it's being pushed out to oakland or much further away.

As saxson said, the middle class is gone. I would know, I left when it did.
And as for real estate costs, the tech boom effect on housing prices is also destroying and demolishing the city's historical victorian architecture. The market and its consumers favor new construction or gutted facades with modern luxury features and no historical value.

SF was a special place with a unique history and distinct local culture. but the people who have the wealth and power over it now prefer to standardize and comoditize it for consumption.

Very well expressed and nothing more that I can add to it.

 

[skydog6653]

Here’s my ‘68 Tele. It’s a refin and not as cool as yours but, those later ‘60s Fenders are underrated

i could never play a guitar that looked like that!

 

[Wheelhouse]

i could never play a guitar that looked like that!

I could never play a guitar that looked like Randy's! Gross! Clean that thing!