|
Post by deltone on Jun 25, 2007 19:28:20 GMT -7
I ran across a Custom '62 Vintage Tele at a local pawn shop today. Really purty (red w/ white binding/guard) in great cosmetic condition. How do I know if it is American or Japanese made? The serial # on the chrome plate on the back is V+six digits. There's no MIJ sticker on the base of the neck as I've seen before on MIJ's but I guess it could have been removed. The setup was horrible and the strings are old so it was hard to really get a good feel for it. It seemed to have a problem with the neck p'up. With the volume wide open, when I changed from the bridge to the neck it was like taking the volume down from 10 to 1; it was pretty much non-existent. The bridge p'up had a lot of volume and that great tele spank. Hard to tell but it appears they're both original. So, how can I determine the make, and what's the possible problem with the neck p'up? Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
Post by dgabbear on Jun 26, 2007 16:01:27 GMT -7
Pretty much all of the MIJ/CIJ guitars I have seen have been stamped Made In Japan/Crafted IN Japan on the neck heel as you have mentioned. The only other way to determine if it is MIJ/CIJ is to remove the neck and inspect the neck pocket and the portion of the neck that fits in the neck pocket. The Japanese equivalent to the model (if it is Japanese) you have described above is stamped TL62B. If you see TL62B stamped anywhere on the portion of the neck that fits in the pocket or the the neck pocket on the body, it is Japanese. The current Japanese model 62 Tele's have Texas Tele Pickups in them and therefore the pickups might be labeled with the Fender Custom shop stickers. My MIJ/CIJ Tele's never had serial numbers stamped on the neck plates. Looking at similar USA guitars on Ebay, the V+6 digits stamped on the neck plate leads me to believe it is the American version. As far as the electronics go, it sounds like it could very well be a bad 3 way switch. I have had problem similar to that. You could always go to the Fender website in the "RESOURCES" portion or do a search online of Fender serial numbers. How much do they want for the guitar? The Fender Japan stuff is very cool, especially the reissue Teles and Strats. Fender has totally missed the boat on offering cool stuff like that to folks like me that can't afford the CUSTOM SHOP stuff. Good luck
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Jun 26, 2007 16:24:39 GMT -7
I ran across a Custom '62 Vintage Tele at a local pawn shop today. Really purty (red w/ white binding/guard) in great cosmetic condition. How do I know if it is American or Japanese made? The serial # on the chrome plate on the back is V+six digits. There's no MIJ sticker on the base of the neck as I've seen before on MIJ's but I guess it could have been removed. The setup was horrible and the strings are old so it was hard to really get a good feel for it. It seemed to have a problem with the neck p'up. With the volume wide open, when I changed from the bridge to the neck it was like taking the volume down from 10 to 1; it was pretty much non-existent. The bridge p'up had a lot of volume and that great tele spank. Hard to tell but it appears they're both original. So, how can I determine the make, and what's the possible problem with the neck p'up? Thanks in advance. Should be USA with the V+ serial. If you don't buy it please PM me the Shop contact info and I'll see what I can work out with them. Thanks, Curt
|
|
|
Post by tele1962 on Jun 26, 2007 20:17:06 GMT -7
It could be a steal IF it is a Japanese model! The Japanese Customs are great. Those with proper PU's are scary good when set up right, and that's not a big deal! The only ones maybe better would be Custom Shop, not the American Vintage Re-issue, which are no better than the CIJ's save for electronics. Maybe you can't loose either way?
|
|
|
Post by deltone on Jun 26, 2007 21:56:44 GMT -7
Hey, thanks for all the info. From what y'all have said it appears it's probably an Am Vintage. They're currently asking $650 for it. I'm kind of gassin' for it but I'm not sure right now how I can swing it. I just had to buy a new laptop Monday for my daughter to take to college in the fall and $1200 to the dentist on the same day. They will do layaway, though. I've googled/ebayed for one just like it but I haven't found one yet, at least not in red thin skin. Most of the one's I've seen are around $1300. Curt, I'll holler if I decide I can't do it.
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Jun 27, 2007 1:43:14 GMT -7
I would be extra suspicous of anything in a pawn shop these days.
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Jun 27, 2007 18:27:58 GMT -7
The double bindings is puuuurty.
|
|
|
Post by deltone on Jun 28, 2007 11:01:45 GMT -7
+1 on the double bindings. What I read is that the double binding is the reason they call them "Custom," as opposed to being made at the Custom Shop.
|
|
|
Post by tele1962 on Jun 28, 2007 15:35:52 GMT -7
Well yea! They came out in the very early 60's, long before Custom Shop was neccessary or even a gleam in anyone's eye!
|
|
|
Post by skydog958 on Jun 28, 2007 19:22:13 GMT -7
I LOVE double bound teles...
|
|
|
Post by deltone on Jun 28, 2007 21:17:12 GMT -7
Well yea! They came out in the very early 60's, long before Custom Shop was neccessary or even a gleam in anyone's eye! What I was trying to relay (but miserably failed at) is that this particular guitar, which I'm guessin' is maybe 10 yrs old, is a Custom because of the double binding only, and that it's not a RI or relic from the Custom Shop.
|
|