[Dylanphile]

I need help figuring out exactly what my new Tele is. When I saw it on the wall, second-hand, I just thought it looked cool. Took it down and played it and knew it was something special. When I did some research, I thought it was a '72 Telecaster Custom Reissue, MIM, that was made in the last few years. Now, I'm not so sure.

The first thing that made me suspicious is that it's a natural finish, and there doesn't seem to be any info about the reissues being released in natural. When I looked for a serial number or place of manufacture on the guitar, there was nothing.

Next, when I took the guitar apart, I noticed a 1972 date on the neck end. There are also a couple of stickers inside the pickguard that have a 72 date. The only definitive "stamped" numbers are on the pots. When I entered the pot codes into the Guitar Dater project, it said that this guitar was made in 1973-4 at the Fullerton plant in California. It can't be a 73, though, because the "Custom" on the headstock is in script, not the block letter font from 73 on. Maybe it's a 72 neck and the body is a little bit older?

Anybody out there able to help me figure out exactly what I have here?!

[Dylanphile]

A few more pics:

[fender62custom]

If l had to guess it's a '72 partscaster with aftermarket electronics/pups/body/neck.

[Dylanphile]

Originally Posted by fender62custom

If l had to guess it's a '72 partscaster with aftermarket electronics/pups/body/neck.

Thanks, 62. Any idea why the stickers with the 72 dates are there or why the pot codes are coming back as early 70s Made in USA?

[ampe]

looks pretty cool!

[Poppatwang]

Post this on the TDPRI.

[Dylanphile]

Originally Posted by Poppatwang

Post this on the TDPRI.

I already have, but things are just as inconclusive over there.

[Poppatwang]

Originally Posted by Dylanphile

I already have, but things are just as inconclusive over there.

Gee whiz heck?

[nicko10_5]

All I know is I love it!

[Poppatwang]

So it's looking like a MIJ Tele with an American parts infusion?

[calvin lee]

it looks like an awesome guitar, but that little humbucker in the bridge makes me cringe. i like my tele's to twang! still, it is quite gorgeous.

[Dylanphile]

Originally Posted by calvin lee

it looks like an awesome guitar, but that little humbucker in the bridge makes me cringe. i like my tele's to twang! still, it is quite gorgeous.

Agreed, Calvin. I just ordered a Nocaster bridge pickup today to bring it back a little closer to stock. This shouldn't be a shredder.

In other news, anybody need a Hot Rails pickup, going cheap? Haha.

[DevilYouKnow]

The '70 pot codes are about right. Pot codes are not an effective way to date an instrument. All you get from is confirmation that the pots were made before the guitar. But that doesn't matter either because if you replace a pot later on, you'll have a guitar made before the pot in many circumstances. They get you in a 3 year ballpark at best.

EDIT: apparently you know of a fender specific site that will tell you the exact year of your guitar. Cool. To me, you have a '72 Tele neck on a refinished body of unknown year. Sorry not to be more help. Great looking fiddle for sure though. Enjoy!

[Dylanphile]

Originally Posted by DevilYouKnow

The '70 pot codes are about right. Pot codes are not an effective way to date an instrument. All you get from is confirmation that the pots were made before the guitar. But that doesn't matter either because if you replace a pot later on, you'll have a guitar made before the pot in many circumstances. They get you in a 3 year ballpark at best.

EDIT: apparently you know of a fender specific site that will tell you the exact year of your guitar. Cool. To me, you have a '72 Tele neck on a refinished body of unknown year. Sorry not to be more help. Great looking fiddle for sure though. Enjoy!

Thanks, Devil. I know the pot codes aren't exactly a reliable way to date a guitar, but because of the lack of other information on the guitar, they're one of the only things I have to go on to figure out when and where this guitar was made. It's a mystery machine!