Genuine Fender?

Epsilon

Morning all,

Interested in a Fender Telecaster being sold locally. The seller doesn't seem to know much about it but I thought I'd draw on the collective wisdom of the forums.

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/4UkAAOSwdeVdLFDj/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/XpsAAOSwnMRdLFC7/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/YeIAAOSwZoBdLFDS/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

The pictures aren't great quality - I've requested more.

A few things to note:

- Headstock decal placement -  a little high?
- Two string trees and odd placement of string trees
- Non-slotted machine heads
- Truss rod hole missing plug?

I know the 70s weren't known for consistency, but interested to hear any thoughts. My initial reaction was that its counterfeit.

Thanks in advance

terada

What is it being advertised as?

stickyfiddle

Could be a genuine 70's that's lost its truss rod "bullet". That would have 2 trees and no walnut plug around the truss rod hole. But the string trees on those are usually closer together. If not a bullet-truss-without-bullet then the lack of walnut plug or collar is a dead giveaway for a fake.

A 70's Tele wouldn't have originally had pickup adjustment screws through the pickguard either. I wouldn't be buying without a lot more info.

gavin_axecaster

The transition at the bottom of the heel is too rounded for a genuine Fender neck.

ICBM

The decal appears to be over the finish not under which is wrong for that type of logo, the string tree positions are wrong, the 12th-fret dot spacing is wrong for any 70s Fender, the pickguard placement on the body (especially lower horn) is wrong, the knobs and control plate look cheap, and the truss rod access looks like a Chinese Squier not like a missing bullet.

And the finish is an obvious 'relic', which although it wouldn't rule out a refinished original guitar, in combination with the other stuff it makes it pretty much a certainty.

Fake.

Epsilon

Thanks everyone, as I suspected. I'll give it a wide berth.

Funkfingers

Control knobs should be flat topped.

Bridge plate should have Fender stamped into it, perpendicular to the strings, close to the D/G saddle.

Images of the back of the headstock and the machinehead gear casings might provide clues to the original guitar brand.

On Fender guitars of that period, the headstock face was still sprayed in nitro-cellulose. It has a characteristic way of crazing and discolouring. Removing the string guides and, in the case of this fake guitar, the machinehead washers will expose the clear finish in its original colour.

sweepy

Look at the spacing of the 12th fret dot markers, dead giveaway 

lovestrat74

Nope

Funkfingers

gavin_axecaster said:

The transition at the bottom of the heel is too rounded for a genuine Fender neck.

Probably a Korean copy. Ironically, it might have been worth more money with its original decals still in situ.

There seems to be an endless supply of people who regret selling their first guitar who, then, purchase another example of the same model for sentimental reasons.

Philly_Q

And no skunk stripe on the neck?