NZGuitars.com

Hi all, long-time lurker, first time poster.

I have been lucky enough to acquire an interesting Telecaster over the past month. Unfortunately I don't know much about it, and was wondering if anyone recognized it. I bought it from the Rockshop who were honest in saying that they had no idea what it was, so sold it at a very reasonable price. I didn't go in there looking for s vintage guitar, but it kicked the ass of all the other Teles in the store (even the Custom Shops).

The guys at the Rockshop believe it's a late 1960s Tele body with a early 1980s Bullet neck. As far as they were aware, everything else is original. I've taken it apart, and it certainly has new pots (preventing me from dating it that way). The pickups and pickguard look original. The neck plate has been replaced, and the body has been refinished at some stage (covering where I would expect the serial number in the neck heel to be).

It is a bit of a partscaster, but purchased for how it plays (like butter) and sounds (like Jeff Buckley), not for any historical or investment purposes.

It's a distinctive bit of gear, and I'd really love to hear if anyone has seen this instrument before. I'm trying to put its life story together, but the trail has run cold. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Photos coming as soon as I work out how to downsize them...

Looking forward to the pics. FWIW, the serial number on an old one would have never been written in the neck pocket. Only the neck plate or (if it's real old ) the bridge. Let's see these pics!

Everything else is original to what? Not much sounds original to anything. Nice if some bits are super old.
Appreciate pics are being sorted. Maybe add a few of the bodies internals and neck pocket.
Also a number of the neck and any identifiers

Apparently the limit is 100kb per image, so apologies for the poor quality.

The trial I have so far is that it was purchased from TradeMe by a collector here in NZ, and was advertised as a 1968 Tele, refinished, with a Bullet neck. This collector sold it to the Rockshop who sold it to me. I'm trying to find out who sold it on TradeMe to hopefully follow the trail further.

If you know what you're doing I'd pop the neck off and get photos of the neck pocket and the back of the neck. There should be some markings there that will provide more info.

*edit* Sorry just saw the refinish covers the neck pocket!

robthemac wrote:Apparently the limit is 100kb per image, so apologies for the poor quality.

To embed images jump on here to upload your photos https://imgur.com
Then click "Get share links" and choose BBCode and copy it into your post here.
Keeps the mods happy and allows proper photo quality

I don't care where it comes from or what age it is, I want it that is so nice ! I need a Tele back in my life, just may be a while before I get some cash again.

sizzlingbadger wrote:I don't care where it comes from or what age it is, I want it that is so nice ! I need a Tele back in my life, just may be a while before I get some cash again.

Doesn't sound half-bad either. This is straight through Bias FX2

Can you pop the pickguard off and show a pic of the routing? I know the collector who had the guitar before and I've played the guitar also. I can get hold of him and see if he can shed some more light on it.

If it plays good and sounds good, then it is good. Might not be more to it than that!

smallface wrote:Can you pop the pickguard off and show a pic of the routing? I know the collector who had the guitar before and I've played the guitar also. I can get hold of him and see if he can shed some more light on it.

Thanks, thought someone might recognize it! I've tried to contact him. Through a mutual friend, but haven't heard back yet.

GrantB wrote:If it plays good and sounds good, then it is good. Might not be more to it than that!

I could be told it's a 2005 Aria and that wouldn't change the fact that it plays and sounds great, and my money would still be well spent for the joy it has brought me. But I would like to know its story!

I reckon those old bullet parts were X US 70s Fender parts shipped to japan