Real or fake? 72 Telecaster

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Reg18
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Real or fake? 72 Telecaster

Post by Reg18 »

Someone selling this is claiming it’s an original 73 Telecaster.
Doesn’t look right to me, Tuners, black guard with rosewood board? I don’t have any higher resolution photos to go on though.
Any thoughts from the group?
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Last edited by Reg18 on Thu Dec 22, 2022 1:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: Real or fake?

Post by Reg18 »

Some more pics, now I’ve seen these maybe?
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Re: Real or fake?

Post by bender »

The original mounting holes for the tuners, the saddles, and the wear/discolouration look about right. It’s a rad looking guitar. Wonky tuner is a shame, but you could always replace them with some more authentic repros

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by NippleWrestler »

The serial should be on the neck plate, and there's always the neck heel and pot codes to go off for date verification.

I like the double nut combo. That's novel.

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Re: Real or fake?

Post by robthemac »

Finish looks appropriately gross.
Jops wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:46 am Spring is the comic sans of reverbs anyway.

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by Reg18 »

Serial is on neck plate 378203.
Says he’s owned it for at least 20 years.
It’s a classified listing in a local paper, not FB or online anywhere so might be legit?

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by NippleWrestler »

Reg18 wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:25 am Serial is on neck plate 378203.
Says he’s owned it for at least 20 years.
It’s a classified listing in a local paper, not FB or online anywhere so might be legit?
Serial checks out, both number and location.

It looks suitably covered in schmutz. No obvious red flags from where I'm sitting but it's not my money. What are they asking? It's probably a $4k-5k guitar if Reverb is to be trusted.

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by Reg18 »

NippleWrestler wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:42 am
Reg18 wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:25 am Serial is on neck plate 378203.
Says he’s owned it for at least 20 years.
It’s a classified listing in a local paper, not FB or online anywhere so might be legit?
Serial checks out, both number and location.

It looks suitably covered in schmutz. No obvious red flags from where I'm sitting but it's not my money. What are they asking? It's probably a $4k-5k guitar if Reverb is to be trusted.
Well it’s significantly less than that but it isn’t immaculate. doesn’t have a case, he says the switch might need replacing as it doesn’t work when you switch it one way, (could be a broken pickup)
I’ll check it out in person today, he did do some googling so
Knows roughly what it’s worth but he’s asking significantly less than that due to condition according to him.

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by foal30 »

Reg18 wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 7:25 am Serial is on neck plate 378203.
Says he’s owned it for at least 20 years.
It’s a classified listing in a local paper, not FB or online anywhere so might be legit?
You should have a look in person. Could be a nice guitar and a good investment.
Genuine Old Frontier Gibberish

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by NippleWrestler »

That condition is totally what I'd expect given the age. It just needs a good clean and some TLC which is easy enough. As long as the truss rod still functions etc I think it's a good buy. Those old single actions can go soft after decades on the job. Was it refretted? They look wider than I'm used to seeing on 70s teles.

I've got an Oak Grigsby 3 way switch coming out of my tele soon if you need one, I'm just waiting on a new pickguard before I rewire the whole thing.

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by clubhouse »

When did CBS switch to a micro-tilt, 3 screw neck plate/joint?

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by Reg18 »

Anyone see any red flags before I go view?

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by NippleWrestler »

Just 1.

Why is there a pumpkin on the stairs?

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by bender »

Reg18 wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 10:07 am Anyone see any red flags before I go view?
Actually, on closer inspection, the saddles don't look quite right- they look like aftermarket brass saddles where I think the originals would be steel with string grooves. Probably best to ask to remove the neck so you can check the date stamps, but it looks fairly legit (if a bit molested) from what little I can see in the photos.

I'd hazard a guess that it's been played pretty hard (hence the refret - usually a sign that it's a good player), and had a fair number of bits swapped out (tuners, pick guard, saddles at least), so has a good chance of making a rad player's grade vintage instrument. I don't think it'll ever be super collectible though.

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Re: Real or fake? 73 Telecaster

Post by Jay »

Reg18 wrote: Fri Dec 02, 2022 10:07 am Anyone see any red flags before I go view?
Why would you sell that off the Web unless you have something to hide.....

Don't take any money with you znd let the Mrs know where you have gone.

That's all :wink:
When faced with quality, I recognise it every time.

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