1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

[GLJazz]

Hey guys,

I happened across a guy with a 1983 honey blonde tele USA for sale in my town....

The Good:
-Price - $350-400
-Beautiful
-Original Hardshell
-Plays Nice
-neck in good shape

Bad:
-Electronics totally replaced to an unknown SSH configuration, but the bridge looks and sounds suspiciously like an Air Classic
-Original tremolo removed and replaced with Kahler, at some point before that it had a full tailpiece with screw holes visible on the top.
-Normal wear and tear for a 1983 which could go either way for me

Yes, yes, i know the important thing is that it place well. Don't like the neck as much as some fenders and i dont necessarily have the cash to spend, but it DOES do the tele sound still and sounds very good with the swap.

Problem is, I've found out first hand what modifications can do to a valuable guitar, even if professionally done and reversible which is not the case here. My head is just still spinning about a sub-$500 USA tele.

Pics:

 

[Will S-T]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

$350............GRAB IT!!

That's less than $400 Australian, and I could turn her over for at least $900+ AUD!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Well, an 83 Tele is not now and will never likely be a really valueable guitar plus it has been cut up but as a player it's likely worth 350 if you dig the tone and feel!

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

I dig it but to each their own I guess...

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

$350............grab it!!

+1!

 

[astrozombie]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Well that's a really unusual looking telecaster pickguard. I'd probably pick it up myself.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Maybe it belonged to a Steve Morse wannabe?
So many nice guitar didn't survive the 80's because "hot rodding your axe" was a big fad back then.
If the trem was installed right and it works, I suppose $350 is fair for a hard rockin' USA Tele.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

if its a local sale, go and play it, inspect it etc first before handing over any cash.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Maybe it belonged to a Steve Morse wannabe?

Nope, it wasn't mine....

That pickguard actually looks like a G &L ASAT guard.

 

[jimlp]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Well, an 83 Tele is not now and will never likely be a really valueable guitar plus it has been cut up but as a player it's likely worth 350 if you dig the tone and feel!

That's what they said about the boat anchors from the 70's.

 

[GLJazz]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Haha great. Thanks for the input. So basically, if it's a great player do it - but won't really be worth more than what I pay in the near future..?


If I had the disposable income I'd do it in a heartbeat, but it's the deal I thought I was getting in combo with the decent guitar, not head over heels with the guitar.

 

[John_L]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Unless you are dealing in vintage guitars that have to be kept in a bank volt somewhere and never played every guitar you ever own will depreciate in value. Guitars are not supposed to be bought for resale. You buy the to play them.
World Guitars in the UK is full of high end PRS PS and Gibson CS guitars which muppets bought as an investment kept locked in a case and never played.

 

[GLJazz]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Yeah, definitely not an investment, but I'd like to be able to get what I put into it out, which like I mentioned I found is not likely with a cut up fender.

Probably go play it again today and unless it blows me away I'll hold off on this one.

Thanks!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

just read a story in a Guitar mag yesterday on guitars like this and the amount of people that avoid modded wrecks just because they have been messed with... and basicly a few players grab guitars like this because they want a cheaper axe they can really use without fear of de-valuing it... not that an 83 tele is worth a lot but that was the message of the article... don't pass on a modded wreck if it sounds good.... if it's a good player and good sounding guitar but modded to death it's still a good guitar...

ugly ducks can be great axes... one theory has been a well used and abused guitar has been used because it's good wood... not always true but that is a theory some use... I started buying fixer uppers myself about 10 years ago and when i've been playing clubs and bars i take guitars that can get banged around.... some of these beater axes sound the best out of my collection!

 

[John_L]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

just read a story in a Guitar mag yesterday on guitars like this and the amount of people that avoid modded wrecks just because they have been messed with... and basicly a few players grab guitars like this because they want a cheaper axe they can really use without fear of de-valuing it... not that an 83 tele is worth a lot but that was the message of the article... don't pass on a modded wreck if it sounds good.... if it's a good player and good sounding guitar but modded to death it's still a good guitar...

ugly ducks can be great axes... one theory has been a well used and abused guitar has been used because it's good wood... not always true but that is a theory some use... I started buying fixer uppers myself about 10 years ago and when i've been playing clubs and bars i take guitars that can get banged around.... some of these beater axes sound the best out of my collection!

Trouble is most people these day's would pass over a really great guitar with a bit of wear and replaced pickups that is being sold for $200 a guitar that in the right hands could do for them what Andy Summers tele did for him and then go and spend $1200 on a Fender Road Worn with wear identical to every other Fender Road Kill. :banghead:

 

[Will S-T]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Nope, it wasn't mine....

That pickguard actually looks like a G &L ASAT guard.

Yes indeed, and mighty fine guitars they are also:friday:

 

[Bludave]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

Hey guys,

I happened across a guy with a 1983 honey blonde tele USA for sale in my town....

The Good:
-Price - $350-400
-Beautiful
-Original Hardshell
-Plays Nice
-neck in good shape

Bad:
-Electronics totally replaced to an unknown SSH configuration, but the bridge looks and sounds suspiciously like an Air Classic
-Original tremolo removed and replaced with Kahler, at some point before that it had a full tailpiece with screw holes visible on the top.
-Normal wear and tear for a 1983 which could go either way for me

Yes, yes, i know the important thing is that it place well. Don't like the neck as much as some fenders and i dont necessarily have the cash to spend, but it DOES do the tele sound still and sounds very good with the swap.

Problem is, I've found out first hand what modifications can do to a valuable guitar, even if professionally done and reversible which is not the case here. My head is just still spinning about a sub-$500 USA tele.

Pics:

You should check under the guard. I don't think '83 guitars were routed to be able to accept a bucker, so you will need to see whats been done under that pickguard

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

IMO, those mods look like they were performed by somebody who knew what he/she was doing. The 83/84 American Standard Fender guitars had some odd changes made to them. This modified example has gotten around most of the perceived drawbacks - the toploader bridge with its weird-looking saddles - by fitting the Kahler.

The plugged holes between the Kahler and the lower strap button hint at a possible Bigsby installation.

For the asking price, you would be a fool NOT to buy that Tele.

 

[uOpt]

Re: 1983 USA Tele Standard - Worthless?

I'd hit it.

Actually I really like it.