77 Fender Custom tele question

[blakejcan]

Looking at grabbing one but wondering how to verify it?

From what I've researched the serial number should be stamped into the neck plate. That sound right?

From the pics, it doesn't have one that I can see so maybe that was a replacement plate. How else coudl I verify? Pop the neck and look for a stamp? Check the wiring caviity?

Thanks!

 

[jeremy]

neck/body dates, pot dates. not sure

 

[Mincer]

Is this an actual 77 Tele or a reissue?

 

[Sam SG]

Im almost positive that on Stratocasters the serial number went from the neck plate to the headstock in 1976. And that first year it was not an S serial but started with 76.
BUT....thats strats.
Also Ive had several 1970s stratocaster necks( liked them for builds) in the past, I do not recall an actual build date stamp on them. But believe there were numbers stamped that can probably be decifered.
I do know the flatwork on strat pups had dates on um.
My memory is foggy im going back 15yrs.
I would suggest going online to the Stratosphere( they part out all sorts of Fender guitars of all eras) or through them on ebay and study up on 70s tele parts pics.
There were certain inspectors in the 1970s one being Torres.
write down as many inspector stamp names as you find in the 76 to 77 era parts( necks bodys) strat parts too.
Look for inspection stamp names Pickup dates, pot codes etc....
EDIT....now that I think of it....I Think my 1979 25th anniversary strat had a date stamp in the body neck pocket that wasnt really legible but there....but again 15yrs ago.

 

[blakejcan]

an actual 77

I just got the seller to give me more pics. Serial is on the headstock so I think I'm good!

 

[blakejcan]

Is this an actual 77 Tele or a reissue?

an actual 77

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, the neck should have a stamp in there. But you have to take it off to see.

 

[Sam SG]

Yeah, the neck should have a stamp in there. But you have to take it off to see.

Not sure on teles but almost positive my 70s strat necks didnt have a date stamp. Think there us like a code number and usually an inspectors stamp.
I know early fenders would have a clear date stamp on the neck heel

 

[Mincer]

A 74 Strat and a 76 Tele I worked on had a date stamp on the neck. And certainly my 82 Strat has one. If they did get rid of them for awhile, when did they come back?

 

[Sam SG]

A 74 Strat and a 76 Tele I worked on had a date stamp on the neck. And certainly my 82 Strat has one. If they did get rid of them for awhile, when did they come back?

I believe ya.
I just know the ones I had didnt. My 25th anniversary did have a smudged unlegible one in the neck pocket of the body. Not on neck tho.
I had 2 other necks for builds that only had inspector stamps too. Both were pre 76 no serial on the head.
But then again cbs was allover the place....I had a 79 body that had a gap the whole way around the neck pocket you could squeeze a quarter into.

 

[Mincer]

I believe ya.
I just know the ones I had didnt. My 25th anniversary did have a smudged unlegible one in the neck pocket of the body. Not on neck tho.
I had 2 other necks for builds that only had inspector stamps too. Both were pre 76 no serial on the head.
But then again cbs was allover the place....I had a 79 body that had a gap the whole way around the neck pocket you could squeeze a quarter into.

Maybe it was an inconsistent CBS thing? I can imagine not having consistent practices with a child company arm they don't care much about.

 

[Sam SG]

I read an article along time ago were whoever it was took a Fender factory tour in the 70s. At the end of the production line was a whole ton of guitars. When he asked what they were there for. He was told those all failed QC. I guess they took lunch and when he came back an hour later all the guitars were gone. He asked were they went. And the reply was that corporate said they needed um put out and they would just fix them out in the field.
So much for QC

 

[Mincer]

Honestly, quality control probably ramped up when you started taking humans out of the building process.

 

[Sam SG]

Honestly, quality control probably ramped up when you started taking humans out of the building process.

Probably some truth to that. People in the 50s and 60s i think had a higher wotk ethic. Than the 70s on.
Im pretty sure at the end of cbs cost cutting thst nearly destroyed Fender they Pulled in Dan Smith who kinda ramped them up a hair befor it go sold to FMIC which i believe was an employee shared company. Guess when you have more a vested imterest quality ramps up.
Not to say all 70s Fender Guitars are bad. Ive pkayed some excellent ones. My co guitatist has a natural 1973 strat that is very nice.
Another thing i noticed was cobsistency. My 1979 25th anniversary had a very blocky body contour I mean blocky!!! Almost no belly cut. My co guitarist also has one....his has nice slender body contours same year same model.

 

[Mincer]

I've played some good 70s Strats...and some that were terrible. There were some pieces of wood that never should have made it to a finished guitar. Also, their 'new ideas' pretty much sucked at that time, too.

 

[Sam SG]

Thats the truth. I once saw a natural strat 2pc body were the grain didnt even face the same direction....one peace grain running vertical the other horizontal....inagine seeing that on a shop wall.....yea that one right there is catching my eye Lmao