Is this a real Fender? Would trade a Guild for it?

[waltschwarzkopf]

Hi guys,

I have a Guild Starfire III that I never play, so she just stays in her case in a corner all day, which is quite sad for a guitar. I have it up for sale and more or less settled on a price with a potential buyer, but now he says that he has to sell his guitar(s) first, because he doesn’t have any money… I saw his ads and I found the following of my interest:

“Fender Telecaster set neck spalted maple with TV Jones Filtertron Pickups. Built in 2012 in Korea. Mahogany neck and body, set neck. Very light. Best condition. Gretsch sound! Sounds like a Fender cabronita. Can be played before buying.”

To be honest, I have seen HH Teles but never a set neck. Hence me questioning its originality. But after some web search, I found the FMT special edition, which comes with Seymour Duncans and not with TV Jones’. I had thought about buying a used tele but had not really looked much nor found anything. So I offered him to trade my Guild for his Fender plus some cash. He says he bought the guitar already with those pickups, so most likely used. Then he added that TV Jones' are of tge highest quality USA pickups and come only on expensive Gretsch. I guess this is his marketing move to make a modded guitar more attractive.

What do you think? Do any of you have any experience with these models? I would have preferred the Seymour Duncans instead of the Jones' pickups, but as I have not played either, I cannot comment. I’ve tried to give my Guild a chance but when I grab it I play for a few min and then put it away and rather play any of my other guitars.

Is this Fender legit? If so, I guess it is this one http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/fender-special-edition-custom-telecaster-spalted-maple-hh-electric-guitar

Would you trade for it? The Guild sells about for 1150CHF new online and the Fender for about 830CHF, so I offer to trade plus 300CHF.

Any advise and comments would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Walter

P.S. If you live in Zürich and want to get together and jam, send me a PM.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Is this a real Fender? Would trade a Guild for it?

The Fender looks real and yes it's the special edition Custom Telecaster Spalted Maple HH you linked above.
The owner must have put TV jones in there, but you could always sell them. They are decent pickups, lots of people like them.

If you never play the guild I would trade it for something, doesn't have to be the spalted tele, but no sense in keeping something you aren't playing.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Is this a real Fender? Would trade a Guild for it?

Not a Tele fan but they definitely had a special edition, set neck, spalted, MIK, a while back. As far as I know, they were dual humbuckers (I think they came with Seymour Duncans). I don't know if they had a version with TV Jones pickups.

Fuse beat me to it.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Is this a real Fender? Would trade a Guild for it?

Yeah, I've tried offering mine to other people selling their guitars, but most of the are interested on selling and not trading.

I got an offer to trade my guild for a Strat, but I didn't like the strat. I kinda like this tele, I'll see if we can make a deal and then try them both and see if we agree.

I've tried giving the Guild a change, and most people say that is sweet and that they would no trade it. But it just doesn't speak to me. I traded another guitar that I liked for that Guild, only because the Guild was worth more and thinking that I could sell it fast and for more... boy was I wrong. Many people said that they would trade my current guitar (Epi Trad Pro) for that Guild fast. Next time I trade it will be because I like the way the other guitar sounds and plays and not because of the value.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Is this a real Fender? Would trade a Guild for it?

I'm guessing the Guild is one of the MIK Newark reissues; if it were US made, I'd want A LOT more than 300CHF extra. Keep in mind that TV Jones pickups also tend to be a lot more expensive than SDs, so that'll work in your favor if you don't end up keeping the Tele. Since you don't like or play the Guild, I really don't see a downside here; best case you like the Tele and keep it. Another option would be to keep the Tele, sell the TV Jones, install a set of SDs that you like, and keep the extra money. Even worst case if you don't like the Tele, sell the TV Jones separately, slap 59s or similar in the Tele, and sell it too.

 

[waltschwarzkopf]

Re: Is this a real Fender? Would trade a Guild for it?

I'm guessing the Guild is one of the MIK Newark reissues; if it were US made, I'd want A LOT more than 300CHF extra. Keep in mind that TV Jones pickups also tend to be a lot more expensive than SDs, so that'll work in your favor if you don't end up keeping the Tele. Since you don't like or play the Guild, I really don't see a downside here; best case you like the Tele and keep it. Another option would be to keep the Tele, sell the TV Jones, install a set of SDs that you like, and keep the extra money. Even worst case if you don't like the Tele, sell the TV Jones separately, slap 59s or similar in the Tele, and sell it too.

Correct, it is from te Newark MIK series.

The guy accepted to trade + 250CHF. I guess it won’t hurt to look at it and see how it plays.

I never play te Guild, so the Fender may be played more. I already found a JB/Jazz set (used for 70chf) to replace those TV Jones and sell them. It is also true, that if I don’t want te tele in the end, i can sell it too; and with the SD it will look more original than with the TVs.


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