Mexican Western Telecaster? Anyone have or played one of these?

[Matt42]

tl;dr: How much did they sell for when they were new, and how much do they go for now?

So I played this guitar in a local pawn shop a few weeks ago, and was floored by it. The action was perfect, and the neck was great, plus it looked badass. The problem was the price. He's got it listed for $795, which is WAAAAY more than I'm willing to pay for it, seeing as it's basically a slightly higher end Mexican. Fortunately, that's probably way more than most people will pay, so I hope it will be sitting in there for a bit.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...rkAUI6eG5Lo2gX95-iICw&ved=0CFsQ9QEwAA&dur=306

It's basically that guitar, but with a different set of pickups. I checked the serial number on it, and it matches with that run of guitars. It's got a Duncan mini humbucker in the neck. I'm not sure which one, but based on the sound, I'd guess the Vintage. I'm not sure what the bridge pickup was, but it sounded great when I played it through the nicest amp they had in the shop (a Boogie 5:25). My questions are listed at the top. How much were these new, and how much do they generally go for now? Some googling suggests that they sold for $649 new, so I'm hoping I can convince him to drop it down to around $500, which I would be A LOT more willing to pay. I've got a bunch of stuff to trade, including my Mexican Strat. If I can get up about 300, and he'll do it for 500, I might have to bite. The problem is convincing him that he's overcharging by at least $300.

Any input would be great!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Mexican Western Telecaster? Anyone have or played one of these?

How can it be overcharging when the guitar is sooooooooooo special? Plus, of course, the pawnbroker needs a mark up.

Seriously, though, go into the shop. Express your interest. Explain why you think the price is unrealistic. State that, for a sensible price, you would be willing to purchase (or make some sort of trade with cash).

 

[Matt42]

Re: Mexican Western Telecaster? Anyone have or played one of these?

That's what I'll end up doing. I may or may not go the trade route. After adding up the approximate value of all my trade fodder (taking into account the pawn shop mark down), I'm sitting at $350-$400 of stuff. If I'm going to trade that much stuff, I want to be getting a screaming deal, and that just wont be one. If it's still there in a month or two, after I move apartments, I may just throw down $450 in cash to see if he'll bite. My fear is, however, that he payed that much for it. Maybe when its still sitting there in a year at that price I can get him down some, hehe.

On the other hand I could probably part a Telecaster together with those specs for ~$500.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Mexican Western Telecaster? Anyone have or played one of these?

Under its scratchplate, the current edition Fender MIM Standard Tele has a generous, one-size-fits-all neck pickup cavity. Pre-owned Tele, couple o' SD pickups, new pickguard. Should be possible for sensible money.

If you fancy something seriously cool, install a TV Jones Classic as the neck position pickup. Instant Cabronita. Well, half of one.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Mexican Western Telecaster? Anyone have or played one of these?

I'll be putting some TV Jones FilterTrons or PowerTrons in my Gretsch 5120 at some point! I really like how they sound in the other 5120's I've played that had them.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Mexican Western Telecaster? Anyone have or played one of these?

If you do end up going the partscaster route, I suggest getting a body with a transparent or even a clear finish, so you know everything about the wood. Most MIM bodies are 7-9 alder pieces, but my MIM Tele is 2-3 pieces of ash, because the finish is clear. I think I scored big time.