MIJ 80's TELE: Neck Cavity/Neck Issues. Help?

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nate1492

New member
I'm looking into purchasing a 83 MIJ Tele. It's got the lacquered, vintage tint neck, old style tuners and plays and sounds better than any Tele I've ever held. To boot, its $600. Now, this guitar has seen a lot of use. It's dinged and chipped to hell. In fact, it looks like a 1950's "relic" guitar.

But it has one "issue": the neck does not fit cleanly in the neck joint of the guitar body. In fact, there is nearly enough room to fit a credit card between the body and the neck. In other words: the neck is not flush with the sides of the joint. SO multi part question: Did this happen over time and with hard use. Or is this some manufacturing flaw. Or is it possible the neck is aftermarket? The guys at the shop selling it assure me everything is original, except the pick guard. Also, does this present a playability problem? Is it fixable?

Thanks for your help.
 
Re: MIJ 80's TELE: Neck Cavity/Neck Issues. Help?

It would mostly be a sound problem. But you already know the thing doesn't have a sound problem.

The other problem is leaning to the sides so that one or the other E string falls off the fretboard. You would have noticed it.

So I'd say shoot.

It has probably been that way since it was made. This ain't a Warmoth.
 
Re: MIJ 80's TELE: Neck Cavity/Neck Issues. Help?

many Fenders and over seas Fenders/Squiers have spaces around the neck pocket... sometimes that slop is from dayone out of the factory... a neck may of been sanded too much or the cnc program was off, or a worker was "off"....

another minor issue is sometimes neck's shink a little as they dry out some more... that is why some axes get the fret ends sticking out the edges of a neck... this normal wood moving and shrinking can add to the sloppy neck joint issues...

i own a few MIM (and a MIA) Fenders that have some gap beside the neck... they play and sound fine so i am not worried about the gap... my 2006 MIM Strat i can fit a thin pick beside the neck on both sides... and i have to file the fret ends down as well on that axe as the neck wood has shrunk
 
Re: MIJ 80's TELE: Neck Cavity/Neck Issues. Help?

yeah, i agree ... if it sounds good and feels good, then it is good ... i wouldn't pay premium 'vintage' dollars for it ... but if you dig it at $600, then rock on

good luck - have fun
t4d
 
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