Telecaster Deluxe models

[Left_Hand_Strat]

This is research I am conducting on behalf of my friend who is interested in Telecaster Deluxe and '72 custom models (i think they are '72....)

There's this guy at the local market who sells old records, cd's musical memorabilia and sells some guitars.

My friend likes P90 pickups a lot and he likes and wants a tele so I saw this beautiful red one with two P90's and no pickguard. I asked about it but forgot to ask where it was made etc.

The only Info i got was that it was a 2001 Ltd. edition model and not many were produced, I am not sure how true this is.

The guitar itself is mint and has a beautiful setup. it is being sold for 500GBP.

What I would like to know on behalf of my friend (well actually the second guitarist in my band) is:

1) I'm sure I have heard something about this model being released last year am I correct? and If so, is this likely to explain the high price tag.

2) Where the heck are these things made? (i though Japan)

3) is it worth 500GBP? if it isn't, why isn't it? and what should my friend offer to the man instead?

many thanks in advance

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Telecaster Deluxe models

Are you certain that the pickups are P90s and not the similarly-sized DeArmond single coils?

If your friend is VERY lucky, he might have stumbled across a Tele-Sonic. Made in USA. Worth the monkey being asked for it. I strongly advise your friend to buy the Tele-Sonic. In the event that he doesn't get on with it, I know a greedy basket who would do him a good part-exchange deal for that guitar early in 2011.

CLUES
Cherry red mahogany body
Black top pickups in metal surrounds
Black headstock face
Wilkinson adjustable wrap-over bridge/tailpiece

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Telecaster Deluxe models

Are you certain that the pickups are P90s and not the similarly-sized DeArmond single coils?

If your friend is VERY lucky, he might have stumbled across a Tele-Sonic. Made in USA. Worth the monkey being asked for it. I strongly advise your friend to buy the Tele-Sonic. In the event that he doesn't get on with it, I know a greedy basket who would do him a good part-exchange deal for that guitar early in 2011.

CLUES
Cherry red mahogany body
Black top pickups in metal surrounds
Black headstock face
Wilkinson adjustable wrap-over bridge/tailpiece

Cherry Red mahog, YES
Black top pickups YES metal surrounds NO (Pickups are like a Les Paul JR style where the Pups' fix straight to the body on top of the wood)
Black 'Stock Face NO
wilko Bridge, NO (its just like a strat bridge and trem but without a hole for bar....

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Telecaster Deluxe models

Thank you. GAS cured!

EDIT: Upon rereading your OP, I notice that you have not actually used the "F" word. Is this guitar supposed to be a Fender or is it some other brand? Squier certainly offered a carved top, set neck, mahogany Double Fat Tele in 2001. I recall a similar American model but not its name. Anyhow, that would have featured dual HBs. Conversion to dual P90s would be possible but dogear covers would be necessary to disguise the HB routs and mounting surround screw holes.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Telecaster Deluxe models

The Fender Classic Player Tele has been available with dual Black Dove (P90 clone) pickups but that has a Tele Deluxe style pickguard.

The Jim Adkins signature Tele sounds closer to your description. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2010-Fender-J...032?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item53e3e80c08

Then, there was the Fender FMT Tele? :scratchch http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Fender-T...997?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2eb0a211b5

 

[JaySwear]

Re: Telecaster Deluxe models

yeah, i was dead set on finding and posting a picture of the jim adkins tele earlier, but realized it had a pickguard. the guard could have been removed, but i think you would have seen the screw holes in the body.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Telecaster Deluxe models

The Fender Classic Player Tele has been available with dual Black Dove (P90 clone) pickups but that has a Tele Deluxe style pickguard.

The Jim Adkins signature Tele sounds closer to your description. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2010-Fender-J...032?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item53e3e80c08

Its neither of those links. the latter closely resembles it, but not a red headstock, if memory serves i think it wasn't a normal tele headstock either, in fact it was nearly CBS size....

Then, there was the Fender FMT Tele? :scratchch http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Fender-T...997?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2eb0a211b5

yeah, i was dead set on finding and posting a picture of the jim adkins tele earlier, but realized it had a pickguard. the guard could have been removed, but i think you would have seen the screw holes in the body.

there's no holes. There was no pickguard on the thing originally.

that headstock is definitely bare, with the Fender Telecaster doodah whatsit flip name on it, and considering i didn't focus on the headstock too much then i can't help with more detail than i have given. Although I am sure it said Telecaster Deluxe.

It is Definitely a Fender.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Telecaster Deluxe models

To an old 'un like me, the words Fender Telecaster Deluxe mean one very specific electric guitar design from the CBS era. The Fender American Deluxe Telecaster is a wholly different model.

EDIT: The words Fender, Deluxe, '72 and P90 add up to this. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200554310166&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT As you can see, this model most definitely has all of the electronics mounted on a Tele Deluxe style pickguard.​

The Fender Tele-Sonic has already been mentioned and ruled out. There was another, short-lived, all-mahogany Telecaster model in transparent Cherry red and with P90s but that had a stubby little pickguard.

Your (incomplete) description keeps bringing me back to the FMT Telecaster except I am unaware of any variant of this model ever having been offered with P90s.

One last remote possibility is the Fender Elite Telecaster of 1982/3 but I doubt it. The pickups of the Elite Tele are small humbuckers under plastic covers. The pickguard was fastened with self-adhesive tape at the owner's discretion. It left no screw holes. I have never seen a transparent red one. Anybody selling one, who knew its market value, would not be offering it for 500GBP.

So, what does that leave? Modified or fake. Time for some photographs, I think.

FINAL THOUGHT
There is an electric guitar that is the shape of a Telecaster and features big fat single coil pickups screwed directly into the wood without mounting surrounds. This is the G&L ASAT. Maybe some ignoramus has applied a Fender decal to a G&L in the hope of getting more money for it?