Tele Identification

[majwild1]

well I'm having a hard time trying to identify this one I just picked it up for 400.00 I pulled the neck and tthe neck is stamped John Cruz on the lower parrt of the heel on the paper label it is stamped R. Chumbra and on the butt of the neck it is wrritten in pencil 066/28/88 but I have never seen a fender with square inlays anybody know anything, I've sent fender a email with pics to help to identify.

[Spudman***]

Wow! I've never seen one like that. That's pretty cool.
When I saw the E on the headstock my first thought was Japanese or Korean but your's clearly says USA.

[mrmudcat]

EI + 5 digits1982 saw the introduction of the U.S. Vintage Series instruments and "V"-prefix serial numbers. The only way to definitively date U.S. instruments with "V"-prefix serial numbers is to remove the neck and check the butt end of the neck heel for a production date, which may be stamped or written there.




EI + 5 digits
E2 + 5 digits
E3 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) 1982
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year)
E2 + 5 digits
E3 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) 1983
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year)
E3 + 5 digits
E4 + 5 digits
V + 4, 5 or 6 digits (U.S. Vintage Series except '52 Telecaster) 1984
(For U.S. Vintage Series, check neck date for specific year)


CBS sold Fender in March 1985. Serial numbering didn't change because instruments continued to be made using existing tooling, parts and serial number schemes.



http://fender.com/support/product_dating.php


What is written on back pup???? Are ya sure this is all original???

It appears a part of the vintage series and around 88-90's mfd.The inlays are pretty scarce on teles but I like em!

[wingsdad]

Never seen or heard of a stock Tele with block position markers, either.

The oddest thing about this one may be the 6-28-88 penciled on the butt-end of the neck.

Starting in the mid-70's, USA-made Fenders serial numbers on the face of the headstock started with letter prefixes: 'S' for Seventies, 'E' for Eighties and 'N' for Nineties. with a 6-digit number following. The first digit of those 6 indicated, approximately, the year of manufacture. For example, E1+ 5 digits could be made from '80-82.

Some Fender Japan product used 'E' & 'N' prefixes in the '80's and '90's, and that mucked things up a bit, but still, a Japanese Fender clearly should say Japan on it.

With this odd Tele, the s/n starting with E3 dates it between 82-84, maybe even 85. It would have been made in the Fullerton, CA plant, at leat according to Guitar Dater Project, that serial number with Made in USA on the headstock returns this info:

Your guitar was made at the
Fullerton Plant (Fender - CBS Era), USA
in the Year(s): 1982 - 1985

However, that same serial number, if Made in Japan, Guitar Date Project returns this tidbit:

Your guitar was made at the
Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan
in the Year(s): 1984 - 1987

Here's an interesting and comprehensive source on Fender vintage info:
Vintage Guitars Info on Fender

[majwild1]

I read on an older post on telecaster.com about this very same issue with the serial# when cbs sold fender they kept using the older serial numbers you had to go by the neck date and mine is dated 06/28/88 in pencil on the butt of the neck, what makes me curious is the custom shop was opened in 87 and having the John Cruz stamp on the heel, and having block inlays I have never seen on a production model, could it be possible to me a custom shop guitar? It will be interesting to see if fender emails me back.

here is a link to that post

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/archive/i...p/t-90363.html

[mrmudcat]

There are some production models with block inlays.The newest revision I think was named big block.Might be a custom shop in fact that is a good possibility but I think it is a limied vintage run made in the 80-s late if original....on final build.There were block inlays on 80's necks although uncommon as I stated earlier.

What is written on metal cover on neck pup.Are other parts original more porn pics under the covers

[majwild1]

fender lace sensor, I'll pull the whole thing apart tomorrow and take pics

[mrmudcat]

Sounds definitely 80's with a lace sensor I bet its original.[/B]