help with value of Fender Telecaster

Bob Miano · Posted 17 Feb 2006 8:52 am

Wondering if any of you steel players can help me out with this. I have a chance to buy a Fender Telecaster (Serial # S832172) in excellent condition. It is blonde with black pickguard. The guy is asking $900 and will throw in the case. I am not much of a guitar player but this interests me.
Any idea how I can find out the value of this guitar? Thanks for any help or advice.
Bob Miano
Zum/Derby D-10

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

There are a few factors to consider.

The most important for newer guitars is where was it made?

MIJ Made in Japan
MIM Made in Mexico
Or USA

This is the one thing that impacts the price the most on new guitars.

The next is year. Not sure by the serial number but the year of the guitar has a big impact on price as well.

Afte that its condition. A good guage of what a similar guitar would go for can be found on the dreaded ebay. There is a 2004 Am. Tele going for 750.00 that is going to end soon.

Hope this helps.
Matt P.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

It depends entirely on its originality and condition. This can be difficult to assess if you're not aware of the possible issues, like refinishing, changed parts, forgery, made in USA, and so on.

With that said, IF it is original, in excellent condition, is a single-coil pickup version, standard, US-made '78 Telecaster (which is what is implied by the serial number), then a year-out-of-date Vintage Guitar price guide lists a retail type of price at $1100-1700. That is a lot of IFs, and I suggest you have someone look at it who knows about old Fenders. In general, prices have increased in the last year on vintage Fender Strats and Teles.

[This message was edited by Dave Mudgett on 17 February 2006 at 09:05 AM.]

Bob Miano · Posted 17 Feb 2006 9:04 am

Thanks Matt,
This one is made in the USA

Bob

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

S stands for seventies, E for eighties, N for nineties, Z for 2000 the next number inthe serial number is the year. so that guitar would be a 78

I have no idea on the orices or where to research them but the date will give you some ammo to start your search. Maybe search completed ebay auctions for american 78 tele's to compare?

Jim West · Posted 17 Feb 2006 9:09 am

Having him throw in the case with the deal is not an extra. It goes with the ax. What else is he going to do with it?

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

jinkies! they are goin for $1200-2000.
vintage gear prices are just goin crazy these days...

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Dave is pretty much dead-on with his info. If it's in excellent condition, it's easily worth $900. If it's in "average" shape, it's a fair price, but not really a bargain. Note: Most guitars for sale of this vintage aren't in excellent condition, but have the normal chips, scratches, and dents that usually come with a guitar that's been used for over 20 years.

Condition is everything!

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

The best deal is; the price you're willing to pay.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

What Marlin said.

If you like it, it's worth it. that's about the going "collector price" for a late-70's Tele, all-stock in excellent condition.

Is it "blond" or "natural"?? Quite often original finishes were stripped in the 70's/80's and Teles/Strats redone in natural. That diminishes the value significantly. Also a good idea to check for original pickups and frets. A bad refret fouls the value as well.

All that being said - mid-late 70's Teles are my un-favorite of all time. The stock finishes are extremely thick, the wood is heavy and they seem to sound constipated, for lack of a better term.

I'm a long-time Tele player and seriously prefer the import 60's reissues to the original 70's US Teles.

Might be worth the money - but as a rule they just aren't great guitars IMO.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I agree that, as a rule, late 70s Teles tend not to be as good as earlier vintage ones or later reissues, by my standards. But there are notable exceptions. A '74 I had was one of the finest Teles I ever played. It was a natural with a black pickguard, and light as a feather and great sounding. I sold it to a friend, from whom it was stolen while loading out from a gig. I had a '78 that was just extraordinary. I bought it as a NOS guitar in the mid-80s - it had gotten buried in the back room of a Fender dealer in New Haven - they dug it out one day and I was the first guy to play it - bingo, sold. I really wish I had that one back. Not heavy, rosewood neck, not a heavy plasticky finish, and it was a brand new guitar. Traded it for something 8 years later, I forget what.

So don't be put off by a 70s Fender you really like. My approach is to judge the individual guitar, not the vintage, but stay mindful of what it really is worth, in case I want to turn it. I've played 60s Fenders that were just not great at all.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

the problem here is that there is not enough information.

Just being a 78 Tele doesn't make it a value.

70's were tuff years for Fender Guitars..

What pickups are on the guitar is #1,
What style is the pickguard ?
What neck ? How are the frets ?

Guitars that are 25 years old may not be good players ..yet..they may require some pro work to bring thme up to speed..especially in the 5th fret and lower area.

If the PUPS are not stock..it's a DEDUCT....if they are active PUPS it's a BIG deduct...it means the electronics probably have been modified..

IF this is a dual HB'er guitar it is desired but not highly desired. If it is a Keith Richards style same thing, a few will love it..many more will not...If it has the odd elongated pickguard same deal..some like it, some don't..

OK...

IF this is a tradtitional blonde with black traditional guard with two stock single coils and maple neck then it may be priced a tad on the low side..maybe..I don't feel this is a $2000 guitar even on it's best day, not to a Tele' head..but it is one that all Tele heads will notice...and buy for the right price.

We purchased an immaculate 83 last year, Blonde, black guard,2 stock single coils ,maple neck..condition 10..they were asking $1100 and we took it home for $900. Great player, excellent neck..In my opinion this 83 is equal to my 88/ 52 RI which is my primary go to.

my 52RI, born in 88, which I have now owned for about 4 years, is clearly the best Tele I have ever owned , I paid $800 at a show with a new tweed case.

Paying $900 is not out of line for a very nice playing guitar..in fine shape.This price is right there for a GOOD guitar with GOOD resale.I doubt it will ever be worth less than $900.

A new American Ash goes for about $1000..a 52 RI goes ( USA) for $1200..a MIM Classic 50's (great guitars) go for $700..and the Hwy 1 ( USA) goes for $700...all new and all excellent players....

These are the references I use when thinking Tele'...

If this is a nice player and described as above..don't delay, grab it and bring it home ..$900 is not out of line.

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 18 February 2006 at 01:30 AM.]

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 18 February 2006 at 01:34 AM.]

Per Berner · From: Skovde, Sweden

Unfortunately, those last years of the seventies were when the worst Fenders ever were made.

I bought a brand new natural ash/maple neck Fender Tele in '79 – I knew nothing about electric guitars then, except that country players had Telecasters, so I did not know what to look out for.

The laquer was urethane, extremely thick – close to 2 mm (just under 3/32") – and sensitive to cracking. The neck pickup cover started rusting(!) after a couple of years, as did the bridge plate. The tuning machines were awful (two broke), and the frets barely cleared the vast amounts of laquer on the fretboard. Not a very nice instrument at all, though it sounded the way it should. By the time I finally got it right I was bored with it. Sold it and bought a $200 Ibanez, which was perfect in every way... Two years later, the truss rod snapped off for the new owner of my blondie...

From what I have heard, Fender did not get their act together until '83-'84, with better fit and finish, a return to the classic body styles etc (late seventies Teles had a different shape to the left upper bout, a change that was made to simplify automated production but which ruined the looks).

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´75 Emmons p/p D10 8+4, '96 Emmons Legrande II D10 8+5, ca '72 AWH Custom D10 8+3, Peavey Nashville 1000

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

Since we are talkin' Tellys, does anyone have a value opinion on a 72 Thinline ser # 368563, natural finish with the usual battle scars. One owner, great player, very light. It has the f-hole & twin humbuckers. Early in its life I replaced the machines with Schaller minis, the recessed plug with a flat brass jack plate, and added a 5 way switch with a couple of capacitors..All the original parts are still in my road trunk tool kit. Original case in vgc. I also have a 79 Strat 5 way in cream w/ black pick guard & p'ups that was black & deckered to install a Kohler locking whammy that made it heavier than any solid body ever made.. or so it seems..

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Bo my 79 strat with Floyd Rose is indeed the heaviest guitar i have ever held...ever.

Chuck Cusimano · From: Weatherford, Texas, USA

Here's an idea, Buy the guitar, and get a bunch more dings in it, and sell it on ebay as a "Realic" Ok, I'm joking, but the truth is, some buyers are buying older origional FENDERs as an investment. Like one other mentioned, watch out for a fake job. Some guys are very clever at making a newer fake Tele, look like it's actually old, origional, and used.

I heard it said by someone, that they wouldn't have a Mexican Fender, but, Leo Fenders workers were primarily all Mexican from the start. If you have an old vintage Fender, and you find the initials, T.G. (Tadio Gomez) on the neck, or body, in pencil, you have just seen the price go up on your "American Made" Fender.

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