$23,700
American Electric Guitar, Fender Electric Instrument Company, Fullerton, 1952, Model Telecaster, labeled FENDER TELECASTER on the headstock decal and stamped FENDER, PAT PEND, 1040 on the bridge plate, length of body 15 11/16 in. , with original case. Note: Inscribed 10/27/51, TG at the neck end and 10/28/51, TG on the inside neck pocket. Pot codes indicate 9th week of 1951, end of neck signed 10/27/51, TG (Tadeo Gomez), neck pocket signed 10/28/51, TG (Tadeo Gomez, on his 49th birthday) For information re Tadeo Gomez: Wikipedia.com or http://www.provide.net/~cfh/tad.html Although 1040 is a 1952 serial number, this guitar has many features that pre-date 1952, including many characteristics of the "NO-CASTER". The pick-upassemblies contain a zinc base plate under the bobbin, string tuners are the sealed shell casing type. Body pick-up routing is of the smaller size with a lip, the placement of the headstock decal is early 1951, where the type follows the line of the strings. This was one of approximatlely 250 late 1951 post-"NO-CASTER" and pre-1952 Telecasters. Solder joints and wiring original except solder joints at bridge pick-up. Original bridge plate, pick guard, frets, with deeper wear in 1st position. Neck straight. Pots, capacitors, switch original. Switch tip replaced. Neck pick-up resisitance reading 5.84K Ohms (common for zinc bass plate pick-ups).
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2008-10-12