Fender Telecaster 1968

by Nigel Sharpe
(Frankfurt, Germany)

I'm not looking to sell this, but it would be interesting to know its worth. It's a 1968 Tele, serial number 237630.

It's in good condition, plays great but it's not all original. The hardware has been changed (it was a working guitar!) and the neck repaired. Some guy tried to change the frets and really botched the job.

The shop where he'd bought it from, near London UK, gave it to their repair guy, who happened to do all the guitars for Ritchie Blackmore. Ritchie liked his necks to be slightly scalloped so that's what happened to this little beauty. The clear lacquer on the neck is scalloped. So it's kind of a custom shop job!

You can also see the signatures I've collected over the years. These include BB King, Ry Cooder, Albert Lee, Warren Zevon, Ronnie Montrose and Robin Trower

ANSWER

Hi, Nigel--

Interesting guitar!

Here is the general info:

TELECASTER (CBS MFG. 1965-1983)
- single cutaway ash body with routing channel between the pickups, bolt-on maple neck, "F" stamp on neckplate, 21-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlays (1967-1982) or rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays (1965-69), "Telecaster" logo on headstock with six-on-one-side tuners, STB anchored bridge with three paired-string adj. saddles, white pickguard, two single coil pickups, two knobs (v, tone) and a three-way switch mounted on a metal plate, chrome hardware, available in Blonde finish, mfg. 1965-1982.

The Pricing info:

1968

Mint $7,500
Exc.+ $6,000
Exc. $4,900
Avg.+ $3,750
Avg. $3,000
General $2,450

***Add 20-40% for Blonde finish.

The hardware replacement and the fret work will lower the value, as will the alteration in the finish. Given the right buyer, the signatures might help compensate for this loss of value.

Lynne