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1986 Fender Custom Shop Telecaster - John Cruz Neck
Estimated price for orientation: 1 750 $
Category: Electric Guitars
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Brand: Fender Model: Telecaster Custom Shop
1986 Fender Custom Shop Telecaster with a little history. This is a heavy Tele. I'm guessing the wood is ash. The fretboard is slab rosewood. The neck profile is near identical to my '63 custom shop reissue. The pickups are not original. The bridge and neck pups were swapped with Seymour Duncan Antiquity. The saddles are not original either. The original saddles are included. Compared to the original saddles, the replaced saddles have machined tops to provide (I suspect) better intonation. This is a 30yr old guitar that has been played but not abused. There are paint chips where you would expect for a guitar this age. There is no buckle rash and the neck has no divots. The neck has the John Cruz stamp (Google John Cruz Fender). A fun backstory to the guitar - This was Billy Gibbons' guitar. Billy sent the guitar to luthier John Bolin to weight relieve the guitar. John was not routing guitars at the time and told Billy he wasn't up to the task. Billy told John to keep the guitar. John relayed this story to me a year ago. It's not going to add any value to the guitar.....clearly, it wasn't a stage guitar since it was too heavy. Also, it's unlikely it was used for recording. But, it was likely built for Billy. Regardless, the quality of the guitar stands by itself. The neck is absolutely wonderful. And, if you like a little bit of weight to your tele you won't be disappointed. I'm selling it because I don't play it and want to thin the heard.
On Feb-28-17 at 06:16:54 PST, seller added the following information:P.S. I have additional pictures. I have a picture of the back of the headstock with the Custom Shop stamp. I also have a picture of the disassembled neck that shows the '86 mfr date. I have a picture of the neck joint, on the body, with the Custom Shop stamp. You will notice neck plate does not have a serial number. I'm told the early Custom Shop models did not have serial numbers since they were true custom guitars. I wanted to swap a couple of the pictures in this listing, but it doesn't look like eBay gives me that option. So, send me a message and i will email you the pictures. Thanks, Brian.
On Mar-02-17 at 10:23:27 PST, seller added the following information:It's been brought to my attention, according to the Fender Custom Shop website, John Cruz did not start working for Fender until 1987 and transferred to the Custom Shop in 1993. So, this information calls into question the authenticity of John Cruz's work on the neck. The information contradicts the appraisal letter attributing Cruz's work. Clearly, the owner of Emerald City Guitars (Seattle) knows more about guitars than I do. But, the timeline doesn't add up. That said, i don't want to cancel the auction and incur fees. But, i will allow the two bidders to cancel their bids. Please do not bid if you require 100% confidence John Cruz built this neck.
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Brand: | Fender |
| Model: | Telecaster Custom Shop |
1986 Fender Custom Shop Telecaster with a little history. This is a heavy Tele. I'm guessing the wood is ash. The fretboard is slab rosewood. The neck profile is near identical to my '63 custom shop reissue. The pickups are not original. The bridge and neck pups were swapped with Seymour Duncan Antiquity. The saddles are not original either. The original saddles are included. Compared to the original saddles, the replaced saddles have machined tops to provide (I suspect) better intonation. This is a 30yr old guitar that has been played but not abused. There are paint chips where you would expect for a guitar this age. There is no buckle rash and the neck has no divots. The neck has the John Cruz stamp (Google John Cruz Fender). A fun backstory to the guitar - This was Billy Gibbons' guitar. Billy sent the guitar to luthier John Bolin to weight relieve the guitar. John was not routing guitars at the time and told Billy he wasn't up to the task. Billy told John to keep the guitar. John relayed this story to me a year ago. It's not going to add any value to the guitar.....clearly, it wasn't a stage guitar since it was too heavy. Also, it's unlikely it was used for recording. But, it was likely built for Billy. Regardless, the quality of the guitar stands by itself. The neck is absolutely wonderful. And, if you like a little bit of weight to your tele you won't be disappointed. I'm selling it because I don't play it and want to thin the heard.
On Feb-28-17 at 06:16:54 PST, seller added the following information:P.S. I have additional pictures. I have a picture of the back of the headstock with the Custom Shop stamp. I also have a picture of the disassembled neck that shows the '86 mfr date. I have a picture of the neck joint, on the body, with the Custom Shop stamp. You will notice neck plate does not have a serial number. I'm told the early Custom Shop models did not have serial numbers since they were true custom guitars. I wanted to swap a couple of the pictures in this listing, but it doesn't look like eBay gives me that option. So, send me a message and i will email you the pictures. Thanks, Brian.
On Mar-02-17 at 10:23:27 PST, seller added the following information:It's been brought to my attention, according to the Fender Custom Shop website, John Cruz did not start working for Fender until 1987 and transferred to the Custom Shop in 1993. So, this information calls into question the authenticity of John Cruz's work on the neck. The information contradicts the appraisal letter attributing Cruz's work. Clearly, the owner of Emerald City Guitars (Seattle) knows more about guitars than I do. But, the timeline doesn't add up. That said, i don't want to cancel the auction and incur fees. But, i will allow the two bidders to cancel their bids. Please do not bid if you require 100% confidence John Cruz built this neck.
On Feb-28-17 at 06:16:54 PST, seller added the following information:P.S. I have additional pictures. I have a picture of the back of the headstock with the Custom Shop stamp. I also have a picture of the disassembled neck that shows the '86 mfr date. I have a picture of the neck joint, on the body, with the Custom Shop stamp. You will notice neck plate does not have a serial number. I'm told the early Custom Shop models did not have serial numbers since they were true custom guitars. I wanted to swap a couple of the pictures in this listing, but it doesn't look like eBay gives me that option. So, send me a message and i will email you the pictures. Thanks, Brian.
On Mar-02-17 at 10:23:27 PST, seller added the following information:It's been brought to my attention, according to the Fender Custom Shop website, John Cruz did not start working for Fender until 1987 and transferred to the Custom Shop in 1993. So, this information calls into question the authenticity of John Cruz's work on the neck. The information contradicts the appraisal letter attributing Cruz's work. Clearly, the owner of Emerald City Guitars (Seattle) knows more about guitars than I do. But, the timeline doesn't add up. That said, i don't want to cancel the auction and incur fees. But, i will allow the two bidders to cancel their bids. Please do not bid if you require 100% confidence John Cruz built this neck.