I've had my CAR Japanese Jazzmaster up on Gumtree now for a while with no interest but I have had an offer to swap with either a Japanese Tele Custom or a US Tele. I've been interested in a Tele for a while, I was planning on selling the JM and buying a Classic Vibe, but I wanted to get opinions as to whether this would be a good deal or not?
Go for the MIJ tele custom (is it the double-bound custom or the neck humbucker custom, by the way? Either way, my advice remains the same...). A change is as god as a rest and all...
Even if you dont bond with a Tele they are easy to sell on because of popularity. Personally i'd go for a standard model, for one it is the ultimate design in Teles and two, you wanted a classic vibe anyway. The Custom is different.
Unless it's a 62 Custom, in which case it's identical. Or a 72 Custom, in which case it's superior, and the coolest looking guitar ever made.
Doesn't the 62 have binding though? Not a fan personally, on a slab body the sharp angle digs into my forearm and i dont think binding suits Fender models in general.
It started life as a B&B Jazzmaster but I didn't bond with the chunkiness of the neck so swapped it for another CAR neck with matching headstock. The body was Crafted in Japan and had a neck with the serial number R048866, the current neck was Made in Japan and has the serial number T030612.
It has one ding in the body and a couple in the headstock. It's been routed for humbuckers but can still take regular Jazzmaster pickups, although it will need some foam supports for neck pickup, but these are easily available online. It has a Creamery Extra Width Jazzmaster pickup in the bridge and a Creamery Wide O humbucker pickup in the neck. It also has Graphtech TUSQ saddles, CTS volume and tone pot and an orange drop capacitor.
I'm more tempted by the US Tele as i'd rather have the regular SS pickup configuration, I would fit a black pickguard though.
Bite his hand off. I'd go for the Custom (even though it's a burst), and I think the three saddle bridge is an intrinsic part of telecaster fun, but that US one would have good resale (although arguably, no better than the MIJ, since their prices are creeping up).
I had an 80's Japanese Custom a few years ago and it was really nice but when I sold it I only got £400 for it, I think. Prices maybe more now though. I think i'm going to wait before I play either of them before making a decision, but opinions are welcome.
