Californiaman Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 I went into a Pawn Shop a couple of days ago and picked up this 2002 Made in Mexico Telecaster for just $75.00. Check out the pictures and you'll see why. It's literally beat to schit and all boogered up. Boogered, I like that term. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 So you can see it's missing a tuning key, a switch tip and knobs. It also has lots of chips in the paint. So for the money, it's a good buy for me. I went about replacing the stock tuning keys with Fender locking tuners ($60.00), two knobs ($10,00), I had an extra switch tip and a set of strings on hand and set about cleaning it up. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 Here she is all clean and ready to rock, or twang. For roughly $150.00 I have a Made in Mexico Telecaster that sounds absolutely great. I'm very pleased. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 I would have done the very same thing. Well, not the locking things but yeah, NICE JOB!!! rct 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Zeplin Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Nice cleanup job. A real bargain. What was on the fretboard? Looks like it got wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 Thanks. The fretboard was covered with years of oily goo from playing and never cleaning it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Sweet.. Love the colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 Blue Agave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Big difference. Yo did a great job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 1, 2021 Author Share Posted January 1, 2021 Thank you brotherman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Sweet deal! Looks great after the clean up, Make that thang twang! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 A beautiful job, good sir!! And a great guitar. 😛 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Why put the strings on backwards like that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01GT eibach Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Cool guitar. I am surprised the Paw Shop did not invest the small amount to make it workable again so that they could sell at a higher price point. Good for you, though. Great color! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyMoon Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Nice find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Nice find/ project / rescue / guitar! Certainly looks the business now 👌 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 I've never really considered the Mexican made guitars before, but after this, I've certainly become a believer. You know I'm always looking for a Gibson to pick up on the cheap. Maybe even the right Epiphone. I like the idea of finding and fixing them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 I think the SG Special can be a really good value for a nice US made guitar Nothing wrong with the Mexican fenders though. Even the Squiers are nice guitars. Sometimes the really cheap ones have bad tuners or things like that but generally it’s all easy to fix up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 On 1/1/2021 at 8:45 AM, 01GT eibach said: Cool guitar. I am surprised the Paw Shop did not invest the small amount to make it workable again so that they could sell at a higher price point. Good for you, though. Great color! Very few pawn shops I have visited understand the first thing about cleaning up guitars, setting them up, or even keeping them in tune. It's amazingly bad business, but it's good for us consumers in the long run, usually. "Well, I'd like to pay $150 for this guitar, but it sure needs cleaned up and set up correctly, the volume pot is scratchy, and these strings are going to have to be changed." "So, what do you want to pay?" "Will you take $110 for it?" "$120." "Okay, it's a deal." And then I take it home, take the strings off, wax it clean and shiny, spritz some DeOxit in the pots, restring it, and it's a brand new guitar again. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 I fully understand what you're talking about sparquelito. I will forever be on the look out for Fender and Squire guitars to buy on the cheap and fix up now. Always thought I could do it and now know I can. Here's something else that now needs to be considered with a lot of Fenders. The company has switched over to those Pao Faro fret boards instead of rosewood and some of their guitars have the most beautiful, dark rosewood boards on the neck. I saw one so dark and lovely that I want the entire guitar, just because of the fret board. I don't care if it's Mexican made or Asian, if it's got a beautiful rosewood fret board, I'm going to consider it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Nice job, be cool to find a stream of abused instruments to rebuild. I think you could make decent money, and get to play with guitars all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 A good guitar is where ever you find it, but sometimes that means bringing one home that has possibilities within your realm of ability. All of mine are asian, which allows me to experiment on them without concern.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 2, 2021 Author Share Posted January 2, 2021 14 minutes ago, mihcmac said: All of mine are asian, which allows me to experiment on them without concern.. Experiment on them? Well, aren't you the mad scientist. I like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 41 minutes ago, Californiaman said: Experiment on them? Well, aren't you the mad scientist. I like that. Hmmm you might like my Frankensplorer. Pretty much nothing of mine is stock, because very few guitars are built with the components I want. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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